Section: MF Mailbox
Jul 14th, 2008
Bosch sure is being generous with it’s handing out of the test drives on the MINI Cooper D they have in the US for testing. This time, NextAutos gets a shot.
We at Winding Road and NextAutos are always eager to test the diesel offerings from global manufacturers and we were grinning with excitement when the folks at Bosch offered us the keys to a Mini Cooper with a 1.6-liter diesel engine. According to Bosch, this Mini will achieve fuel economy numbers in upwards of 50 miles per gallon, which will shame many hybrid offerings currently sold in the States.
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Jul 9th, 2008
According to Autoweek, BMW plans to build a few electric MINIs and send them to the states to help meet the need for zero-emissions vehicles sold in California.
BMW plans to export nearly 500 electric versions of its Mini car to California, company sources said.
The electric Minis are being built at the Mini factory in Oxford, England, without engines, gearboxes or fuel tanks, then shipped to Munich, Germany, where they are being fitted with electric powertrains.
BMW sources told Automotive News Europe that 490 of the Minis will be leased to selected customers in California and 10 will be used as show cars.
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Jul 4th, 2008
Jim McDowell, Vice President of MINI USA on a recent episode of Fox News talking about MINI sales, what’s getting traded in and who is driving the cars.
Thanks Adam for sending this in!
Mar 15th, 2008
We all know the Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile, right? A giant motor-home shaped like a hot dog in a bun, painted the colors of mustard and ketchup.
Well, someone over there thought it would be neat-o to give that same treatment to a MINI Cooper S. Same bubble top, same mustard and ketchup paint scheme, but this time, with chrome S-Lites. Bonus, we even have video of it from Good Morning America!
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Dec 23rd, 2007
Usually when we get cards around this time of the year from friends in the MINI world, we’re not asked to share them with our readers. However the card (seen above) we received recently was created for MotoringFile and its readers by none other than MINI Design in Munich.
One of my favorite MINI related memories of the year was getting know some of the talented people at MINI design at MINI United this summer. However it wasn’t just meeting them that was the highlight. It was finding that they are open and self-effacing people who are genuinely enthusiastic about the MINI and about automobiles in general. Or in other words, they’re enthusiasts like all of us.
So on behalf of our readers out there, I’d like to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to the talented people at MINI Design and everyone who works so hard to create the cars we love to talk about.
(Click the image for a larger 1200 x 1600 version)
Sep 13th, 2007
Worth a look if you’re a potential (mod happy) Clubman owner.
[ Clubman Photoshopping Contest ] Motoringunderground.com
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Aug 17th, 2007
Summer is winding down. Vacation time is almost all used up and school is going back in session. You do have one more chance to check out a great event in your MINI!
Motoringfile Sponsor MINI of Manhattan is arranging unofficial MINI hospitality at this years Rolex Vintage Festival at Limerock Park which is going on August 31st through September 3rd.
The event is the Rolex Vintage Festival, and I am working with the staff at LRP to arrange “unofficial” MINI hospitality (MINIUSA will not have a formal presence this year). They are going to be setting up a corral for us on Monday for the races, as well as offering discounted tickets for pre-purchase.
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Jul 15th, 2007
For those of you wondering about the OEM iPod Adapter and how the installation goes, MF reader Stephen Phillips has you covered with this great review!
One of the unfortunate side effects for those of us who took early or first delivery of a 2007 Mini was the lack of accessories that could be included in the car at the time of ordering. One of the biggest areas that seemed to have no options available was in the audio department. The prospect of receiving the next generation iPod adapter seemed a daunting task. Luckily, my salesmen, Dave, assured me that as soon as it was available, he would notify me. Late May, nearly four months after taking delivery, they became available and I began my quest to have the iPod adapter installed in my R56 Cooper S. continued →
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Jul 13th, 2007
Sent in by daily Motoringfile reader David Sims
Last May, Brian Mathis and I drove my 2004 MINI Cooper S in the Nevada Open Road Challenge, better known as the Silver State Classic. That’s the “high speed rally” where you drive as fast as you want on a Nevada public highway for 90 miles.
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Jul 12th, 2007
Most everyone knows this already. You want a MINI. You want to pick it up at the factory, cruise around the UK or Europe for a spell, load it on a boat and bring it home. Think again. However MSNBC has some fresh info on the idea of MINI UK delivery (for those located outside Britain) and how it relates to what other manufacturers are doing.
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Oct 28th, 2006
We’re you one of the unfortunate that was not able to get a GP? Remote control car maker Carisma has you covered.
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Oct 28th, 2006
But not like you have ever seen before. There is a Japanese company that makes a Kei car, as well as the newly introduced Suzuki MR Wagon, look like a MINI or VW Beetle.
Blog Auto already leaned on several occasions on this strange propensity of the Japanese to disguise their cars in the other cars. A recent mania which must be connected in the psychÒ© national one with this other hobby popular, the cosplay, which a pleasure will be made of explaining you in detail the amateur of mangas of your entourage. Always it is that the discovery of today is a new manifestion of this phenomenon, with the company ESB STYLE which claims this time to graft an air of BMW Mini to various kei, of which the news Suzuki MR. Wagon and Mitsubishi older.
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Oct 17th, 2006
From johncooper.co.uk:
John Cooper Garages will be closed throughout October 2006 due to reorganisation. Unfortunately we cannot be contacted (phone or e-mail) during this time and it will not be possible to place internet or mail orders.
Normal service will resume on 1st November 2006 and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Related:
[ Channel 4 reports on JCG Closure ] Motoringfile
[John Cooper Garage Closes Shop ] Motoringfile
Sep 22nd, 2006
This Friday brings us Motoringfile reader Andrea Gritta, who writes:
I’ve been at the Nurburgring the previous weekend, and I’ve made a new personal
record. Check out my lap if you’ve got time:
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Aug 17th, 2005
Another from the MotoringFile mailbox that I thought a few might be interested in. We’ve gotten a few of these questions over the months about the potential for a new mid-range Cooper with the introduction of the next generation MINI. For those that don’t know, the new 4 cylinder family of engines (designed by BMW, planned by PSA and built in the UK) destined for the R56 feature a mid-range naturally aspirated 140hp engine. It would seem quite a few have taken a special interest in this engine and are hoping to see MINI offer it in conjunction with the new 115hp and 170hp powerplants also scheduled. Here’s the question (from Craig):
My concern is whether they are planning on incuding the 143hp engine in the MINI COOPER for 2007. I have put off ordering my next MINI because I wanted more power and like the style of the MINI COOPER a bit better than the “S”. Although if this is not to be the case for 2007, I am leaning more and more with each passing day on a 2006 MCS.
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