Archive for May 2003
May 30th, 2003
Rarely do film reviewers praise product placement. Generally it's a point of annoyance at best and one of contention at worst. But Senior Writer Stephanie Zacharek at Salon.com was so taken by the MINI's appearance in the Italian Job she closed out her review with four paragraphs of pure praise. Here are some excerpts of the review:
“But the real star of “The Italian Job” is not a person but a car. The most exquisite action scenes in the original picture involve three Mini Coopers, one red, one white and one blue…
..The Mini Cooper has recently had a marketing push in the United States, so the more cynical moviegoers out there will probably assume that its presence in the new “Italian Job” is just a marketing ploy. But should we care? This is product placement as pure pleasure. What's more, the Mini is essential to the spirit of both the first “Italian Job” and this one. Even souped up, it sure isn't a fast car, relatively speaking — it's more Little Engine That Could than hot rod. But that fact alone meant that director Gary Gray, his cinematographer Wally Pfister, and his stunt crew had to reimagine the notion of what a car chase means today.
And so the chase scenes in “The Italian Job” are the most exciting ones I can remember seeing in a movie in a long time, probably because they're the only ones I can remember — and that's saying something. …The Mini has the agility and determination of a garden bug.
And that's not even taking into account the look of it. Like the best sort of boyfriend, it's funny and sexy, a motorized cartoon of the Barry White line “Ain't what you got babe, it's how you use it.” I have no idea what it's like to drive one. But I do know that the male colleagues seated on either side of me at the screening sighed audibly the first time they saw Stella's glossy lipstick-red Mini zipping along a city street. It was as if the young Brigitte Bardot had dropped in for a guest appearance. The colleague to my right, who'd never seen a Mini, said, “What is that?” And as my husband later noted, the Mini is the car for guys who don't even like cars that much. By the same token, “The Italian Job” is the action movie for people who don't even like action movies that much. Small and steady, it wins the race with brains, not brawn
If you have time go check out the entire Salon.com review. You need to be a Salon.com member or view a short flash based commercial but it's a worthwhile read.
May 29th, 2003
UPDATE 2: I just added a bunch of great photos from Scott in the Pre-Screening Gallery.
UPDATE: Kevin from Patrick just emailed to tell me that the “official” count was 138 MINIs! He thinks that a handful more slipped in after they stopped counting as well making his final estimate at over 140 MINIs yesterday at the Italian Job Pre-Screening – absolutely incredible! This is the biggest MINI event that I've heard of outside of the LA premier! The crazy thing was the MINI dealership 20 minutes away also had a pre-screening. It looks like they had a decent, if not smaller turnout as well (see photos below). It would have been incredible to get both these groups together.
A BIG thanks to Patrick MINI for hosting this event and allowing the Chicago MINI Motoring Club to be a part of it. They really showed us the true spirit of Motoring by inviting everyone – even those who didn't purchase their MINIs there. Also I'd like to thank Kevin for all his hard work to make this happen.
You can find all the photos at motoringfile.com/italian_job. I'd like to thank Rick Kozal (3rd), Michael Salazar (last 2), Simon Lee (1st 2), and JH (3rd/4th to last) for sending me some of their photos. Also Chip has sent me a link to a page of photos he took lastnight. If anyone has any other photos they'd like to share please email me.
If anyone wants to check out how the 2nd Chicago area screening went (at Bill Jacobs) check out these photos taken by Chris.
The film itself turned out to a really fun caper movie that really pays homage to the original. I know I'll never look at a subway staircase the same way again.
Thanks everyone! I look forward to the next Chicago event.
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May 29th, 2003
May 29th, 2003
I thought I'd post a small update on how the Chicago MINI Motoring Club is coming along for those in the Chicago area. Here is the latest:
- We've named a board of directors and are progressing through all the necessary paper work as we speak.
- In the coming month we'll be partnering with MCO to create the club website and forums (it'll look very different than the current crop of MCO club sites).
- We'll also soon be be finishing up the membership benefits package and announcing when annual dues can be received.
- And finally we'll be working with a Chicago area dealer who is going to be sponsoring a significant Rally in the middle of July.
Naturally those of you on the email info list will be informed of all CMMC news as it happens. For those interested in learning more about the Chicago MINI Motoring Club but aren't yet on the list please feel free to email me and I'll add you.
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May 29th, 2003
May 28th, 2003
AutoExpress has gotten it's hands on the MINI One D – the highly anticipated diesel MINI available everywhere but the US – and has a first take on the car and the new powertrain. Here are some highlights:
Over the years, Mini owners have done some pretty bizarre things to their cars. Film legend Peter Sellers once ordered a Cooper with fake wickerwork on the sides, while Beatle Ringo Starr had his converted into a hatchback so he could carry his beloved drum kit.
So now in an effort to broaden the car's appeal – BMW is about to introduce the first- ever oil-burning MINI. Powered by the same 1.4-litre common-rail engine fitted to the excellent Toyota Yaris D-4D, the MINI One D delivers 75bhp to its front wheels.
However, what the oil-burner lacks in horsepower, it more than makes up for with torque. The turbocharged four-cylinder motor produces a healthy 180Nm of thrust at only 2,000rpm – 40Nm more than its petrol counterpart.
The gearbox – a revised six-speeder borrowed from the Cooper S – is wonderfully precise and allows the driver to exploit the 1.4-litre's potential to the full. It also makes cruising a remarkably relaxed affair, with just over 2,500rpm showing on the tacho at 70mph. …Even from a cold start, the engine is incredibly refined.
BMW claims a combined cycle figure of 58.9mpg, yet the trip computer on our car read only 34mpg after a day's driving. Performance is another area where some may find the One D disappointing. With a claimed 0-62mph time of 13.8 seconds
Thankfully, though, the diesel engine has done nothing to spoil the handling balance, which remains an absolute delight. The steering – now much quieter thanks to a revised hydraulic pump – is as precise as ever, while the sophisticated feel of the suspension marks the MINI out from any supermini rival.
Has anyone else heard about this revised hydraulic pump? I love my MINI but the steering wine can get a bit loud at times. I'd be interested to know more about this change and if it was just to rectify just the noise or if there's something else behind it.
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May 28th, 2003
Entertainment Tonight has a cool page up with tons of Italian Job news along side a good dose of MINI Cooper info including several videos (Windows Media format). It looks like the popular media is catching on to the MINI world little by little. It would seem that the Italian Job was either a happy coincidence or a stroke of genius for MINI.
In other IJ related news we're starting to see all sorts of photos of over pre-screenings around the country. Here's some photos of an event in San Fransisco that looked very cool. Here's more from Kansas City (that first panoramic image is great).
May 28th, 2003
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May 28th, 2003
Here's the info straight from a MINI sales person:
Just got a sales bulletin, the MINI dealerships will be selling the Italian Job video game for PS2 and XBOX starting in July. You can get it at your parts dept.
[We're] also selling three different Italian Job Tees…
Also of interest the dealer I purhased my MINI from (Knauz MINI) had 2 stickers and a Italian Job antenna ornament available as giveaways. I assume other dealers have the same.
May 28th, 2003
Interesting news this morning from the Auto News Group German Market News letter:
The new Mini Cabriolet may be built in Italy by Pininfarina.
The new car's folding soft-top roof system was developed by Open Air Systems (Oasys), a joint venture between Webasto and Pininfarina that was founded two years ago. Oasys is based in Stockdorf, Germany, and Turin, Italy.
Now Pininfarina may also take over production of the car, which offers seating space for four passengers thanks to its compact folding roof system.
The Mini plant in Oxford, England, is already working close to its capacity of 180,000 units a year. BMW, owner of the Mini brand, expects to sell 160,000 Minis this year.
The Mini Cabriolet is due on sale in summer 2004.
Webasto already makes the roofing system for the BMW 3 series Cabriolet.
Really interesting news. I was wondering how they were planning on solving the issue of production capacity since the only current MINI plant is running three shifts already.
May 28th, 2003
I'm happy to announce that we've added a weblog search to the right side of every page. As the site grows and it's content increases by the day I thought a search would help people navigate through older posts quicker than relying soley on the archive.
The search was designed to be a simple and effective way to access data that has moved off the main page. Of course In the past you could always use the archive and that remains a great way for someone to get caught up on past MINI news. However if you're looking for something specific and aren't sure when a particluar post was made the search will be ideal way to find that information.
You'll also notice the speed of the search – every effort was made to create something that was as easy to use on dial-up as it is on broadband.
Thanks Matt for creating the code behind it!
May 28th, 2003
May 27th, 2003
You can now view the entire list of MINI related links at motoringfile.com/links. I've decided to break that off into a seperate page to decrease the amount of content on the right column for simpler navigation.
I'm also going to be working on updating some of the links and adding more. As always if there are other pages that you'd like to see listed let me know.
May 27th, 2003
I just came back from a long weekend fishing in northern Wisconsin with a friends MINI. Even though this time I was a passenger I still came away totally impressed by the bank vault like feeling that the MINI has on the highway. While it's no BMW 5 Series it still has this uncanny ability to feel more substantial than it's size would indicate yet remains very agile when needed.
I first experienced this on my trip across country last summer. It seems to strike a perfect balance between ride and handling on everything except for the worst roads. And while the road noise it a little higher than a BMW I think that it would lose some of it's charm if the car felt any more isolated. It's really amazing but after a year the MINI just continues to impress
May 25th, 2003
[Update:] (5.28.03) I just got email from another source regarding this topic:
I just read the article on your page regarding MINI service at BMW dealers. When I was at MINI training last month at BMW NA, I was told by a very high up MINI exec that they are looking into having serivce for MINI at select BMW dealers. [However] it would only be at dealers that are not near a [current] MINI store.
Here's an interesting email I received recently:
I just returned from a 3,000 mile MINI Adventure in the Midwest. Along the way I ran over some road debris and had all four tires and one rim replaced at a very helpful BMW dealership. While I was waiting for the work to be finished a BMW salesman (or manager; I'm not sure) told me that next year BMW will begin training at least one tech in every BMW dealership to do warranty work on MINIs. He said he's had a lot of calls from folks in the area (a city more than 100 miles from the nearest MINI dealership), wanting to know if his service department can work on MINIs; he'd happily sell them, too, but really wants to be able to support the MINI.
This would be great news for those who don't live near a MINI dealership, as well as for those who live just down the street from one, but drive to places where there aren't MINI dealers. I was all too conscious of the fact that a mechanical failure in western Nebraska would mean a LONG side trip to a dealer. Furthermore, having a mechanic at BMW dealers shouldn't much hurt the bottom line for MINI dealers; in fact, it would remove a barrier to purchase for a lot of folks.
The BMW salesman also said that the new 1-series BMW will sell at about the same price level as the MINI… which leaves me wondering why the company will have two cars in the same market slot. I hope that doesn't erode corporate support for the MINI.
This is really interesting news. I know I was just a bit nervous about this issue while on my cross-country trip last June. I think this is a real concern for many folks out there – especially those who bought their cars in areas where there are no MINI dealers present. In fact Jack Pitney recently said that one of the biggest concerns some people have had is the long distances it takes them to get their MINI serviced. He went on to say that they were indeed working on ways to make it easier for people that live further away from dealers. When you think about it using the present BMW infrastructure to alleviate this problem makes by far the most sense.
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