MotoringFile

2011 MINI Refresh Update: Interior Colors & Trim

Gabe — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:49:19 +0000

Earlier this month we told you about the 2011 MINI refresh or LCI (Life Cycle Impulse in BMW-speak) that we expect in September. There will be new colors, a new front an rear bumper design (with additional cooling for brakes) and of course several key changes inside. So what’s changing? Those looking for a radical redesign [...]

MINI’s Next Generation (Part 2): Fewer Cylinders & More Power

Gabe — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:15:49 +0000

The world is changing. Cars are getting bigger batteries while efficiency standards are on the rise worldwide. Through it all BMW has decided to become not only the maker of performance oriented cars but efficient ones as well. Core to that plan is the MINI brand and the future powerplants destined for its next generation [...]

Wall Street Journal Covers MINI’s Success Story

MF Staff — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:01:20 +0000

On the eve of the US debut of the Countryman (at the NYC Auto Show in a few weeks) the WSJ took a look back and a look ahead at the MINI brand and it’s surprising success in the US market. It’s a fascinating take on the MINI story by a relative outsider to the [...]

MINI USA Delays Engine Upgrade Until Fall 2010

Gabe — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:47:56 +0000

Last month MINI announced updates to the entire MINI line-up with more power and more efficiency. We reported the details earlier this year but to recap, here are the numbers with the new engines. MINI Cooper: 120 hp (up 2 hp) MINI Cooper S: 179 hp (up 7 hp) The JCW is unchanged thus far but [...]

MINI Cooper Facelift Photos Surface

Gabe — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:05:07 +0000

Last week we told you about MINI’s 2011 refresh and what to expect. While we’ve seen photos of the Cooper S variants we have (until now) not see anything Cooper related. However that came to an end this week as spy photographer associated with

BMW “0″ Series Based on the Next Generation MINI?

Gabe — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:46:37 +0000

BMW has a hit on their hands with the MINI. But they also have a problem; how to sell more small premium cars. Research is showing that the small premium car category has huge growth potential and that only having one brand offering such a car may be a mistake. BMW’s solution? To based a [...]

Worldwide MINI Sales Up 16% for February

MF Staff — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:40:39 +0000

MINI Sales continue to look good for 2010. Worldwide sales are up 16% and BMW expects big things with the launch of the Countryman later this year in Europe (and early next in the US). Official Release: Sales of the MINI brand also continued to perform well. Last month, 13,443 MINI cars, 16.0% more than in [...]

BMW Disputes Claims of Fleet Size for the ActiveE

Gabe — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:28:16 +0000

BMW has gone the length of officially disputing the notion that the upcoming launch of the ActiveE will be smaller than the MINI E field study. Why do you ask? Because the idea is to offer at least the same number in hopes that many of those MINI E customers would move over to the [...]

MF Exclusive: MINI’s Next Generation (Part 1)

Gabe — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:02:50 +0000

MINI has been a surprisingly big success for BMW. It started with the improbable R50 being designed and engineered during a time of intense turmoil at Rover and then BMW. It continued with a new engine and vastly updated and improved chassis with the R56. But those changes pale in comparison to what we expect [...]

An Owners View: Issues & Notes on the R56

Greg — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:11:26 +0000

Today we’re introducing you to a new contributor to MF, Gregory La Vardera. Greg has the benefit of owning one of the first R56 in the US and thus will be one of the first owners to have a 2nd generation car out of warranty. So to celebrate this, he’s put together a list of [...]

The Real Making of MINIWOOD

Gabe — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:28:35 +0000

A few days back we told you about MINI’s viral campaign in Geneva for the 2010 Motor Show. Today we bring you the real making of the video (as opposed to the faux making of) that shows you how MINI actually did put the words (and questionable ones to English speakers) “MINIWOOD” on the side [...]

MINI Countryman’s Weight Revealed

Gabe — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:24:50 +0000

Here are the numbers many of us have been waiting for. Lets start with the most important number to the MINI community; weight. Using the DIN standard the Countryman S weighs in at 2,882 pounds. Using the slightly more conservative EU standard (with average vehicle specification and fuel load – similar the US DOT standard) [...]

The Complete MINI Countryman Geneva Gallery

Gabe — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:35:21 +0000

Couldn’t make it to Geneva? Due to some last second scheduling issues neither could we. But luckily we have a few friends in the industry there to help us out. So with that said (plus a tip of the cap to Horatiu for the photos) we present you the MINI Countryman at the 2010 Geneva [...]

MINI Latest Viral Video: MINIWood

Gabe — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:01 +0000

What can we say. They’re in Geneva. They drive a Countryman. They like shenanigans. But lets back up. MINI created a guerilla marketing campaign in Geneva as they have the past few years. This year they projected the word MINIWOOD (double the size of the Hollywood sign) on the side of the hill above Geneva. [...]

MINI USA Sales Up 1.6% for February

Gabe — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:11:00 +0000

MINI Sales are up (barely) for February year over year. The big winner? The MINI Convertible was up over 700% thanks to the new model (and the fact that there technically wasn’t a convertible model last February. Down? Everything else.

Geneva 2010: MINI Press Transcript

MF Staff — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:30:04 +0000

MINI officially introduced the Countryman today in Geneva. The car will be on display throughout the next two weeks there before making its way across the pond to the New York Autoshow. But the big news wasn’t on the MINI stand but the BMW stand. Official Release: Speech by Ian Robertson: MINI Press Conference, 80th Geneva [...]

MF Exclusive: the Future of MINI Connect Revealed

Gabe — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:04:57 +0000

Last week MINI introduced the new MINI Connect option on the Countryman crossover. The idea is the first of its kind in the automotive world. The idea is that your iPhone (more on that in a sec) plugs into the car via the armrest. This charges the iPhone and provides a connection to the roof [...]

The Countryman Debuts in Geneva

Gabe — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:31:48 +0000

Due to some last second things that have come up, we couldn’t make it to Geneva. And that’s not a bad thing. Geneva will be relatively quiet for MINI since the Countryman was released online and the 2011 refresh won’t break cover until later this year. However thanks to the interwebs, it doesn’t matter that we’re [...]

MF Exclusive: 2011 MINI Refresh Revealed (New Colors & a New Look)

Gabe — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:11:40 +0000

The current line of MINIs has been a huge success for BMW in terms of sales. It’s also evolved the design language of the brand in a natural way that both gave the cars more aggressive appearance while keeping them classically British. However as is customary with all BMW and MINI products, a thorough refresh [...]

The Ultimate Countryman Size Comparison Gallery

MF Staff — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:58:19 +0000

Behold, every MINI model (sans convertible) lined up next to the Countryman. Here’s your chance to see the R60 compared the other MINIs in pretty much every way. Enjoy.