Dec 31st, 2007
For better or worse 2007 was the year of the R56. With MINI launching the second generation of the new MINI, we obviously focused on the car and all the hype surrounding it for much of the larger stories and reviews of the year. But thankfully R56 related stories don’t make up the entire top ten. 2007 also saw the debut of the Clubman and the largest MINI event to date – MINI United. So without further delay, the envelope please… continued →
Dec 30th, 2007
It was a pretty slow week around these parts with the holidays. We did get that great greating card from the MINI Design Team and there were a few DIYs posted if you are looking to install a JCW Aerokit, a badge holder on your R56 or your R50/R53.
You could also vote for the R56 in the Cnet Car Tech Awards or be stunned and amazed with Jezza’s Clubman review.
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Dec 28th, 2007
This time from Topgear.com. It’s hard to tell if they really hate the Clubman, or maybe don’t mind it so much.
No, I’m talking about inventions. The Mini Clubman shows why it’s a poor idea to uninvent the hatchback. Instead of a top-hinged tailgate, you get two doors that open like they used to on the original Mini Traveller. Or, if you’re less than about 40 years old, like they do on a white van.
Because the law says you have to be able to see the rear lights from behind even when a car’s boot is open, the Clubman has its lights fixed to the car, poking through an aperture in each door. Which seems a cute idea in theory. In practice it isn’t.
They go on to point out something that nobody else has, really. Rear visability. And by nobody I mean every reviewer on earth.
Drive it and a vertical black bar, thick enough to swallow a motorbike, barges through the middle of the rear-view mirror. And when there are two people in the back, as the Clubman’s extended wheelbase allows, you can’t even peer around the side of it.
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Dec 28th, 2007
After posting the R56 instructions yesterday, it occurred to us that we had never officially offered the first generation MINI’s grille badge instructions on the site. So if you have an R50, R52 or R53 and a few favorite magnetic MotoringBadge’s in mind, here’s your official DIY PDF straight from MINI.
[ R50/R52/R53 Grille Badge Holder ] Official MINI PDF
Dec 27th, 2007
So you just bought an R56 and want to get a few of MotoringBadge’s magnetic badges for the grille. Up until today you’d have to buy aftermarket holder or modify the previous version that fit the first generation MINI. Finally after what seemed like an enternal wait for some owners, MINI has released an badge holder for the R56 and (as you guessed it) we have the official PDF instructions.
[ R56 Grille Badge Holder ] Official MINI PDF
Dec 26th, 2007
CNet’s car division is looking for the 2007 Tech Car of the year. Among the list of 10 cars they picked that they think have great technology is, of course, the 2007 MINI Cooper S.
We looked back at the cars we’ve seen this year and came up with 10 nominees for Tech Car of the Year. These cars all showed good cabin technology packages, with some interesting powertrain and platform tech.
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Dec 25th, 2007
We here at MF will be busy thinking about things that aren’t MINI related today so news will be rather scarce. But if you feel the need to read some MINI related articles, check out the last five years of MotoringFile by clicking the archive link above (or better yet) read it all via our MINI related categories in the top left.
…and Merry Christmas!
