A unique story of success is entering the next round: The MINI, the world’s best-selling small premium car, is entering its second model generation.
Making its world debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, the new MINI is really new in every respect five years after its predecessor entered the market. As the top performer in its class, the new MINI is making its way to the road with brand-new four-cylinder power units. And despite even better performance and sportiness, the new MINI is even more economical and fuel-efficient than its predecessor.
We cover Gabe’s review of the Kumho Ecsta SPT fairly well. We are overdue for a real live tire show and I’m working on getting one together as I type this. Watch for it sometime after Woof 100. Don’t forget our disappointment in the lack of a good online translator, a car that changes to a briefcase and moving sidewalks. We also spend a fair amount of time discussing the design of the R56.
If you are intested in listening in on Woofcast 100 and 101 as we record it, full details are posted here. It should be a good time and we can’t wait!
What do a a bunch of kids doing parkour to French rap, Boy George, and a fast talking, German speaking Asian girl have in common? They are all part of the maddness that is the “MINI Urban Tour”. Here’s a quick look at what to expect if you see the big black bus in your town.
MINI released another batch of R56 photos today to go along with the initial release last month. Nothing particularly new we haven’t seen, just a bit more detail.
This morning MINI officially launched the R56 at the Paris Motorshow. The following is a transcript of the speech given by Dr. Michael Ganal at the event:
Ladies and Gentlemen -
Welcome to the MINI Stand here at the Mondial de l’Automobile 2006 in Paris!
I am delighted that you have come here today to celebrate the birth of the new MINI. In a few minutes, it will emerge from the egg right behind me.
Some of you might ask why we are launching a new MINI now. The old one was really very attractive, and- since its launch in 2001 - it went from success to success. To this day, we have sold a total of over 875,000 MINI vehicles. For the last five years, we have been communicating that we cannot completely satisfy demand.
Neben dem MINI Hatchback und dem MINI Cabriolet wurde mit dem MINI Concept Car im Herbst 2005 auf der Frankfurter Automesse erstmals ein Ausblick auf die weitere Zukunft von MINI gewÒ¤hrt. In dieser Studie verspricht MINI neben FahrspaÒŸ und altbewÒ¤hrtem GoKartfeeling ein ganz neuartiges Fahrkonzept. Dazu passend hat MINI jetzt den Werdegang dieses Zukunftsautos in einem einzigartigen Buch verewigt. Ein Grundkonzept, vier Interpretationen, vier StÒ¤dte: Das “MINI Concept for the Future” Buch dokumentiert die Entwicklung von vier Studien, die alle auf Basis eines Grundkonzepts fÒ¼r die Automobilmessen in Frankfurt, Tokio, Detroit und Genf entstanden. Das Buch im Stil eines “Coffee Table Book” erscheint in limitierter Auflage von nur 3000 StÒ¼ck und ist ab sofort in den Regalen von ausgewÒ¤hlten, internationalen Buchhandlungen erhÒ¤ltlich.
SCCA Solo Nationals started in Topeka Kansas on Tuesday.  The autocross nationals run through Friday, with some classes competing on Tuesday and Wednesday and the remainder competing on Thursday and Friday. Each class will run on both the East and West course and the best time each driver has from each couse will be used to determine the overall placing.ÂÂ
Morgens im BÒ¼ro. Nachmittags am Strand. Oder abends im eigenen Wohnzimmer. Der perfekte Ort fÒ¼r ein kÒ¼hles GetrÒ¤nk ist der, an dem man sich gerade befindet. Deshalb gibt es jetzt die Urban Chill Box aus der aktuellen MINI Collection. Die hochwertige KÒ¼hlbox im auÒŸergewÒ¶hnlichen MINI Design ist besonders leicht zu transportieren und funktioniert wahlweise mit Strom aus der Steckdose. Und nicht nur das: Bei Bedarf verwandelt sich die Urban Chill Box auÒŸerdem von einer KÒ¼hl- in eine WÒ¤rmbox mit einer Innentemperatur von bis zu 65 Grad Celsius.
Auch wenn das KÒ¼hlen ihre Hauptaufgabe ist: Die Urban Chill Box aus der MINI Collection 2006/2007 lÒ¤st niemanden kalt. DafÒ¼r sorgt schon ihr Ò„uÒŸeres im unwiderstehlichen MINI Look. Zwei Versionen der Urban Chill Box sind erhÒ¤ltlich, beide tragen das legendÒ¤re MINI Logo an der Vorderseite: Eine Version ganz in Schwarz und die andere in Anlehnung an die vier legendÒ¤ren MINI Dachflaggen, jeweils mit Flaggendekor auf der TÒ¼r.
The MC’s in H-Stock had their first runs at SCCA Solo Nationals on Thursday.   Each class will run on both the East and West course and the best time each driver has from each couse will be used to determine the overall placing.
In the first day of H-stock competition, MC owners took 5 of the top 6 spots and made up 13 of the 22 entires.
Word has it that the second round of GPs to be delivered in the US is scheduled to arrive the second week of October. Many of the special editions are on ships bound for US shores as of this writing. Approximately 360 GPs remain to be delivered in the US and they should filter in throughout the month of October and into November. A total of 41 out of the 415 US bound GPs were delivered during the bookend dates of MINI Takes the States in August and early September.
Even though the 2006 JCW GP is technically not the last of this generation of MINIs to be sold and shipped, one can safely speculate that on the timeline of MINI history the GP will mark the end of one era and the 2007 R56 will mark the beginning of the next. You can virtually count on a next generation GP, or something similar to it, to roll out near the end of the R56 era. But for now GP owners worldwide can enjoy owning the fastest and highest horsepower production MINI that’s ever been made.
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1st Gen MINI R50: One & MC Coupe R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt. R53: MCS Coupe 2nd Gen MINI R55: Clubman R56: One/MC/MCS Coupe R57: One/MC/MCS Convt. R60: MINI SUV
Sections: Official News, R56 Sep 30th, 2006 24 Comments 
News of the week and details for Woofcast 100.
