Archive for August 2006
Aug 31st, 2006
Just back from a whirlwind MTTS trip that went above and beyond all my expectations. We got to St. Louis a little too late for the baseball game but just in time for a little after hours MTTS party. Early this morning Todd and I headed out to the Arch. At this point the GP was starting to sink in as a real live car and I must say that it was getting better looking the more I saw it.
After our Arch photo opp was over I was handed the keys to a GP courtesy of MINI USA. I might add that this particular car was broken in by none other than Fireball Tim and Hubie (the men responsible for the fastest MINI in the world). So I got some quality time to the tune of about four hours with the GP. First impressions: better than wow. This car is a complete package like nothing we’ve ever seen before. It’s not the fastest MINI out there, just the most complete MINI I’ve ever drive. MINI and BMW did a great job inside and out with the small details. The look of the car really makes sense in the real world as compared to the 2D world as seen on this site or countless magazines. In other words, don’t make your mind on this car’s looks until you’ve seen it in the flesh.
continued →
Aug 30th, 2006
As we reported 18 months back, MINI’s new navigation system will indeed feature a simplified iDrive-like controller behind the shifter. The controller will mange an interface that is similar to the BMW iDrive system but redesigned to look a bit more MINI like. The main screen (as seen in the image above) will feature “entertainment”, “communication”, “navigation”, and a link for set-up. This is very different than the version found in the latest 3 series which also includes a link for controlling the climate control. It’s assumed that BMW decided to keep the climate system in the new MINI controlled exclusively via the standard interface found on the center stack.
continued →
Advertisement
Aug 30th, 2006
FINALLY Gabe gets to play along with the MTTS coverage! Actually behind the wheel of a GP he tells us what he thinks. Plus, an update from Fireball Tim on last nights happenings and a special birthday wish for his wife Cathy!
I’m seeing lots of voicemails coming in gang! Keep ‘em coming. I’ll be doing another voicemail show later this week. You know the number, right? (206) 33_WHITE
Download || Subscribe | 14:00 | 9.62MB
Aug 30th, 2006
Several weeks back we brought you a link about a company that was creating a fully electric MINI. The concept includes four electric motors (one per wheel) with a combined horsepower of 640. This information has circulated quietly on the web for over a month now with little notice outside the MINI community. Until today when a Treehugger.com story was posted on Digg. So with all this recent publicity we thought we’d re-post a link to the information for those that missed it the first time around.
[ The Hybrid MINI ] Treehugger.com
Advertisement
Aug 30th, 2006
MINI UK has been working with the charity Whizz-Kidz since 2002 and has helped raise funds and awareness during this time. With the launch of the new MINI on the horizon, the time is right to see how MINI can help another organisation. From January 2007, MINI will be offering its support to a new charity partner. Whizz-Kidz is dedicated to transforming the quality of life of disabled children and young people across the UK through the provision of customised mobility equipment, training and advice.
continued →
Aug 29th, 2006
This morning I caught Fireball Tim and Hubie Fuh on their way to St. Louis via Metropolis. Hubie told me about his plans for breaking more records in New Jersey and Tim can’t wait to meet Superman!
Don’t forget, if you have anything to add to our MTTS coverage, feel free to leave us a voicemail message at (206) 33-WHITE!
And watch for Gabe and Todd in St. Louis later today as well! Tell ‘em db says hi!
Download | Subscribe | 11:26 | 7.89MB
Advertisement
Aug 29th, 2006
Looks like another automaker will be trying to emulate the MINI sales success. Automotive News is reporting that Alfa Romeo is planning on building a MINI fighter for 2008. Here’s an excerpt from the article:
Due by 2008, the Junior will become Alfa’s new entry model, fitting below the lower-premium 147, which will be replaced in late 2008 by the larger 149.
continued →
Aug 28th, 2006
Edmunds Inside Line has a new photo of the MINI clubman test mule with one of the rear “barn doors” open. Keeping in mind that this is a test mule, some noteable features still stand out from the photo:
- The doors feature a simple hinge, not the complicated parallelogram hinge shown in the concept.
- The clean lines of the concept’s rear doors show some signs of changing to incorporate the rear license plate and the lights to illuminate it.
- The tail lamps move with the door in the photo. This isn’t expected to carry over to production. Rather, much like the Concept the tail lamps may remain attached to the body, and the rear doors would have holes in them that the tail lights would sit behind.
continued →
Advertisement
Aug 28th, 2006
After some creative scheduling changes I’m happy to report that I’ll be joining Todd (along with some friends from Chicago) at the St. Louis and Indianapolis MTTS stops. I’ll be arriving Tuesday evening in St. Louis and then doing the leg to Indy. I’ll also get a chance to get behind the wheel of a GP for some initial thoughts before my long term test this fall. Both Todd and I will have photos on the MTTS & MotoringFile Flickr site throughout the short trip.
Aug 28th, 2006
This was reported on yesterday’s Whiterooradio MTTS update but I thought it was worth a second mention:
Picture it: a young MINI owner is enjoying MTTS while driving in downtown Dallas. In an effort to get to the MTTS party the he makes a completely safe (however slightly illegal) u-turn in the middle of the street. As fate would have it (cue dramatic music) one of the Dallas po-po happen to see the nifty move and decide to throw the book at our young friend by giving him a $200 ticket. (mental note: u-turns in Dallas aren’t a great idea.)
But here’s where MINI saves the day. Head of MINI USA Jim Mcdowell heard of the unfortunate incident and decided to right the wrong of Dallas’ finest by giving the ticketed MINI owner a $200 MINI MotoringGear gift certificate.
Aug 28th, 2006
1 week down, about 8 more days to go. If you are still running, don’t worry, you are almost there!
I actually wanted to take this time to recap the week in pictures. There are lots of excellent pictures getting posted around the MINI Community and I wanted to get a few samples posted here!
continued →
Aug 27th, 2006
What? Was that Stracco again? Giving us a weather report? We get the chance to speak with him during the Woofcast and the accessory development manager for MINI. Plus, news of the week.
Feedback? You know what to do. Leave a comment below OR email us feedback@whiteroofradio.com OR play along with the voicemail line at (206) 33-WHITE.
Show Notes | WRR @ iTunes | Subscribe
Aug 27th, 2006
Fireball Tim, driving from Dallas to Memphis on the longest segment of MTTS, gives us an update about last nights festivities in Dallas at the Gypsy Tea Room.
Sounds like a great time! A couple of HUGE surprises, but you are going to have to listen!
Don’t forget, if you want to share your experience during MTTS, call up the voicemail line at (206) 33-WHITE and we’ll be playing those back in the upcoming week.
Download | 9:41 | 6.65MB | Subscribe
Aug 26th, 2006
Today, Todd is on his way home after participating on the first 5 stops of MTTS. He gives us his thoughts on the event and, of course, his new GP.
But don’t think our coverage is going to stop here! Fireball Tim will be on-the-MTTS-road correspondant from here on. And, if you like, you can too. If you are participating in MTTS, even only 1 leg, feel free to call in to the voicemail line at (206) 33-WHITE with your experience and we’ll post that later next week!
Download | Subscribe | 15:23 | 10.5MB
Aug 26th, 2006
Service. Ask any MINI owner and you’re likely to hear both good and bad tales. For a brand new car and brand new company it’s certainly an understandable issue. However for BMW and MINI, anything less than good was unacceptable. This week’s Autoweek covers MINI’s effort to make the bad service good and the good service great. Here’s an excerpt:
“When we first launched, we knew we had had a good brand and purchase experience. But Mini owners felt they were second-class citizens in the service area,” says Richard Steinberg, manager of aftersales and product strategy for Mini, in Woodcliff Lake, N.J. “We were getting dinged by quality at the service level.”
continued →
Browse Pages:
Next Page »
