Jan 27th, 2005
Update: We’ve got a better pic of the spoiler above (click the image for a larger view). You can also view the original we posted here. And check out this pic of what looks to be the spoiler being tested at the Nurburgring (AutoExpress via MINI2 forums).
By popular request here’s a small pic of the new JCW carbon spoiler. It should be available in the US by late February/early March. Here’s the official MINI press info on it as well (originally a few weeks back within another article):
The highlight of this MINI extravaganza in every respect is of course the rear spoiler on the roof. Also made of carbon, this rear spoiler is a technical and aesthetic eye-catcher on every MINI, probably inducing the genuine fan to keep a second spoiler at home in an illuminated glass cabinet.
Naturally there’s no word on pricing. If aynone has larger or better quality photos and more info – send it in!
Jan 27th, 2005
From BMW Press:
Only three years after its market launch, the 500,000th MINI rolled off the production line in Oxford in August 2004. Altogether, sales of MINI brand cars rose to 184,357 units in 2004, an increase of 4.5% compared to the previous year (2003: 176,465 units). Sales of the entry model MINI One went up by 6.8% to 47,641 units (2003: 44,623 units), bolstered by the sales volume of the diesel version, MINI One D, with 16,726 units sold (2003: 9,316 units). The MINI Cooper remains the most popular model, with 77,532 units sold (-11.3% / 2003: 87,378 units). The top model, the MINI Cooper S achieved a sales volume of 40,443 units (-9.0% / 2003: 44,461 units). The MINI Convertible was launched in July 2004 and, by the year-end, a total of 18,741 units had been sold.
You can check out the US sales breakdown by model here. [ gbmini.net ]
Jan 27th, 2005
We got another set of official retrofit instructions for you. This one dealing with the ever popular heated seat option:
[ Official Heated Seats Retrofit ]
Jan 25th, 2005
Autotelegraaf.nl looks to have caught the next generation MINI undergoing cold weather testing in northern Finland. In the photos (including the one above also from Autoelegraaf) we can now clearly see a new, larger grille, slightly longer front overhang, and taller bonnet housing what are most likely the new 1.6L engines detailed on MotoringFile last month. While this is still purely a prototype I would guess the overall form seen here is very close to what will eventually be seen on the final car. You can check out more (including a few larger photos) here… if you read Dutch. Or you can check out our very own translation (Thanks Mike!):
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Jan 25th, 2005
We’ve got some new desktop wallpaper for you. Like the last addition to our collection this also comes from David Bunting. This time we’re featuring a photo he took a year ago on a trip to the Port Hueneme VPC. For those that don’t know, the VPC (Vehicle Distribution Port) is where BMW and MINI process all incoming customer cars. You can check out Dave’s other photos and his full write-up of the experience here. You can get the new desktop wallpaper below.
[ MotoringFile Wallpaper ]
Jan 25th, 2005
For those interested in getting their hands dirty installing the MINI Auxiliary Gauge themselves, we’ve got your instructions:
[ Official Aux Gauge Install ]
Jan 24th, 2005
MotoringFile reader Eric Zwirnmann brings us this very cool time lapse footage of his MINI slowly getting swallowed by the recent snow storm that hit the Midwest and Northeast US:
[ MINI vs 2005 Blizzard/800k ] (Quicktime)
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