Nov 24th, 2005
Since it’s Thanksgiving today, (in the US at least) I thought I’d offer up a quick thank you to all the readers and contributors that have supported MotoringFile over the last three years. We’ve gone through a lot of change over the last month and we appreciate your continued support. And special thanks to Matt Gifford who has handled most of the technical aspects of the site for three years. MotoringFile wouldn’t be what it is today without his help.
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Nov 23rd, 2005
We’ve got a world exclusive for you today. First impressions and a first drive of a pre-production 2007 MINI. You’ll see a lot of R56 “spy shots” in the coming weeks and months from the automotive press, however you won’t get other first hand accounts like this. While we obviously can’t say where they come from, we can verify that both are 100% legitimate.
Just thought MotoringFile readers would like to know I’ve been driving around in a new R56 Cooper for several hours and my first impressions are ‘it’s great’!
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Nov 22nd, 2005
Until recently the only information available for the new 2006 colors came from either the MINIUSA configurator flash animation or a color sample at the dealership. Neither one was a very good way to gage just how the new colors would look. To aid those spec’ing their 2006 MINIs, today we take a look at how the Solar Red body color and the new bonnet stripes look “in the flesh.”
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Nov 22nd, 2005
In November 2004 MINI announced a new OEM Bluetooth that worked with the official armrest and steering wheel controls. Yet for some reason the kit was never been offered in the US. So for the past year those little phone buttons on the multi-function steering wheel have done nothing more than tauntUS MINI owners with their potential.
However we’re proud to announce (after a year of waiting) MINI USA is finally offering the new OEM bluetooth kit integrated into the armrest in the US. This kit is meant to replace the old bluetooth kit (that worked via a small remote control attached to the downtube) and will be the first truly integrated OEM system.
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Nov 21st, 2005
Here’s an excerpt from Motortorque
Demand for the JCW kit — the only MINI-endorsed tuning kit – has never been stronger, particularly in the UK, where one in nine Cooper S hatchback purchasers last year opted to up their MINI’s power output from 170 to 210bhp. Brits now sit atop the international MINI power league, ahead of both the Americans and the Germans in the ratio of JCW kits fitted to cars sold.
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Nov 21st, 2005
New for 2006, MINIs with anthracite trim now include an anthracite tachometer housing. The new anthracite tachometer is also included with the Piano Black interior.
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Nov 21st, 2005
MINI dealership Robert Stern in Worcester has been awarded the title of MINI Dealer of the Year 2005. The inaugural awards took place at the MINI Dealer Convention in London on Wednesday 9 November.
All 157 MINI dealerships were judged on a variety of performance indicators including new and used sales. The award went to the dealer who proved the most successful at all-round business excellence throughout 2005 combined with exemplary customer service.
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