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MINI Conquers Snow and Ice

From a MINI press release:

How about a MINI Cooper that can claw its way over 4-foot snow drifts and speed effortlessly across a frozen lake? Is this the next new model? Not exactly.



A bright-red MINI Cooper was transformed into a larger-than-life, 300 horsepower snowmobile by Discovery Channel's Monster Garage TV program.

The program takes vehicles and transforms them into outrageous, but functioning re-creations, doing double duty not only as a car or truck, but as in MINI's case, a snowmobile. The trick is that the building process cannot take longer than five days or cost more than $3,000.

A team of five guest fabricators led by show-host and custom motorcycle builder, Jesse James, spent five days creating the custom snowmobile out of a MINI Cooper.

“Witnessing a MINI Cooper transform from a road-hugging street car, to a snow-climbing snowmobile, will be a real treat for viewers.” said Jack Pitney, general manager, MINI. “MINI is an ideal car to be customized and that is exactly Monster Garage's thing. Although, I do not expect most MINI customers will go to such spectacular extremes,… you never can tell.”

With the aid of the custom mechanical wizardry, the MINI Cooper morphs into a snowmobile exhibiting a raked stance. Skis lower under the front end and a pair of deeply grooved traction belts extend under the rear wheels to grip the snow and ice.

Once completed the Monster Garage MINI will be pitted head-to-head with a Polaris snowmobile in snowy Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Monster Garage's Jesse James will be behind the wheel of the monster MINI while Richard Petty of NASCAR fame will pilot the snowmobile.

The Mini Cooper/Snowmobile episode makes a World Premiere on Monday, February 24, from 8-9 PM (ET/PT) on the Discovery Channel. The encore episode airs Saturday, March 1 from 7-8 PM (ET/PT).

Written By: MF Staff
Prestige MINI

8 Comments

Donna Feb 10th, 2003 Link

Oh, I can't wait for this one.

SingaporeJim Feb 24th, 2003 Link

Looked to me like the mini could've taken Richard Petty easy!

gabe Feb 24th, 2003 Link

I was really cringing when they were ripping out the z-link rear suspension let alone the interior trim. I'd love to scavage some of that stuff :)

SingaporeJim Feb 26th, 2003 Link

Weren't there someone on Mini2 who was selling the parts ripped out from their S after retro-fitting it for track use?

Frank Feb 28th, 2003 Link

I don't understand what is the big deal about “Violating” a new MINI Cooper to turn it into a contraption of questionnable use?

I can't believe MINIUSA bought into this sort of tasteless publicity stunt. It makes me mad to see such a well engineered car turned into a circus experiment.

I've had enough of “reality TV”, really….

Gabe Bridger Feb 28th, 2003 Link

I tend to agree with you Frank - I thought I was the only one. That being said I've talked to many people that are fans of the show (which is… many people) that seem to see the MINI as some how more credible now.

zenwaiter Aug 27th, 2004 Link

“Great blog! I write a snowmobile web site for snowmobilers who come up from New York, NJ PA VT etc, to ride their sleds in Quebec Canada. I invite you to come have a look, and to read our snomobile blog too! We have free snowmobile trail information on Quebec and tackle such issues as snowmobile theft, snowmobile laws, and we have sponsors who sell Polaris snowmobile and Polaris quad atvs with very low milage at very low prices. Thanks! zw http://www.zenwaiter.com .”

Tracey Aug 30th, 2007 Link

I think it is fun what they did. They are using ideas and putting them to into action. Is it really any different than using garbage to create artistic works? It is just a show and one Mini, live a little.

Minspeed.net

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