Another Auto Express Scoop?

karatay Oct 7th, 2005 Link

is this power will come without jcw or what?? i think its a joke:)

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danielg Oct 7th, 2005 Link

“You can also check out the original photo of Tony’s Cooper S (before the photoshop job) here.”

The “here” link doesn’t currently work, “File not found.”

(ED. – fixed)

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modboi Oct 7th, 2005 Link

“Here’s his article, his car, and his MADE UP figures as seen in this week’s Auto Express. (And you wondered why never seemed to trust them!”

It’s a joke!

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Bob Oct 7th, 2005 Link

that’s great.

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Avitor Oct 7th, 2005 Link

…see if they bit. Guess what, they did.

That’s classic, maybe they’ll check their sources next time.

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David S Oct 7th, 2005 Link

I sure hope someone over at Auto Express is reading this right now!! LOL

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Z4MINI Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Nice rims. They look kinda BMW-ish? Anyone know who makes ‘em?

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SB Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Too funny. Carbon fiber hood and big honkin’ thick glass roof w/motor … seems an odd pairing. Did they not even look at the picture? Auto Express: “The National Enquirer” of the automotive press. LOL!

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Ken Oct 7th, 2005 Link

I can’t believe this .. hhahaha … THou the Rims on the MCS does look quite awsome !

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Mark Oct 7th, 2005 Link

This is good, sophomoric fun to be sure. But I would’ve liked Tony to really crank up the outrageoussness factor.

i.e. “Lotus was tapped for design and engineering on the CSL” or “the CSL was clocked at 8 minutes on the Nürburgring” or “the CSL will be only offered in avacado green” or “A wankel rotary engined will be sourced from Mazda”

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Paul C. Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Those are the rims I have been wanting for years, too bad they are only sold overseas :( unless of course somebody can find them for me here?? HELP!!!!!!!!!

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Ron Oct 7th, 2005 Link

I gotta have those rims!! Anyone know who makes ‘em?

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Gabe Oct 7th, 2005 Link

I believe the wheel is called the Dare X4

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Z4MINI Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Dare X4 ya say? I was thinking they look a little “BMW X5″!!!!

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Gabe Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Yeah it iis very close in design to the old X5 4.4 sport package wheel.

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Tony T Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Glad you all like my rims…. :-)

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Nathaniel Salzman Oct 7th, 2005 Link

My first thoughts were also “damn, I love those rims!” Good on ya, Tony – nothing like having the online publications they’re always stealing from having a good laugh at they’re expense. I do hope this made it over to MINI2 as well. Hopefully they’ll at least give good credit from now on for their sources – at least for real news – ha!

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BelowRadar Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. Brilliant. I don’t know what’s funnier, that stuff about the CSL branding or the picture of that stock intake box next to talk of 232hp. Hilarious.

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Frankie Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Definietly they don’t check the source at all … there in the article mentioned this “CSL” has no rear seats, but clearly shown in the pic (thru the tinted window) rear seat head rest is there. :)

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fj0 Oct 7th, 2005 Link

I’m pretty sure the rims manufacturer is “Kahn”.

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Iain Oct 7th, 2005 Link

I just checked Auto Express’ website and this story is still up! Should we tell them it is a hoax???? Nah….

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phaedrus Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Fell in love with those rims when I first saw them last year on Tony’s first MCS (RIP). (Tony: I still use its picture as my desktop wallpaper!)

A limited production run of approx. 30 sets of the 4×100 bolt pattern version was made available exclusively through a group buy arranged last year on MINI2 (thanks to Mark Bloom a.k.a. Leccy_Blue for that). All were, of course, spoken for.

I don’t know if they made any more after that, but the ones I see selling online seem to be only of the 5-bolt variety.

Though they’re relative featherweights compared to the S-lites, they’re no Superleggeras; more show than go, they look sick (IMHO) on the MCS and I wouldn’t trade them for any other wheel.

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phaedrus Oct 7th, 2005 Link

“…tuned to deliver 232hp.”

Despite the article being hoax, this power figure is likely close to the truth for Tony’s car ;)

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O(=^=)O Capn Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Those wheels look better on the car.

I like these.

Anybody know who makes/which ones these are? I really like them. If only I could get them black with a silver rim.

Okay, now back on topic. We should have a MINI of the week spoof with autoweek. I know there is a talent pool here. Good job Tony.

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Lee L Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Am I crazy, or is the engine bay in the picture blue, while the car is Dark Silver? ;)

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David Bunting Oct 7th, 2005 Link

We should have a MINI of the week spoof

I thought this was the second installment.

If you missed it, here’s a good candidate for spoof #1 Note the special “lightweight” wheels.

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Dustin Tarditi Oct 7th, 2005 Link

From my perspective the under bonnet shot doesn’t even look like the same color as Tony’s car – it looks blue.

As mentioned, it also looks totally stock… I guess the 232hp fire breather uses the standard Cooper S airbox ;-)

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Eric Oct 7th, 2005 Link

I wonder what BMW thinks about these bogus stories going out? Good press, keep them thinking? Or bad press, too many rumours?

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Tony T Oct 7th, 2005 Link

The picture of the engine bay wasn’t supplied by me – its good old Autoexpress doing their finest journalism again.

Just for the record, My car is a 210bhp Works that has been further modified by GT Tuning. It had a +4% crankshaft pulley, race spec SS manifold and a very agressive remap.

Pulls arounf 230bhp, torque curve is fat and wide, goes like the clappers, and has been timed 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds using a Gtechpro. Top speed would be around 155 on the clock, seen 152 with revs to spare.

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S2000&CooperS Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Nice!! :-D

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tradiuz at mth-usa.com Oct 7th, 2005 Link

[quote] Anybody know who makes/which ones these are? I really like them. If only I could get them black with a silver rim. [/quote]

Those are 5zigen Fn01r-c.

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greg Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Hi Tony T. I have a similar S. But the only engine mod in addition to the ‘05 Works is a Unichip. What else did you do? If you wouldn’t mind getting back to me my address is gregzito@zitoinsurance.com. Sorry if this is “off topic” Gabe.

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Bruce Oct 7th, 2005 Link

So that’s how Auto Express is able to meet it’s weekly deadline! “All the news that fits” could be it’s motto. :)

Here in the US we really only have one weekly automotive news magazine: AutoWeek. But in the UK there are many weekly car magazines and competition is very intense. So intense, it’s clear they’ll skip checking facts as long as there is sometime to do with cars to fill the empty space!

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apexer Oct 7th, 2005 Link

Light weight Mini with a sunroof. Yeh, I’m sure that will work.

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MadisonMini Oct 7th, 2005 Link

I have those same rims…imported them from England. Am told I’m the only one here in the states with them.

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Jace Oct 9th, 2005 Link

IMO it doesn’t sound that unbelievable but it does reveal how unreliable the media can be. If anyone has ever watched a show “Media Watch” (in Australia)- it’s quite amusing to see how big media giants can get tricked by silly websites and photoshopped graphics.

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Mitch Williams Oct 10th, 2005 Link

I think this is a really stupid thing to post tbh, I’m sure these mags dont go out of the way to purposely mislead people, so why do people like this purposely mislead the magazines.

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TT Oct 13th, 2005 Link

“Mitch Williams / October 10, 2005 3:31 PM / Permalink I think this is a really stupid thing to post tbh, I’m sure these mags dont go out of the way to purposely mislead people, so why do people like this purposely mislead the magazines. “

Do you work for AutoExpress or something…?

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Russell Williams Oct 24th, 2005 Link

Well I have been in this car and vouch for the fact it is quick – Very, but it is no CSL.

Congratulations to Tony on a wonderful Scoop all of his very own!

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