May 19th, 2012
Perhaps 2nd only to the Dakar in sheer stamina required, the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring is a truly epic race run on the world’s most famous and infamous track. And like last year MINI is in the race with both a factory team (running a JCW Coupe) and the even stronger team Schirra in an R56. You can see updates throughout the race after the break with the latest on top.
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May 19th, 2012
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Just in time or the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring Gabe and Todd sit down and talk with Dirk Hollveg head of MINI Motorsport. If you are even a little interested in MINI’s involvement with motorsports, you don’t want to miss this. In fact we’d call this a must listen for MINI fans. And for those of you that want even more, there is always the MINI Motorsport YouTube Channel. continued →
May 18th, 2012
The 2013 JCWs have been announced with the new valvtronic engine. Surprisingly, outside of the Countryman, the JCW range will not have higher output. The HP figure will remain at 211 hp (208 for the US) for the R5X range of JCW cars. Furthermore we’ve heard rumors from well placed sources that the US spec JCW Countryman may also end up with 208 hp rather than the higher 218hp figure seen in Europe. The upside is that the 2013 JCW will be the most efficient JCW ever and on par with the substantially less powerful Cooper S thanks to technologies such as Brake Energy Regeneration.
Also new for 2013 is the option of the six speed Aisin automatic across the entire JCW range.
Official Release: In keeping with the times, MINI will inject the ultra-sporty performance characteristics of its John Cooper Works models with even greater efficiency from July 2012 with the introduction of a new-generation engine and other far-reaching powertrain innovations. Fresh from an intensive course of further development, the twin-scroll turbo engine develops the same levels of output and torque as its predecessor, but will make drivers’ hearts beat faster with its even quicker responses and stoke their admiration with substantially reduced fuel consumption and emissions. A much broader spread of MINIMALISM technology helps to enhance the efficiency of the John Cooper Works models, and all members of the sub-brand’s line-up can now be fitted as an option with a six-speed automatic gearbox. Added to which, the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman comes with the MINI ALL4 all-wheel-drive system as standard. continued →
May 18th, 2012
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Fresh off of seeing the GP Todd, Gabe and Axel Griesinger (from bigblogg.com) dissect all the details of the car from performance to parts to pricing. We also touch on the Goodwood, the rumored 9 speed automatic transmissions and MINI United.
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May 17th, 2012
There are a handful of inevitable comparisons when the MINI is mentioned. The Beetle. The Juke. The Smart. Since its announcement, the Fiat 500 has been compared with the MINI Cooper Hardtop ad nauseum. In our opinion, it’s a bit of an apples to oranges comparison, as the two cars really belong in different categories of performance — and that’s just the Cooper. Yet those who insist the two cars are comparable often point to the Abarth as the viable alternative to everything that’s “wrong” with the second generation MINI. So what happens when Motor Trend puts the Abarth head-to-head with the MINI Cooper S Coupe? continued →
May 17th, 2012
Last week we brought you the history of the modern JCW Tuning kit. Now that history is getting a new chapter. As expected JCW Engine Kit is coming to the R58 Coupe and R59 Roadster later this year. As for all other models, the kit will be a dealer installed accessory with a cost of around $2,100 (not including installation).
The tuning kit will be the same 197 hp (200 bhp) kit found in other MINIs with 199 lb-ft of over boost between 1,800 and 5,000 rpm.
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May 15th, 2012
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Fresh from MINI United! Todd & Gabe had the chance to interview Roderick von Ostrowski (Product Manager for the R58, R59 and JCW products) about the just announced GP. continued →
