Archive for January 2006
Jan 31st, 2006
MPH-Online has a few new MINI spy photos today. The first two are of the Traveller testing mule that has been spotted quite a bit over the last six months. The photos give us a good overall glimpse of the shape of this new MINI but little else. As with other images we’ve seen, the rumored rear suicide doors appear to be covered up by plastic cladding.
The other two spy photos are the first seen yet of the JCW GP out on the road. If there are exterior design changes to come this testing mule doesn’t show them. However I have to say that the GP looks infinitely better in “prototype black” with those new R105 18″ JCW wheels than the grey/4-spoke combo that will be on the car at the time production this summer.
You can check them out below:
[ Mini Traveller and Mini Cooper S Works GP Spied ] MPH
Jan 31st, 2006
We’ve got some new DIY goodness for you. These are the official PDF install insutructions for both the MINI Sirius antenna and receiver. Enjoy:
[ MINI Sirius Antenna Install PDF ] Official PDF (200k)
[ MINI Sirius Receiver Install PDF ] Official PDF (400k)
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Jan 30th, 2006
BMW and MINI in the UK have launched a new range of portable navigation devices in co-operation with Garmin (Europe) Ltd. Available through the BMW and MINI dealer network, the Garmin StreetPilot c310, c320, c330 and nuvi 350 models are now offered from as little as £299.
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Jan 30th, 2006
Now that NAIAS is over I thought a quick round-up of coverage on the MINI Concept Detroit was in order:
[ BMW to Build MINI Concept ] Autonews.com
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Jan 30th, 2006
By popular demand Randy Webb is back! Randy discusses some upcoming home-grown Webb Motorsports products and general MINI info. Highly recommended for anyone interested in learning a little bit more about performance products for the MINI. Check it out below:
Subscribe | Show Notes | iTunes Link | MP3 Link (30Mb)
Jan 29th, 2006
We’ve got two MotoringFile advertisers running some great specials this week on Aero Kits.
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Jan 28th, 2006
BusinessWeek has a revealing article in its February 6th issue about MINI’s recent search for a new ad agency. Powerpoint and dark suits, it was not:
MINI started out following a standard script, up to a point. McDowell’s first move was to hire Raleigh (N.C.)-based consultant Hasan Ramusevic, who handles a dozen ad agency searches a year. Ramusevic began with 50 candidates; MINI whittled them down to eight, inviting them to answer long questionnaires and visit headquarters. Of those, four were selected for a rigorous tryout process that would last two months.
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Jan 27th, 2006
We’ve got a couple of reviews that are on tap for Februrary that I thought you ought to know about:
- 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTI (DSG)
- John Cooper Works Cold Air Intake
- Supersprint Street Exhaust (MCS)
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Jan 27th, 2006
Auto Express got behind the wheel of the new JCW Cooper S automatic recently and came away less than impressed. Here’s an excerpt:
Under the bonnet is the manual car’s 1.6-litre engine. Although it features an uprated supercharger, performance air filter and modified head, the auto’s torque converter drops output by 7bhp to 203bhp. And unlike VW’s DSG, the MINI’s conventional six-speed auto not only drains power, but is slow to change gear, too.
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Jan 27th, 2006
The BMW Group has grown faster than the market as a whole and faster than all relevant competitors in the financial year 2005 and has achieved new record figures for sales volume and revenues. Group revenues rose by 5.2% to euro 46,656 million (2004: euro 44,335 million). Revenues of the Automobile segment increased by 7.8% to euro 45,861 million (2004: euro 42,544 million). The Motorcycles segment recorded revenues of euro 1,223 million (+18.9%; 2004: euro 1,029 million). Revenues of the Financial Services segment increased by 14.4% to euro 9,408 million (2004: euro 8,226 million).
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Jan 26th, 2006
AutoExpress as an article this month on the new MINI that recaps most of what we’ve been saying on MotoringFile for the past year or so. However it’s not the article that you’ll want to click over for. They also have a two and a half minute long video of the new MINI Cooper S ripping up the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Not only can you see the car on the track for the first time but you can actually hear it’s engine note. While it doesn’t have the supercharger whine that most love, the new turbocharged hi-tech mill has an aggressive note that is sure to impress.
You can check out both below:
[ The 2007 MINI at the Nurgurgring Video ] AutoExpress (4MB/Quicktime)
[ The New MK2 MINI ] AutoExpress
Jan 26th, 2006
Top Gear does the best job of any of the larger media outlets in cutting through the rumors and getting to the fact about the next generation MINI. While there’s probably nothing in the articles that MF readers would consider new information, it’s a great recap of what we know and what we’ll see in the coming years.
[ New Age Traveller ] MotoringFile
Jan 25th, 2006
We had heard rumors last year of Italdesign’s involvement in the next generation MINI but at the time they were sketchy and hardly worth a mention. Well they’re sketchy no more. Automotive news has put the pieces together and is reporting that Italdesign is working with BMW to help engineer the car’s chassis and body structure. Here’s an excerpt from the article:
BMW styled the new Mini and designed the Mini’s powertrain jointly with its cooperation partner PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and it will be built at Mini’s UK plant. But Italdesign is handling all other development — including developmental engineering of the body, structure and chassis — and parts validation.
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Jan 25th, 2006
The much loved (and loathed) CVT transmission available on the MINI One and Cooper will be dropped by MINI in favor of a standard style automatic. No details have been confirmed yet but expect something similar to what is currently found in the Cooper S. And for those that are of the manual persuasion, the Cooper will go from five to six forward gears for it’s manual transmission in 2007. This will undoubtedly go a long way in making those high speed road trips easier on the ears.
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Jan 24th, 2006
With BMW introducing the new MINI late this year, there have been lots of questions from MotoringFile readers about future availability of both the new and current car. With some recently received information we are now able to give a more accurate view of 2006 and early 2007 production.
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