Mini Blog
Video: Running the 'Ring in reverse in a VTEC'd MiniFiled under: Videos, Mini
The Nurburgring is the gold standard for any track not comprised of a banked oval, and it's a blast to watch dashboard-mounted video of various vehicles taking on the best the Nordschleife has to offer. We typically share with you videos of ZR-1s and GT-Rs, but this time we have something a bit different. Achim Korden and co-pilot Guido Heindl of ringmini.de fame run the 'Ring in reverse in an old school Mini (1971 Clubman Estate) equipped with a 1.6-liter Honda drivetrain, and they mean business.
Hit the jump to watch the little Mini battle a rain-soaked Nordschleife while starting at the end and making their way to the beginning. It's an odd experience and further proof that you don't need to have big power to have big fun.
[Source: YouTube]Continue reading Video: Running the 'Ring in reverse in a VTEC'd Mini Video: Running the 'Ring in reverse in a VTEC'd Mini originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsGeneva 2010: Mini Countryman breaks coverFiled under: Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Mini 
2011 Mini Countryman - Click above for high-res image gallery
There were no surprises at the Mini press conference today in Geneva when the covers were lifted off the 2011 Countryman. We got our first look at the brand's first crossover back in January, and we can now fill you in with the full details about the mini-ute. The Countryman is obviously Mini's largest vehicle at just over four meters in length, and its optional ALL4 all-wheel drive system is a first for the brand as well.
Looking at the car in person, not too much has changed in the front of the cabin for the Countryman compared to its two-door counterparts. Aft of the front seats, however, the second set of doors opens up to two individual buckets that should be relatively hospitable for normal sized adults. Leg room doesn't seem to be in abundance, but this is a Mini, of course. A variety of gas and diesel engines will be available in Europe, but American customers can expect the same 1.6-liter inline-fours available in the current Mini range. Check out our live photos in the gallery below or get more details about the Countryman in the press release after the jump.
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Geneva 2010: Mini Countryman breaks cover Geneva 2010: Mini Countryman breaks cover originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsVIDEO: Mini Countryman stars in its own music videoFiled under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossover, Mini 
Mini Countryman premiere video - Click above to view the video after the jump
We give Mini credit - when it's not busy Krinking its cars, leaving giant boxes outside or otherwise doings things that make us cock our heads to the side, it shows off its cars in pretty neat ways. The first Mini Countryman promo spot is more like a music video for the crossover... if there can be such a thing. Whatever you want to call it, it's got dogs, dirt, cows, pineapples, threesomes and a lesson in a disco, and how can you not love all that? Follow the jump to check it out.
[Source: Mini]Continue reading VIDEO: Mini Countryman stars in its own music video VIDEO: Mini Countryman stars in its own music video originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsMini gets Connected in the Countryman, doesn't exactly say howFiled under: Geneva Motor Show, Technology, Crossover, Mini 
Mini Connected - Click image above to enlarge
Mini will be debuting a new system dubbed Mini Connected at the Geneva Motor Show, which the brand describes as a new, exciting innovation in infotainment. However, we have little idea of what Mini Connected actually does beyond using "a newly developed USB interface whose unique functionality allows maximum integration of the iPhone into the in-car audio and infotainment system."
We do know you can get web radio in your Mini now, and there's Mini: Mission Control in which "vehicle-related signals are used to generate constantly changing, situation-dependent messages." Other than that, Mini Connected will be launched as an option on the Countryman. We'll have to wait until Geneva to bring you the rest, but you can make the jump to glean all you can from the press release in the meantime.
[Source: Mini]Continue reading Mini gets Connected in the Countryman, doesn't exactly say how Mini gets Connected in the Countryman, doesn't exactly say how originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsMini USA launching Laurel Sport EditionFiled under: Convertible, Coupe, Mini, Specialty 
When's the last time there was a car like the Mini? When people aren't busy buying the same car in slightly different lengths and heights, Mini is painting them slightly different colors and charging more. It appears the last one, the Rally Clubman, sold so well that Mini's got another special edition in the works called the Laurel Sport.
There will be 300 Laurel Sports offered in the U.S., 100 for each the hardtop, Clubman, and convertible. They arrive next month, just in time for the Olympics to be over, but the aim here is "classic British style." That means a John Cooper Works aero kit, driving lights, 17-inch alloys, black mirror caps, special door sills, side skirts, and stripes. And that's not all: There will be a summer version and a winter version, the former getting performance tires, the latter with all-season tires and the Cold Weather package.
If you're still reading this and haven't called your Mini dealer already, prices will be $29,695 for the hardtop, $31,445 for the Cooper S, and $34,545 for the convertible.
[Source: Motoring File]Mini USA launching Laurel Sport Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsMini Countryman priced in the UK from £16KFiled under: Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Mini, UK, Off-Road 
Mini Countryman - Click above for high-res image gallery
The new Mini Countryman crossover won't make it's official debut until next month's Geneva Motor Show, but we now know that the largest Mini will be priced from £16,000 for the base One model when it hits UK streets this September (that's $25,062 for us Yankees, although direct currency conversions should be taken with a grain of salt).
In the United States, it's likely that only the Cooper and Cooper S Countryman models will be offered, with the naturally aspirated Cooper priced from £17,510 ($27,426) and the turbocharged S from £20,810 ($32,593). Both models will use an all-new 1.6-liter four, developing 122 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque in the Cooper, or 184 hp and 177 lb-ft in the Cooper S. Additionally, the diesel-powered One D and Cooper D models will be offered in other markets, retailing for £17,000 ($26,625) and £18,810 ($29,460), respectively.
What's more, Cooper S and Cooper D Countryman will be available with Mini's new ALL4 all-wheel drive system, which adds £1,065 ($1,668) to the price of the D and £1,220 ($1,911) to the S. That means a Cooper S Countryman with ALL4 might retail for as high as $34,540 in the U.S., which could be a lofty sum for the small crossover (thought we'll wait until final U.S. pricing has been released before we jump to any conclusions). Still, there's no doubt that the Countryman will be an interesting and surprisingly functional vehicle when it hits the streets later this year, and we doubt that Mini will have too much trouble moving them off of dealer lots. Mini's full press release is available after the jump.
[Source: Mini]Continue reading Mini Countryman priced in the UK from £16K Mini Countryman priced in the UK from £16K originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsKansas City man wins trip to England for logging most topless hours in a MiniFiled under: Convertible, Mini, UK
2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible (above), Openometer (inset) - Click above for high-res image gallery
Ever wonder what possible use the Openometer could have? The tiny dashboard gauge is found only in the Mini convertible and tracks the number of hours a Mini motorist has been driving with the top down. Cute, sure, but hardly as useful as, say... a speedometer or fuel gauge. Well, David Loveall and over 400 other Mini Cooper Convertible owners across America found the Openometer very useful as they participated in the Open One Challenge.
 Kansas City's Loveall logged some 555.55 hours of top-down driving in his Mini, after driving across the country and visiting every one of the 48 contiguous states in the union. He took some of America's greatest back-roads, like Route 66 and US 50, avoiding the freeway at all costs and often camping roadside in a tent.
For his dedication to the open-air cause, Loveall is being awarded with a free trip to England to visit the Mini factory in Oxford. That's on top of the $1,000 in gift cards he got after finishing first in four out of five of the monthly contests and third in the fifth. Not too shabby, David. Follow the jump for the full press release, click here to visit the contest website and check out our gallery of high-res images from our review of the Mini Cooper S Convertible - in Interchange Yellow just like Loveall's - by clicking the thumbnails below.
[Source: BMW]Continue reading Kansas City man wins trip to England for logging most topless hours in a Mini Kansas City man wins trip to England for logging most topless hours in a Mini originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsAussies get Mini John Cooper Works Challenge EditionFiled under: Convertible, Performance, Hatchback, Mini, Australia
2010 Mini John Cooper Works Challenge Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery
Minis deliver fun on a sliding scale. Lower budget? The Cooper's a gas. Got more dough to play with? Buy a Cooper S, and wait for the turbo to paint a grin on your mug. Then there's the John Cooper Works cars, which pack the strongest performance punch along with an assortment of visual tweaks that let the informed know you're rolling in Mini's range-topper. Now, word comes down that well-to-do Miniphiles in the land Down Under can now add the John Cooper Works Challenge Edition package to any JCW ride - Cooper, Clubman, or Convertible.
The look basically apes that of the Mini Challenge racers, as the package raids the accessory catalog to include the areo kit, rear wing, aluminum strut tower brace, and a variety of Alcantara-shod interior trim bits. Oh yeah, buyers also get the requisite "CHALLENGE EDITION" badging to let everyone know they dropped an additional $2,500 AUD (approx. $2,246 USD) on top of of their JCW car's MSRP. That's a discount over what the additional parts would cost if added in the usual, sticker-price-exploding a la carte manner, though, according to Mini. The JCW Challenge package is a limited-run deal and is exclusive to Australia. Mini's PR is pasted after the jump and high-res images are ready to be ogled in the gallery below.
[Source: Mini]
Continue reading Aussies get Mini John Cooper Works Challenge Edition Aussies get Mini John Cooper Works Challenge Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsRumormill: Mini could produce John Cooper Works CountrymanFiled under: Performance, Crossover, Mini, Rumormill 
Mini Countryman - Click above for high-res image gallery
JCW Countryman? Sounds like a chain clothing store you'd find at your local shopping mall, but to automotive enthusiasts - Mini aficionados especially - it could only mean one thing: a performance-oriented version of Mini's just-released crossover.
While the thought of the vaunted John Cooper Works badge being applied to a crossover might seem like sacrilege, that's exactly what Bimmer fans - including those within the company - thought before the debut of the M versions of the X5 and X6 crossovers, and that hasn't stopped those models from reaching production. In the shadow of the oddball X6 M, suddenly a JCW Countryman doesn't seem so strange, now does it?
Considering that the base Countryman's turbo four already churns out 184 horsepower (compared to the 172 hp Cooper S hatch), a Works-prepared Countryman could surpass even the JCW Cooper's 211-hp output, driving through all four wheels. Rather interestingly, more than that could put the Countryman into Subaru WRX territory, but we'll likely have to wait a while to see it come to fruition (if it does at all), with sources pegging its potential release in about two years' time.
[Source: Autocar]Rumormill: Mini could produce John Cooper Works Countryman originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsVideo: More Mini Countryman action, fewer no yellow camo paint jobsFiled under: Videos, Crossover, Mini 
Mini Countryman video footage - Click above to watch video
If you can't get enough of the forthcoming Mini Countryman, twelve minutes of new footage that doesn't involve yellow swirlies has found its way onto the 'Net. Thankfully, there's no annoying musical soundtrack, so you can see and hear the tiny crossover careening through a Western European landscape and a port area with only its drivetrain as accompaniment.
Follow the jump to check out the vids, the second video being a polished clip of the first. The second link below will take you to more of the car sitting by the sea and detailed shots of its interior. Hat tip to Bryce.
[Sources: YouTube, Youku]Continue reading Video: More Mini Countryman action, fewer no yellow camo paint jobs Video: More Mini Countryman action, fewer no yellow camo paint jobs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsThe Autoblog Weekender: Mobs in Detroit, motorsport in Monte Carlo, and the Führer has words for Ken BlockFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Detroit Auto Show, Motorsports, Spy Photos, Geneva Motor Show, Videos, Mini, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Skoda 
The Autoblog Weekender - Click above to find out what you missed
Welcome to another edition of the Weekender. The Friday goods this week come from all over the world: Formula 1 drifting on ice in Montreal, an underwater Dodge Ram in Argentina, Skodas in Monte Carlo, a Hot Tub Edition Mini in New York, and free tickets to the Chicago Auto Show.
The domestic front also brings us a Fast Company profile of Volkswagen Group of America's head honcho Stefan Jacoby, which includes him admitting, "It was clear we were not understanding of our customers. We needed to change our style in the U.S., as we are a very stubborn bureaucratic German company - and German management - to some extent. I am here to listen."
And then there was all that singing and dancing at the Detroit Auto Show, but Beyoncé provided the lyrics this time, not the Chevy Volt marketing team. Follow the jump to get your weekend fill.Continue reading The Autoblog Weekender: Mobs in Detroit, motorsport in Monte Carlo, and the Führer has words for Ken Block The Autoblog Weekender: Mobs in Detroit, motorsport in Monte Carlo, and the Führer has words for Ken Block originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsOfficially Official: Mini unleashes the floodgates on Countryman crossoverFiled under: Crossover, Mini 
Mini Countryman - Click above for high-res image gallery
Following yesterday's leaked images and teaser video, Mini has today officially opened the floodgates of pictures and information on its new Countryman crossover. According to parent company BMW, the Countryman is "a new dimension" and "genuine crossover [that] bridges the gap between the classic concept of the Mini and a modern Sports Activity Vehicle." Judging from the images, it's hard to argue with that assessment.
As you can see, the Countryman gets four regularly hinged doors plus one conventional tailgate. We can also see that the CUV sits a bit higher off the ground than other Mini models and the company says it's raised the seating position a smidge. The other big alteration from Mini's previous models is the addition of all-wheel drive that can send up to 100 percent of the torque to the rear wheels.
Speaking of torque, the Countryman seems likely to get the full suite of available Mini engines both here in the United States and abroad. That means we'll see both a normally aspirated 1.6-liter as well as a turbocharged 1.6 that will come with fully variable valve timing for the first time, bumping power to 184 horsepower. Unfortunately we can't say for sure if the U.S. model will get that power increase, or the Brake Energy Regeneration and Auto Start Stop features that Europeans enjoy.
Inside, the Countryman gets a typically Mini-esque dash, door panels and seat designs and is available with the brand's first-ever three-across rear bench. That back seat is a split-folding design, and cargo capacity jumps from 350 to 1,170 liters (12.2-41.0 cu ft) when it's down. There's plenty more to glean from the official press release - so typical of Mini (read it all the way through for a good morning laugh) - after the break, and be sure to check out our high-res image gallery below. We'll know more details, like pricing and availability, when the Countryman makes its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.
[Source: Mini]Continue reading Officially Official: Mini unleashes the floodgates on Countryman crossover Officially Official: Mini unleashes the floodgates on Countryman crossover originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsBREAKING: Mini Countryman official photos leaked [w/video]Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Videos, Crossover, Mini 
Mini Countryman - Click above for high-res image gallery
Here is your new Mini Countryman, the latest model from the ever expanding Mini range. As you can see, the Countryman (also sometimes called the Mini Crossover) is a bit bigger than other Minis, and sports four doors - five if you count the hatch. You'll also note the "All4" badge on the back, indicating that the Countryman is AWD, a first for the brand.
You also might be noticing that the Countryman has different headlights (which we find quite attractive), as well as a new grille treatment. There's definitely a bit of baby Porsche Cayenne going on up front and in the stance, though it's clearly still a Mini. We will say, however, we're surprised at how dissimilar the production version looks from the concept we saw a year or so back. Here, too.
We know that because of 2009 and all the economic misery it entailed, Mini decided to delay the launch of the Countryman, at least here in the U.S. Meaning that you're going to have to either wait until October, or move to Europe to get your hands on one. Expect more details to follow soon. Odd teaser video after the jump.
[Source: World Car Fans]Continue reading BREAKING: Mini Countryman official photos leaked [w/video] BREAKING: Mini Countryman official photos leaked [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsPolk announces 2009 Loyalty Award winners, Toyota bumps GMFiled under: Car Buying, Etc., Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Land Rover, Lexus, Mini, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota  Key to the survival of any business are repeat customers, and automobiles are no different. The data miners at R.L. Polk & Company have announced the winners of their 2009 Automotive Loyalty Award after wading into facts and figures tracking customer loyalty to automotive nameplates. This is the 14th year Polk has presented the awards, and three new categories noting loyalty among specific ethnic groups were added this year.
Overall Loyalty to Manufacturer went to Toyota, unseating General Motors from its nine-year run. Toyota cleaned up two more categories - Mid/Full-Size Car for the Toyota Prius and Mid/Full-Size SUV for the Lexus RX - and also secured one of the new ethnic category awards, taking home the honors for Asian-American brand loyalty.
Honda took awards for Overall Loyalty to Make as well as picking up the new African-American and Hispanic loyalty awards. Most Improved Loyalty went to Audi for its 4.9 percent bump in customer retention. Ford's F-Series pickup and Mustang ponycar won their respective categories, while the Subaru Forester, Range Rover, and Chrysler Town & Country repeated wins in their segments. The BMW 3 Series, Mini Cooper, and Porsche 911 also took home hardware. More details are given in the press release posted after the jump.
[Source: R.L. Polk & Co.]Continue reading Polk announces 2009 Loyalty Award winners, Toyota bumps GM Polk announces 2009 Loyalty Award winners, Toyota bumps GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsIntroducing the first-ever Autoblog WeekenderFiled under: Motorsports, Videos, Chrysler, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Nissan, Saab, Smart 
Introducing the Autoblog Weekender - Click above to find out what you missed
We cover a lot of automotive ground here at Autoblog every week, but even with our obsessive watch on the industry, things still get away from us. So we hereby present the Autoblog Weekender, a place where we might be able to leave no story unturned.
This week Hannibal and Face stop by along with some freaky hip dude called Reggie White, the Tucker Torpedo Convertible controversy is not over, the Nissan GT-R challenger for the FIA GT1 series takes a bow in high-res photos, as does Heffner's R8 Twin Turbo, somebody puts wood paneling on a Smart Fortwo, and who knew Bentleys could tow in reverse?
And that's not even the half of it. Follow the jump for the week's leftovers, and let us know what you think of the first Weekender in Comments.Continue reading Introducing the first-ever Autoblog Weekender Introducing the first-ever Autoblog Weekender originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: BMW sues amusement park over Mini coasterFiled under: Etc., Government/Legal, BMW, Mini, Earnings/Financials  BMW gave us the Mini Cooper, Mini Convertible and Mini Clubman. We've also seen the Mini Countryman, Mini Coupé and Mini Roadster. Well, how about a Mini roller coaster?
According to The Sun News, Freestyle Music Park of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is operating a roller coaster with six-passenger cars that bear a striking resemblence to BMW's Mini Cooper - make that a near exact copy. Understandably, BMW is less than pleased as the park's owners don't have permission to be rolling unauthorized knock-offs around the rails (likely pulling more G's than the actual production models). Following an unanswered cease-and-desist letter back in November, BMW of North America LLC and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG filed a suit against FPI MB Entertainment Tuesday for trademark infringement and false designation of origin.
The owners of the park, who purchased it out of bankruptcy just last year, claim this is all just a misunderstanding. They understand BMW's position regarding the "Round About" coaster and expect to work something out with the German automaker in the near future. BMW, on the other hand, is not only looking for the cars to be pulled off the track, they're seeking damages, too. They had better get in line - there are reportedly more than a dozen liens filed against the financially-troubled park for unpaid services since July. Thanks for the tip, Mason!
[Source: The Sun News]Report: BMW sues amusement park over Mini coaster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsMini announces engine enhancements ahead of 2011 redesignFiled under: Convertible, Hatchback, BMW, Mini 
2010 Mini Cooper - Click for high-res gallery
Over in Europe, Mini has rolled out a thing or two to keep its offerings fresh. There's some model jiggering and new colors, but the biggest news is under that peewee hood. The four-cylinder engine is receiving a displacement bump from 1.4- to 1.6-liters. In naturally aspirated and turbocharged configurations, the engine is now torquier and more efficient. Output ranges between 75 and 184 horsepower, and carbon emissions are improved; Mini is calling it "more poke with less smoke."
Turbocharged versions get a new twin-scroll huffer with an overboost function, while all versions of the engine are equipped with a Valvetronic-derived system that aids the engine's better torque delivery and reduced fuel consumption. Delving deeper inside the crankcase, there are polished main bearings to reduce friction, and the camshaft bearings follow suit. The oil pump, vacuum pump, and water pump are computer controlled and can now be pulsed to save energy and reduce drag. It all adds up to a tiny engine that makes the most of its muscle and delivers gains in fuel economy and emissions. The best detail about the whole shooting match is the absence of a price increase.
As you can see from the photo above, there are some new paint colors available as well, including a series of "Rainbow" finishes that include Sunlight Metallic, Asteroid Metallic and Nightlife Metallic. Neat-o. The brand may be called Mini, but in typical German fashion, there's a massive press release posted after the jump with the full rundown of EU-market changes.
[Source: Mini]Continue reading Mini announces engine enhancements ahead of 2011 redesign Mini announces engine enhancements ahead of 2011 redesign originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsDetroit 2010: Mini Beachcomber Concept leaves the doors behindFiled under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Europe, Mini, Off-Road 
2010 Mini Beachcomber Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
The roof, too. That's right folks, Mini rolled out a concept of a concept. The Beachcomber (see above) is based on the Mini Crossover. However, the Crossover is no longer just a concept, as it will be making its way to production soon. And it's not alone, as Mini has also green lit the Coupe and Roadster. All three will be produced at Mini's Oxford, UK plant.
Speaking of Mini, their sales were down six percent last year. Or should we say only six percent, as 2009 basically sucked as far as car sales go. In the U.S., however, Mini sales were down 16 percent, but the segment (small premium cars) was off a disheartening 40 percent. Nevertheless, the U.S. remains Mini's largest market with currently 90 dealers and the brand is looking to increase that number with an additional 17 dealers over the next 18 months.
As far as this here Beachcomber Concept goes, let's just say there's an emphasis on concept. While it does in some ways evoke the original Mini Moke - especially the slotted grille - the Beachcomber has as much a chance at seeing production as a Lamborghini subcompact. Maybe less. That said, the Beachcomber does feature all-wheel drive. And if there's anything we like more than suicide doors, it's no doors at all. No top either for that matter. What if you should get caught in a freak Malibu hailstorm? Mini says a soft roof and lightweight doors are included. So there you go.
Live photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Mini]Detroit 2010: Mini Beachcomber Concept leaves the doors behind originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsBox Art? Clever Mini promotion litters streets with giant packagingFiled under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mini
Heineken ran commercials that showed a guy's ultimate closet as a walk-in refrigerator filled with the Dutch beer. To support the ads they put huge cardboard boxes around Amsterdam on garbage day with "Walk-In Fridge" written on them, as if someone had actually gotten one as a gift. Well, it looks like Mini did the same thing after Christmas, casting giant, empty boxes with shreds of gift wrapping around Amsterdam. Predictably for a Mini campaign, it got people's attention. Check it out after the jump.
[Source: Creative Criminals]Continue reading Box Art? Clever Mini promotion litters streets with giant packaging Box Art? Clever Mini promotion litters streets with giant packaging originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsMini E range plummets as winter hits the northeastFiled under: Mini, Electric
MINI E - Click above for high-res image gallery
Our friend Dr. Lyle Dennis of GM-Volt.com is one of 450 privateers in the regions of New York or Southern California who managed to get on the list of lessees for the battery-powered Mini E. Dennis has been driving his Mini E for the past six months, although it has not been ideal. This past week in particular has been trying as the northeastern part of the United States got slammed by heavy winter weather and cold temperatures.
As we learned recently from the guys at Consumer Reports with the Mitsubishi i MiEV, winter and battery cars are a less than perfect pair. All cars loose efficiency for a number of reasons when the mercury drops, but EVs are particularly problematic. When outside of their optimum temperature range, batteries become reluctant to release their electrons.
Dr. Dennis has a daily commute into Manhattan of about 27 miles each way, which we don't consider an unusual distance in the U.S. As the thermometer read 23 degrees Fahrenheit last week, the battery level gauge was on 0 after a 55-mile round trip to the office that included two hours on the plug while there.
The temperature affects not only the battery directly but also adds load to the entire electrical system. The car's heater is driven directly off the battery so staying warm cuts range as well. In warmer weather, Dennis has been getting about 75-80 miles out of the same car. Perhaps General Motors really is onto something with the extended-range Volt.
[Source: GM-Volt]Mini E range plummets as winter hits the northeast originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments |
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