Sections: R56 Oct 31st, 2006 18 Comments MINI UK has released another batch of R56 photos today that will coincide with the November 18th launch of the R56 in the UK (and with the rather lengthy press release that will be on the site shortly). Nothing particularly new but they are some great shots nonetheless.
Sections: MTTS Oct 31st, 2006 33 Comments What you see below is an early version of the the official MINI USA MTTS recap. Filmed at produced for BSSP and MINI USA by Rehab, this video does a great job of capturing the MTTS spirit that made the coast to coast trip so special. If you’re a MINI fan at all you need to find ten minutes and watch this video. It’s that good.
Sections: Best of the Web Oct 31st, 2006 8 Comments Yes, it is possible to dress up your MINI
Sections: R56 Oct 29th, 2006 62 Comments 
We have the information many of you have been eagerly waiting for. The full rundown and pricing and options for the 2007 MINIs. Let’s get started…
R56 2007 Cooper: Base MSRP: $18,050 + $650 D&H = $18,700
R52 2007 Cooper Convertible: Base MSRP: $21,950 + $650 D&H = $22,600
R56 2007 Cooper S: Base MSRP: $21,200 + $650 D&H = $21,850
R52 2007 Cooper S Convertible: Base MSRP: $25,400 + $650 D&H = $26,050
The Cooper’s base price of $17,450 before destination will increase $600.00. For the increase all Coopers will see the same standard equipment as the R50 and also include On Board Trip Computer, All Season Traction Control, and a Sport Mode Button. The Sport Button will increase throttle response, tighten up the steering, and (if you have an automatic transmission) it’ll add a sportier shifting program. You will also see a standard Getrag six speed manual transmission as well as a rear spoiler.
The R53 Cooper S’s $20,900 base price will increase only a mere $300.00 and will include everything the Cooper has and additionally standard fog lamps. Starting in March production both models will receive pre wiring for Sirius and HD radio.
Sections: Podcast Oct 29th, 2006 1 Comment 
A shorty for you tonight. Todd and I talk again about the Wikipedia page, the time change that db just couldn’t get right and more problems with talking on a Saturday afternoon.
Plus Todd drools more over the new Alcantara componets he has picked up for his GP and db throws down a good rant or two. Good times, good times. Plus, you can keep an eye for the John Cooper Garages website to re-open this week.
Next time you are at the Owners Lounge at MINIUSA.com, you will see they are asking for stories from you, the MINI owner, for inclusion in the new miniusa.com. So, give them your story, but we would really like it if you could mention us over at White Roof Radio. Just a little mention would be cool and the ultimate way for you spread the word!
Sections: Podcast Oct 29th, 2006 3 Comments db and Todd carry on without Gabe tonight with news of the week. Well, Gabe was with us, you just need to listen for him. Plus, it was Saturday so we both had a hard time talking.
As has been commented and emailed in (THANKS EVERYONE!), the for sure fix to keep your iPod from crashing with mono podcasts is to turn off the EQ on your iPod. This week Todd encoded the show in stereo, so it shouldn’t crash your iPod even with the EQ turned on.
Sections: R56 Oct 28th, 2006 8 Comments [ Update: We’ve got much more detailed (and correct) information now posted above.]
Our friends at Winding Road appear to have the scoop on 2007 MINI pricing. At this point we have yet to confirm these numbers but they appear to be in-line with what we were expecting:
Current Cooper (2006) — Base MSRP: $17,450 + $550 D&H = $18,000 New Cooper (2007) —Base MSRP: $18,050 + $650 D&H = $18,700
Current Cooper S (2006) —Base MSRP: $20,900 + $550 D&H = $21,450 New Cooper S (2007) —Base MSRP: $21,200 + $650 D&H = $21,850
In other words, you’ll shell out $700 more for a base Cooper than you would for the outgoing model and a more reasonable $400 extra for a Cooper S.
You can read more here:
[ 2007 US MINI Prices ] Winding Road
Sections: Best of the Web, MF Mailbox Oct 28th, 2006 6 Comments We’re you one of the unfortunate that was not able to get a GP? Remote control car maker Carisma has you covered.
Sections: In the Press Oct 28th, 2006 1 Comment Dow Jones Newswire got an interview recently with Dr. Kay Segler and spoke with him about the growth of MINI.
BMW AG’s (BMW.XE) Mini brand is on track for future growth as the division prepares for the roll-out of its revamped Mini generation, the head of Mini and vice president of brand management Kay Segler told Dow Jones Newswires late Monday.
“We have further growth potential in every market we’re presently in at the moment”, Segler said at the sidelines of an evening event for the launch of the new Mini Cooper S model in Europe. Additionally, BMW “is likely to launch the Mini brand in India in around two years time,” Segler said. “Another potential new market is Brazil,” he added, without elaborating on the timeline. Segler said he’s also “very upbeat” about sales potential in China.
Sections: In the Press Oct 28th, 2006 6 Comments Only the police pursuit cars, helicopters and gold bullion were missing from a very MINI Italian Job chase scene played out in the heart of Sydney today.
For the many visitors to MINI CHASE set at King Street Wharf, the thrill ride experience was a prelude to three further days of driving fantasy which reprise next Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
MINI CHASE is a four-day seat-of-the-pants skilled driving exhibition, open to the public, which delivers a tempting taste of MINI motoring in the fast lane.
Based loosely around a tribute to the whip-cracking, round-the-houses, dodging down detours and kerb-hopping antics of The Italian Job films, which starred MINI Cooper S cars in 1969 and 2002, MINI Chase today gave VIP visitors and MINI enthusiasts the opportunity to experience a MINI Cooper S at full noise in Darling Harbour.
Sections: MF Mailbox Oct 28th, 2006 12 Comments 
But not like you have ever seen before. There is a Japanese company that makes a Kei car, as well as the newly introduced Suzuki MR Wagon, look like a MINI or VW Beetle.
Blog Auto already leaned on several occasions on this strange propensity of the Japanese to disguise their cars in the other cars. A recent mania which must be connected in the psychÒ© national one with this other hobby popular, the cosplay, which a pleasure will be made of explaining you in detail the amateur of mangas of your entourage. Always it is that the discovery of today is a new manifestion of this phenomenon, with the company ESB STYLE which claims this time to graft an air of BMW Mini to various kei, of which the news Suzuki MR. Wagon and Mitsubishi older.
Sections: MTTS, Video Oct 27th, 2006 4 Comments 
Fireball Tim and his crew for episode #2 of his MTTS journal. This time, from Vegas!
[ Fireball Tim MTTS, episode 2 ] CarTV.com
Sections: R56, Video Oct 27th, 2006 11 Comments The Dutch NewMINIclub.nl was officially invited by MINI Netherlands to attended the official R56 Media Launch. This included a plant tour in Oxford and driving the R56 around Barcelona.
Thanks MF Reader Berthil for sending this in
Sections: R56 Oct 27th, 2006 11 Comments For all you looking for something to really accomplish this Friday, both the French and German 2007 MINI configurators are live and ready to be abused during work hours.
[ MINI.fr/configurator ] MINI of France
[ MINI.de/configurator ] MINI of Germany
And a friendly reminder, a super extra dope MINI USA configurator will be making its debut sometime in December.
Sections: Video Oct 27th, 2006 15 Comments This week on MF Video Friday we’ve got some classic Top Gear and a Classic Mini. For anyone who’s seen recent Top Gear it’s pretty much the same, except back then Clarkson had a dead animal attached to the back of his head and the classic Mini was well, not quite classic yet.
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