Sketches have leaked out of the the MINI E Scooter Concept that is due to debut at the Paris Motor Show later this month. The plug-in electric scooter is a serious proposal by MINI for those of us needing ultra efficient urban transport. The scooter is has been crafted with the MINI design language used throughout. The oval mirrors, large speedo and of course the chrome definitely all says MINI.
We’re not entirely sure of this is the concept that MINI UK is alluding to or not but clearly this is coming around the September 23rd time-frame that the Facebook page mentions. continued →
Software Engineer Matt Thorne is prepping his industrial robot scribblybot for a special exhibition at BMW Plant Oxford on September 12th. Between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM, all messages sent to the robot’s Twitter account (@scribblybot) will be retweeted on the robot’s page at the same time they will be robotically jotted on a whiteboard in front of visitors to the MINI factory.
Official Release: MINI USA reported sales of 4,425 automobiles, a decrease of 13.4 percent from the 5,111 cars sold last year. Year-to-date, MINI USA also reported sales of 29,704 automobiles, a decrease of 3.8 percent from the 30,868 units sold last year. The drop in sales was again affected by the Cash for Clunkers program that took place in July and August of 2009 and boosted sales volume. continued →
MINI’s got a completely revised line-up for 2011 and the want people to know about it. So today they’re rolling out the new 2011 campaign with the first commercial “The Last Spot”. (Full Print Campaign gallery after the break) continued →
MINI has been unsustainable as a brand for BMW since it’s launch in 2001. That’s what BMW is admitting with the announcement that MINI will share BMW’s new front wheel drive architecture.
As with most automakers BMW needs to leverage every one of its platforms to make sure it’s profitable and allows for economies of scale. So BMW fully intends to rectify this with the 3rd generation MINI.
Most MINI enthusiasts may look at this as the inevitable decline of the MINI brand and product. But on the contrary we believe this will give MINI technologies and performance that have never been available to it. The question (in our minds) will be whether or not they can maintain the MINI “feel” we all love. The good part is MINI knows that feel is as much of the brand as anything.
Let’s talk product. Yes BMW is creating a front wheel drive car that will share the platform and engines of the next generation MINI. However if there’s one thing that BMW are experts on it is creating distinctly different products across the same platform BMW intends to continue if not enhance the MINI’s core attributes (go-kart feel being the most important) while making the related BMW product more upscale and refined. Another thing BMW can do is make exceptional front wheel drive cars – the 1st and 2nd generation MINI are the perfect examples of this. continued →
For as much BMW as there is in the MINI, there is an undeniably strong English influence. This influence is imbued in each and every car by the hard working staff at BMW Plant Oxford, the manufacturing facility for all MINIs save for the Countryman (produced by Magna-Steyr in Austria) and the limited edition 2006 JCW GP (Assembled from Oxford-made bodies by Bertone in Italy). Located a short distance from Oxford proper in Cowley, this facility has a long history of manufacturing. continued →
Last week we asked you to give us your questions to MINI USA Product manager Vinnie Kung. This week we have your answers. First a big thanks to Vinnie who’s been quite busy driving in the 24 Hours of Lemons recently. Oh and then there’s the little task of getting the entire refreshed MINI model line-up (not to mention the new Countryman) ready for the 2011 model year. So with all that said, let’s jump right in to it.
MotoringFile: Vinnie, great to see you again. Let’s get straight to the most important question. How was the 24 Hours of Lemons?
Vinnie: Oh, you mean the coolest race ever to happen? Yeah, things went great, thanks. I only hit the guardrail once with our D-Day themed Impala. We came in 32nd, but who cares when you’re having fun.
MF: Ok, not that that’s out of the way, we’ve got a few questions about a little thing called the 2011 MINI refresh. For starters we’ve had a ton of people wanting to know about MINI Connected’s availability.
Vinnie: MINI Connected has been one of the most fascinating projects. But like any technology offer, there are challenges when it’s time to get things onto the streets. As of now, it looks like December production is when we will see it.
Engineering suspensions, engines and other cool mechanical technologies takes about 54 to 60 months to develop. When it comes to electronics, we have only a fraction of the time in order for it to be relevant in the market. I can design a control arm today and it will work for a real long time. But a new app? I have only a few months. I mean, would you want a Friendster App in 2011? I didn’t think so. So, sometimes extra time is all we need to finalize it. I’ve tried the latest version and it’s awesome. continued →
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Sections: Scooter Concept Sep 9th, 2010 1 Comment 
