Want to turn your brand new MINI Clubman into a dump truck? No worries, MINI has an official accessory to help. The Cargo Cover (or Laderaum-Schutzdecke in German) is a large three piece insert that covers the entire rear of the Clubman making perfect for that household chore that you probably shouldn’t have even started.
We brought a couple of these to you earlier this fall but never all in one document. So behold, detailed technical specifications o the entire 2008 line-up. A couple things to note. Due to a change in the way the US government figures MPG ratings, MINI’s numbers are down in this area. But don’t worry - nothing has changed mechanically.
The stretched version of the Mini Cooper had this assortment of monikers during development. In the end, Countryman was discarded for conjuring up rural images when Miniphiles expect street-legal go-karts. Traveller was tossed because it had more legal issues than the others, leaving Clubman.
For almost a year we’ve been reporting that the MINI off-roader (now officially code-named the R60) would either be built at BMW’s Spartanburg SC Plant or by Magna Steyr in Austria. Recently it’s become clear from several sources (and several high-ranking publications) that Magna Steyr had won out and will be building the R60 where the current X3 is produced in Austria. However in this week’s edition, Auto Express is reporting that BMW has apparently not signed the deal yet and will in fact be producing the new MINI in the US. To that we say… huh?
First off we have to admit that the Auto Express track record with recent MINI information isn’t confidence inspiring when it comes to information like this. And our sources appear to be adamant that Austria will be the production location. However the idea of the car being built in the US makes a lot more sense financially due to the current state of currency markets. Especially considering the US make very well make up the largest market for the vehicle.
That said, we still don’t believe a word of it. Expect Magna Steyr to begin production in Austria for the new MINI just in time for the 2010 model year. And expect Auto Express to continue to work hard to sell magazines.
Welcome to our 4th annual MotoringFile MINI Gift Guide. The guide is broken up into five sections and is laid out in a wider format for more room for photos and product information. As in years past, we’ve choosen a wide array of popular gift ideas as well as some relatively obscure ones with prices ranging from free to thousands of dollars.
You can browse each section by clicking the links above. And you’ll find the same top navigation in each of the sections. And for a larger view of each gift idea, just click the image and stand back.
This is the second in a series of official releases by MINI USA that details the US spec 2008 line-up. While there may not be any new info in these releases for the current MINI owner, they represent a good read for those seriously looking at buying a MINI for the 2008 model year. Further coupe information can be found in the MotoringFile R56 section.
Official MINI USA Press Release: Go-kart-driving fun, an interior that provides the maximum amount of car in the minimum amount of space and a myriad of personalization possibilities keep the 2008 MINI Cooper and Cooper S on top of the small-car premium segment – some 800,000 units produced since the 2000 introduction of the first generation new MINI.
We’ve done several R53/R56 comparisons over the past year but one thing we’ve never done is tested two (almost) identically equipped MINIs back to back. Along with that, we’ve never had the right opportunity to equally assess both cars over the right roads and in the right conditions. And while MotoringFile has been the host of multiple articles comparing the two cars, I always felt they missed a little something without back to back drives. This comparison was to be different. We’d be focusing on driving the cars rather than talking about styling, price and all the other hotly contested debates that we’ve hosted on these pages previously.
So the plan was hatched; we’d drive from Chicago to Kalamazoo Michigan with a detour to the Indiana Lakefront. Here we’d find some of the best (and largely unknown) roads in the entire region. Once back on the highway we’d finish with a two hour blast up I94 to Bell’s Brewery, home of one of the most celebrated micro-brewed beers in the US. Along with the two MINIs being tested would be another R53 (’03 vintage) and a chase car in the form of a Porsche 911 Turbo (996).
It’s the time of year in the US again. The time with Kelly Blue book compiles their list of the best resale values. This years Top 10 list, complied by CNN Money, looks very similiar to years past with MINI near the top.
This is the first in a series of official releases by MINI USA that details the US spec 2008 line-up. While there may not be any new info in these releases for the current MINI owner, they represent a good read for those seriously looking at buying a MINI for the 2008 model year. Further convertible information can be found in the MotoringFile R52 section.
The MINI Cooper Convertible and MINI Cooper S Convertible: Genuine MINIThe MINI Cooper
Official MINI USA Press Release: Convertible and MINI Cooper S Convertible bring the fun of open to motoring to the MINI brand. The authentic four-passenger convertibles have been engineered from the ground up to be fun-to-drive cars while offering a high level of safety and practicality.
While our European and UK readers have been enjoying Clubman since November 10th, those of us in the US will have to wait a bit longer - February 16th 2008 to be exact. However, in an effort to make the wait a little more fun, we’ve started the official count-down clock of the US Clubman launch. So anytime, anywhere, you can always come back right here to get an update on your wait.
MINI dealers in the US will have their own launch event from February 11th through the 21st in Las Vegas with the official press event immediately proceeding that.
Quite a topic of discussion here for a while, Leftlanenews reports that a 4th brand from MINI parent BMW is on hold, for now.
BMW has not ruled adding a fourth brand to its automobile family, but any such plans are on hold for the time being, BMW USA boss Tom Purves said at the LA Auto Show.
BMW’s current brands are BMW, MINI and Rolls- Royce. Earlier this year, there was speculation BMW might acquire Volvo or Alfa Romeo as a front-wheel-drive partner to MINI. BMW later decided neither company would be a good match.
In a list that includes the Lexus LS460, Acura TSX, Lincoln MKX and the Lexus IS, MINI Cooper is in pretty good company on Forbes Most Value Packed Car list. Not only good company, but, as we would expect, it lives near the top!
These vehicles prove that our list of Value-Packed Cars is by no means a rundown of the market’s cheapest cars. Now nearly all vehicles come well equipped with convenience and safety features, and manufacturers are doing a much better job of maintaining reliability and quality, both areas that used to vary widely. Shoppers are quite aware that initial price is just a part of the financial pie and that getting a model with a high predicted residual–and thus, higher resale value or lower lease payments–is also important.
Apologies, again, for those of you that get your WRR fix from the Motoringfile player. I was out of town last weekend and neglected to appoint an official WRR-poster-upper in my absence. To make sure you get the shows in a timely fashion, you really should subscribe anyway.
Db is still in Canada so nothing can stop Gabe and Todd from discussing more JCW topics including the R56 JCW Stage 1. Todd has an R56 JCW car for review and he gives first impressions. Gabe talks of driving the R56 JCW and highly modded R53 back to back.
We aren’t working this week with it being Thanksgiving and all. But don’t worry, I’ll have something in the feed for you next week.
Don’t check your calendars. DIY Friday is a day earlier this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday in the US. We’ll be back to the normal schedule next week.
One of the more improved accessories with the R56 has to be the JCW Shift Indicator lights. Where the previous version was big, bulky and rather out of place on the R53, it’s now subtle and integrated on the R56. It also makes a bit more sense on the R56 (rather than the R53) due to the quick revving nature of the engine.
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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: DIY, R55 Nov 30th, 2007 12 Comments 
