Archive for February 2006
Feb 28th, 2006
It’s been almost a year since we posted “Next Generation MINI Revealed“. During that time it has gone on to be out most visited story ever. Originally posted in March of 2005, the piece goes into detail after detail on what we’ll be seeing from the new MINI range due later this year. But a new year brings new scoops and we felt it was time to thoroughly update the existing article and add a new Traveller section. While most of the original article has proven to be spot-on in its accuracy, we specifically felt that a few areas needed a bit more clarity to give the reader a better picture of the 2007 MINI and beyond. So find a comfortable seat, grab a tasty beverage of your choice and read away:
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Feb 28th, 2006
This is the exact same video posted on AutoExpress early this month has shown up on Edmund’s Inside the Line website. However Edmunds also offers some voiced over commentary giving a high-level overview of the new car that is mostly correct. You can check it out below:
[ 2007 MINI Cooper S Video ] Edmunds.com
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Feb 27th, 2006
The car hasn’t even been publicly shown yet and we’ve already got more on the MINI Concept Geneva. This time it’s official video footage that does a much better job than pictures in giving you a sense of the size of features on the concept. You can check it out below:
Windows Media: The Boot (2MB) / The Exterior (4.7MB) / The Interior (4.7MB)
Feb 27th, 2006
Sometimes less is more. For example when it comes to less weight in a particularly sporting car. Which explains why the MINI Cooper S with the John Cooper Works GP Kit is approximately 50 kilos or 110 lb lighter than the “standard” model. Together with an increase in engine power to 160 kW/218 hp for top speed of 235 km/h or 146 mph, this strictly limited special model offers a standard of performance once again significantly better than the performance data of the most powerful MINI available from the factory so far, the MINI Cooper S with its John Cooper Works GP Tuning Kit.
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Feb 26th, 2006
Starting off the podcast week, Gabe and Todd carry on without db about the GP, the Traveller, BMW videocast, the VW Podcast and pants-less podcasting. Plus, a new audio clip from Robert in Toronto!
Subscribe | Show Notes | iTunes Link | Download
Feb 25th, 2006
The Monte Carlo Rally: the birth of the Mini sports car legend.
Dominating the Monte Carlo Rally from 1964 to 1967, Mini set the foundation for its legendary reputation as an extremely fast and above all nimble sports car. Now, commemorating the 100th birth-day of Sir Alec Issigonis, the creator of Mini, in the year 2006 and as a reminder of the outstanding victories brought home by the Mini brand some 40 years ago, MINI Concept Geneva is appearing on the scene as an up-to-date interpretation of that small British racer in its great days.
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Feb 25th, 2006
Mini: great days in the Monte Carlo Rally.
From 1964 to 1967 Mini dominated the Monte Carlo Rally, setting the foundation for its legendary reputation as a highly agile and nimble sports car. Now, commemorating the 100th birthday of Sir Alec Issigonis, the creator of Mini in the year 2006, and as a reminder of the outstanding victories scored by the Mini brand some 40 years ago, MINI Concept Geneva offers an up-to-date interpretation of the small British racer in its great days. In particular, this new concept model presents the core idea
of the Mini Traveller, Mini Countryman, and Mini Clubman Estate in a highly progressive new model variant.
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Feb 24th, 2006
This will be a little old-school for our UK readers but for those of us located outside the MINI motherland it’s definitelty worth a click. This is the 30 second version of a commercial that was running recently in the UK to support the “Make Sure it’s a MINI Adventure” compaign we told you about last summer. Which in itself is a variation on the US Counterfeit MINI Campaign launched awhile back. And yes, it’s also video Friday here at MotoringFile.
[ Make Sure it’s a MINI Adventure ] Google Video
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Feb 24th, 2006
Since it’s officially Cooper Friday (and DIY Friday if you didn’t notice) here at MotoringFile I thought I’d pull out all the stops. Behold, the mother of all DIY projects, the full JCW Cooper Engine Kit. Like its close cousin, the JCW MCS Engine Kit (and another monster DIY in it’s own right) the Cooper JCW kit is best kept in the hands of the professionals. However as a perspective buyer, it’s always nice to see what exactly goes into both the kit and installation.
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Feb 24th, 2006
Here’s one just for the Cooper owners out there. With the recent release of the John Cooper Sound Kit for the Cooper, we’ve had several people ask about the official installation PDF. Well as luck would have it we managed to just have one lying around.
[ JCW Cooper Sound Kit ] Official MINI Installation Instructions
Feb 23rd, 2006
For the second podcast of the week we decided to change gears a bit and stick to some newbie topics. Specifically break-in procedure. We hit everything from brakes, to tires and most of what’s in between. You can download the show, read the show notes, and subscribe via iTunes all below:
Subscribe | Show Notes | iTunes Link | MP3 Link
Feb 22nd, 2006
Another treat for those who are getting a little more excited about the JCW GP these days. We’ve got a minute and a half of the GP zigging, zagging and screeching it’s way through some tasty canyon roads. You can download it in your preferred video codec below:
GP vs The Canyons video:
Quicktime: Large (3.1MB) / Ridiculously Large (11.4MB)
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Feb 22nd, 2006
As a MINI owner and enthusiast there are few things more interesting then taking an official tour of the MINI Oxford Plant. MotoringFile reader Joshua Kane has just taken the tour and has a great review of the trip on his blog. Here’s a quick excerpt:
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Feb 21st, 2006
Mr. Spinelli and Mr. Farago of Jalopnik fame spend some quality time on the MINI in their latest daily podcast. As always it’s interesting to hear other automotive journalists take on the MINI brand. And it’s even better when they’re interesting automotive journalists like these two. Check it out below:
[ Precast: 02.21.06 ] Jalopnik
Feb 21st, 2006
[3:00pm EST: Updated gallery with new photos] Here’s the information and photos many of us have been waiting for. This is the official press kit on the JCW GP for the Geneva Autoshow with final pictures of the new JCW GP:
The MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works (JCW) GP Kit will make its first public viewing at the Geneva Motor Show. The fastest, most powerful production MINI ever will reach 62mph in under 6.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 146mph. The GP has a power output of 218bhp, a stunning 136bhp per litre, and a maximum torque of 245Nm.
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