Official Release: Gearing up for an ideal start: The MINI One D. New entry-level model combines pulling power with enhanced economy. Market launch scheduled for September 2009.
The MINI model family is set to welcome another new arrival. A new entry-level diesel model will be launched in September 2009 and promises to deliver exceptionally economical driving fun. The MINI One D showcases the qualities of its state-of-the-art diesel engine as part of an attractive entry-level package. The drive system is based on the 1.6-litre diesel engine from the MINI Cooper D. Featuring a turbocharger and common rail direct injection, the new version of this four-cylinder unit develops peak output of 66 kW/90 hp and maximum torque of 215 Nm. Like the petrol-driven MINI One, the new MINI One D provides a particularly economical entry point into the world of the MINI brand, which is defined by driving fun and premium quality. continued →
MINI will be replacing Mellow Yellow for the 2010 model year with White Silver. Mellow Yellow was an R56 launch color and has been around sine September 2006 when the new car launched. Like Mellow Yellow, White Silver will be available across the MINI range. Additionally MINI will be introducing cloth/leather combo in Tech White and Leather Lounge in Toffy. Both are being introduced to coincide with the MINI Camden and Mayfair limited edition models. Apparently MINI will be spreading the costs of developing some of the new trim by making them available across the range in specific markets. Included in this will be a Toffee and White Tech interior color-line option as well. You can see both after the jump.
The R56 has been a commercial and critical success for MINI. Despite the loss of some steering feel and some of the brashful character of the R50 and R53, MINI clearly hit the mark with the car overall when it came to market in 2007. And in some ways it’s surprising how well the car has done. From a design standpoint it was evolution on the outside but revolution on the inside. The form and function of everything was rethought from the R50 to the R56 and along the way MINI seemed to have lost the plot in a couple of areas. Now they intend to fix it.
In the spring of 2010 MINI will be introducing the refreshed (or LCI – Life Cycle Impulse as it’s known in BMW speak) R56 and all its variants (ie the Clubman and Convertible). While the number of changes (major and minor) will be huge, there will be several key changes.
First and foremost, MINI intends to fix the interior. Yes, the radio controls and the heating and cooling interface will be refined and in some cases rethought. Additionally MINI will introduce some upgraded materials and subtle design changes meant to eliminate many of the complaints owners have had over the years. Or to put it another way, if you look at the top five complaints most MINI owners have, then you have an idea of what will be worked over in this refresh. continued →
We’ve held off reporting about the new system at the request of our sources for awhile but MINI hinted at the new system in its recent Camden press release so all bets are off. Here’s what we know. There were quite a few at MINI who weren’t overly happy with the current optional hifi audio system that replaced the venerable H/K that was found in the previous generation MINIs. Both were made by Harmon (parent company to Harman) but some cost was taken out an the sound suffered for it. Make no mistake it was a nice upgrade to the stock system, but it just wasn’t as impressive as had been hoped.
So MINI went back to Harmon and asked them to design a system in the same vein as the (now almost mythical) DPSM system available on the R50 generation. However with one big change, this new version would be available from the factory as an option rather than a very expensive dealer installed accessory.
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After our exclusive scoop last month Autocar went back to its sources to see if they could shed any further light on if the car was actually destined for production. There were some who were saying it was nothing more than a dealer exercise and it was very unlikely it would ever be released. Then you had our multiple sources who were adamant that this was a forthcoming special edition due soon. They found that MINI was indeed planning to work with Rolls Royce on the new car and the model was very close to a green light for production.
The Rolls-trimmed Mini caught in these scoop pictures is not a one-off, according to the source but is a late prototype for what’s intended to be an established premium custom version of the Mini.
Buyers of the high-end Mini will be able to visit the Rolls Royce factory to select the various interior trim and dashboard finishes and will also be able to collect the finished vehicle. continued →
Through several sources we have discovered that the new Roll Royce won’t be a package but a limited edition model consisting of bespoke interior items including custom dash, headliner and other signature Rolls items. The exterior color will be Ming Blue first used by Rolls in 1992 on a special 25th anniversary Rolls-Royce Corniche IV of which only 25 were produced. These special edition MINIs will be extremely limited and, while we can’t currently confirm, the special edition MINI is expected to cost in excess of $50,000. Not bad, if you ask us, considering the exclusivity and high quality craftsmanship that Rolls Royce is known for. As always, we’ll post more information as it becomes available.
Rolls Royce is getting into the coach building business in the least likely way. Several highly reliable sources have told us that the company that brought us the opulant luxury of the Phantom and the Drop-Head coupe is going to be creating a special edition MINI (based on a series of exterior and interior modifications) to be available straight from the Oxford plant. The limited edition model will consist of bespoke interior items including custom dash, headliner and other signature Rolls items. The exterior color will be Ming Blue (first used by Rolls in 1992 on a special 25th anniversary Rolls-Royce Corniche IV of which only 25 were produced). These special edition MINIs will be extremely limited and, while we can’t currently confirm, the special model will likely cost in excess of $50,000.
As we predicted, MINI announced two special edition models today at MINI United the Mayfair and the Camden have countless unique styling touches and the introduction of the “Mission Control” interface (along with a couple of surprises – notice the blacked out headlights…) and will go on sale later this summer around the world.
In the US market we expect these cars to be available as packages much like the Checkmate and Se7en editions were in 2006 and Sidewalk in 2008. In other markets expect these to be available as separate models as mentioned below.
Official Release: The worldwide MINI Community is celebrating the 50th birthday of the brand on the occasion of the MINI United Festival at the legendary British race track in Silverstone from 22–24 May 2009.
Two special models also on the starter grid in Silverstone are the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden, two cars which will most certainly convey the great spirit at the anniversary party into lasting driving pleasure on the road. For through their characteristic design and exclusive features alone, these two models live out both the great tradition and the visionary power of the MINI brand.
Both the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden are available with two petrol engines and one diesel. They will be launched into the market in September 2009, production of the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden starting exactly fifty years after the official presentation of the classic Mini and being limited to just one year.
Since our story last week on the 2007-2009 Cooper S cold start issues we’ve had loads of emails asking some basic questions on the issue and the fix. So in an effort to clear up some of the confusion, here’s the inside info into getting this fix applied to your 2007+ MCS.
First up the PuMA reference we used earlier is simply BMW speak or a file created to track the problems on one specific vehicle. The actual reference number for the timing chain rattle problem is SIM-11-02-07. This file provides information to the service advisor and repair tech for diagnosis, parts required, repair procedures, and warranty reporting requirements.
The first section of the SIM-11-02-07 document deals with verifying the timing chain rattle is occurring and not due to other potential issues.
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The Death rattle. It’s a story we’ve been following closely on MF since 2007 and a topic many of you have been extremely concerned about. Last year we posted a lengthy expose on the topic that you can read here. But for owners affected, this news will bring a huge sigh of relief.
For a bit of background on the issue, here’s a description of the issue we posted last year:
The cold start issue has been a common theme popping up in the Faults and Fixes threads on various MINI forums. Specifically, MCS owners complaining about a peculiarly loud engine rattle on start-up. Now the R56 is an “interesting” sounding engine to begin with. The direct fuel injection solenoids give the car a very diesel-esque sound at idle. But this is a very different sound altogether.
BMW has determined that the cold start rattle was/is being caused by the timing chain tensioner (which is in turn powered by an oil-pressurized piston). More specifically the sound is caused when the tensioner piston doesn’t extend all the way (or at all) which then allows the timing chain to come in contact with the guides on the engine cover. continued →
When the current MINI One rolled out a few years back the big news was the 1.4L 94hp engine and how it was both more powerful and more efficient as compared with the previous 1.6L tritec. However with world economies being what they are BMW has recently rolled out a cheaper version of the One in Germany with only 74 hp and 89ft-lbs of torque. It all adds up to 13.2 seconds going from 0-62 mph. And don’t even think about what the automatic would do to those times, MINI won’t even offer one.
In Germany this new One has been priced around 950 Euros ($1250) below the current MINI One pricing.
However with the UK’s new scrappage plan, MINI is going to be launching this new low end One in the UK as well. Expect prices around £10,000 when the car is released later this year. If you take into account the the £2,000 you could get off of the car using the scrappage scheme, pricing could ultimately be as low as just over £8,000.
The IIHS recently finished its side-impact crash testing of the 2008-2009 MINI Cooper. Below is an extensive look at the testing with both exterior and interior mounted video cameras. Overall the car got an “A” or acceptable rating – not bad for a small car. However when you look closer at the ratings you’ll see the MINI got pretty much all “G” ratings (as high as it gets) except for two categories: rear passenger torso and driver leg categories.
Earlier this week we broke the news of the first F1 being produced at the plant. Today we can go into details on the actual car. The non-metallic green everyone is talking about will be based off of Connaught Green and is a very dark non-metallic first seen on the Mini in 1964. Likely using the John Cooper name in its official title, it’s true to the non-metallic British racing green seen throughout the 50’s and 60’s on everything from Jaguars to Morgans.
Inside look for a standard Piano black dash with the usual JCW chequer flag detailing. Each car will come with a plaque (similar to the MC40 edition sold in the US for 2004) indicating it’s place within the production. Like other UK based JCW cars, the F1 will come standard with the JCW aero-kit and the JCW leather steering wheel. Otherwise things are relatively stock inside with the normal options still on the table for customers to order.
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1st Gen MINI R50: One & MC Coupe R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt. R53: MCS Coupe 2nd Gen MINI R55: Clubman R56: One/MC/MCS Coupe R57: One/MC/MCS Convt. R60: MINI SUV
Sections: Diesel, Official News, R56 (Coupe) Jul 3rd, 2009 11 Comments 
