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The buzz over at mini2.com is that there will be a couple new options and add-ons in the UK available in late February and March. Whether or not these will be factory options in the US is yet to be determined. I imagine at the very least one could order them through a US dealer much like you can now with parts like the driver side shelf. Here's the list:
- Chrome mirrors (ordered from factory with the car as opposed to bought from the dealer)
- A chrome grill for the MCS (MINIUSA has initially said this won't be a US option but at the very least there will now be a Chrome grill that fits an MCS correctly)
- A new console with armrest available in black or silver (with/without a phone holder for various mobile phones)
While I can't promise that this info is correct I'm guessing that it's probably pretty close.
<p>Thanks go to Eric at MINI2 for the info</p>
<p>… continued </p>
<p>Also, I hope MINI can keep the same great body style for many years,
and remain competitive by improving drivetrain, suspension, and overall
performance, and other features.</p>
<p>What I want now — a sport pack with:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>A Quaife LSD, </p></li>
<li><p>slightly wider (not taller) wheels, </p></li>
<li><p>an option to deliver with summer performance tires (not run-flats), and </p></li>
<li><p>camber/caster adjustments.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>What I fear I'll get:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>chrome and sporty stripes</p></li>
<li><p>then a bodykit</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I want to chase Integra Type-Rs on the track,
not pose with the Max Power set.</p>
<p>What I want for 2005:</p>
<p>A revy non stumbling engine as good as a 1994 Honda Acura Integra.</p>
<p>What I fear for 2006:</p>
<p>A bigger softer MINI, more room and more comfort,
but less edge, and no point.</p>
<p>BMW needs an answer to the $30,000 and under sport car market,
something this side of an ///M3.</p>
<p>As a novel car, MINI is selling well for now, but after saturating the market
segments looking for </p>
<ul>
<li>'new', and </li>
<li>'cute', and </li>
<li>those who fondly remember the original Mini </li>
</ul>
<p>the MINI will need to compete on its own performance merits.</p>
<p>Slower 0-60mph than an SUV,
less traction than a roadster,
and half the mpg of today's Prius is now way to enter 2005.</p>
<p>Footnote:
sub – $25000 with LSD today (2003):
Miata MX-5 sport,
Toyota Mr2,
Subaru WRX.</p>
<p>At arond the $30,000 mark, compare today a Cooper S Works to a
Subarau WRX STi/spec-C and find one point other than cuteness in
the MINI's favour.</p>
<p>As a mac user, you might remember the pre os x days,
where mr pepsi and mr diesel would revise the OS, Sys 7.0, 7.1
and add features like user settings to change the colour
of the scroll bars. [And loading more inits, using more of finite memory,
and all but requiring the use of a 3rd party debugging tool, Casady & Greene RIP]</p>
<p>But for ten years, actual usable Apple multitasking was always just around the
corner, always 'coming soon'. Taligent Pink, Coupland vapourware.
Linux and NT grew, and Apple became irrelevant.</p>
<p>Hearing about upcoming chrome options for the MINI, I could begin
to feel similar destiny for the MINI. </p>
<p>A good car in 2001, but could be great with some tweaks.</p>
<p>continued …</p>