Archive for May 2005
May 31st, 2005
The Italian Job Coaster at Paramount Kings Island can’t claim to be the fastest coaster out there. Nor can it be called the tallest or scariest. However, what it can lay a claim to is simply being one of the most fun rides around. Its combination of speed, banking, back-drop and theme make it one of those rides that just about anyone will enjoy.
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May 30th, 2005
Since news is slow on this holiday weekend I thought I’d post a little recap of the month that was on MF. From new colors seeing the light of day to more information on the 2007 MINI, there were lots of posts that deserve another look. Here are a few of them (from old to new):
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May 30th, 2005
This info was sent in by Sam:
This past Sunday, Team Mighty Miniz played a gracious host in the canyons to Speed Channel’s new show Street Tuner Challenge. They will be runing two segments on the MINI lifestyle. The Track and The Canyons. Please tune in and check out the killer footage we mustered up. We were extremely thorough in soaking the film crew with our lateral G forces and witty humor.
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May 27th, 2005
And what is GDI you ask? GDI, or gasoline direct injection, is a method of fuel delivery that the next MINI engine (code names Prince) will feature. This article by Autoweek (actually written for Automotive News Europe) does a great job documenting GDI’s short yet interesting history and making the technology behind it easier understand. Here’s an excerpt:
Performance-tuned GDI engines with turbochargers or superchargers can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 7 percent. BMW says the turbocharged version of its PSA joint-venture engine gets 15 percent better fuel consumption.
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May 27th, 2005
We’ve got a few more updates on some of the minor changes MINI has in store for the 2006 model year.
Wheels
We’ve just heard from a reliable source that the venerable 15″ holey wheel (seen here via MINI2’s wheel FAQ) that was introduced with the Cooper in 2001, will be discontinued. Word has it that there will be several new wheel styles available for the 2006 model year and at least one had to go in order to make room. We’ll hopefully have a few photos of the new wheels in the coming weeks and months.
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May 26th, 2005
Normally we don’t post news about events that aren’t truly national in their scope… however this one is just too cool to pass up. And it has the potential to be one of the bigger US MINI events this year. (The news comes from Adam at the MINIsota Motoring Society)
Just wanted to let you know that the online ticket presale for the June 18th event at Paramount Kings Island (just outside of Cincinnati) is now live!
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May 25th, 2005
From MINIUSA PR:
In its first year since launch, the MINI Convertible has received the top award in its segment in the latest Strategic Vision Total Quality Index (TQI). The MINI Cooper Convertible was the highest scorer in the Convertible Under $30,000 segment in this year’s index and is the third year in a row a MINI has received top segment honors in the TQI by the San Diego-based research firm.
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May 24th, 2005
[Updated] MINI has teamed up with Virgin Vacations to offer a MINI Motoring Holiday. Here are all the details:
Get ready for a some curves, dips, fish and chips. You’ve got a chance to do a little motoring in the old world. In the place it all began, Oxford England.
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May 24th, 2005
We can’t say when, where or how we got this exclusive MotoringFile image showing two of the three new 2006 colors, but we can say it’s a 100% legit picture of what will be on dealer lots in about four months time.
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May 23rd, 2005
As part of the Paramount Italian Job Coaster press event in Cincinnati last Thursday, MINIUSA gave a few select journalists (including Mark Ferguson from North American Motoring, and myself) an opportunity to test drive the entire range of US spec MINIs. Four MCS’s (one Cabrio, two autos, one loaded JCW), two MC’s were on hand to give us a full cross section of the brand.
The idea for the program was simple. While the press was on hand to report on the introduction of the Italian Job Coaster debut, MINIUSA would provide a full range of MINIs currently available in the US. In order to fully test each cars limits they created a full parking-lot road course as a venue for a full evaluation. They then offered professional instructors to help the press hone their skills behind the wheel of each variant. The resulting experience was one I won’t soon forget.
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May 22nd, 2005
MINIUSA is at it again with more faux advertising. This time they will be creating an advertising campaign based around three products; the G-Whiz, the MOTO-GO Grip, and the Hey Horn. The products are supposedly “sold” by a company called MOTOmate. However it won’t take too long for one to realize who is really behind the site and the products.
As you might expect, the products, the descriptions and the testimonials are absolutely hilarious. But even better, all three products have full informercials (seen in the above photo) that are guaranteed to have you LOL-ing the rest of the day.
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May 21st, 2005
As most readers of MotoringFile know, last year Getrag built and tested an all-wheel drive system that works within the limited space provided by the current MINI’s chassis. Since then there have been several persistent rumors that the next generation MINI (debuting as a 2007 model) will eventually offer AWD MINI sometime during it’s life-cycle. According to a couple of the rumors I’ve heard, it would seem the next MINI’s chassis has been developed with an eye towards eventually incorporating more than just front wheel drive.
Well it seems AutoExpress has finally picked up the story (never too late!) and is running an almost laughable one paragraph teaser in their latest edition. Here’s an excerpt:
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May 20th, 2005
We’ll have a first hand account of the ride in a few days. In the meantime, here’s the official MINIUSA release:
MINI is once again the star in a Hollywood spectacular that comes to life with the debut of Paramount’s The Italian Job(TM): Stunt Track. This new fast-track-roller coaster experience opens May 20, 2005 at Kings Island theme park and is the first time MINI is featured on a roller coaster of this caliber. The Italian Job(TM) Stunt Track also debuts in Toronto at Paramount Parks Canada’s Wonderland Park.
Based on the high-action finale of Paramount Pictures’ The Italian Job (2003) starring Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron, the new ride takes visitors on a high-speed stunt car adventure through movie sets and scenes inspired by the film’s climatic chase sequence.
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May 19th, 2005
From Wards Auto: Weak Dollar Limits BMW NA Options:
The continuing weak relationship of the U.S. dollar to the euro is adversely impacting importer BMW of North America LLC’s margins, CEO Tom Purves says.
Although BMW AG has not reduced North American allocation as a consequence, BMWNA is unlikely to see increased shipments of imported vehicles, despite this year’s introduction of an all-new 3-Series – the auto maker’s volume model.
Thanks to dollar’s weakness, North American sales of imported BMWs generate less profit.
“If we get an increase in production, we wouldn’t see an increased volume for the U.S.,” Purves says. “We would raise allocations for areas where the currency is stronger than the dollar.”
The U.S. remains BMW’s top export market, with sales of about 260,000 units. The U.K. is next with about 105,000 units annually
While this story primarily discusses the BMW models, the same is very likely to apply to MINI; I have already heard of a lack of Convertibles through the summer months.
May 19th, 2005
Today’s a good day to write for MotoringFile. In a few hours I’ll be given full VIP access to the Kings Island Italian Job ride (before it official opens to the public). Then (and this is the cool part) I’m invited to take part in an official MINIUSA competitive autocross featuring the entire range of MINIs sold in the US. I’ll be competing against other journalists and since we all know many of those guys can’t keep a car on the road to begin with, I’m liking my chances.
I’ll have full reports on the ride and the autocross in a few days…
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