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Archive for May 2008

Live Woofcast tonight

MotoringFile Sections: Podcast May 15th, 2008 6 Comments

Video tonight. Click the link to watch and chat.


AC Schnitzer Tunes the Clubman

MotoringFile Sections: In the Press, R55 May 15th, 2008 14 Comments

acclubman11.jpg acclubman21.jpg acclubman31.jpg

As they have with the R56, AC Schnitzer has decided to turn their skills toward the Clubman.

They have boosted power to 226hp and 210ft/lb of torque. Added a new body kit and a very interesting exhaust ’silencer’ that should help keep sound levels in check with local law enforcement. Add the newly designed 18″ wheel and there you have it. Full press release after the jump.

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Prestige MINI

R57 MINI Convertible Spied in the States

MotoringFile Sections: R57 May 15th, 2008 11 Comments

cabriospy2.jpgLeftlanenews has more spy shots of the 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible. Still with the top up, but they are doing some testing here.

This MINI is due out spring of 2009. And until we get to see it with the top down, follow the link below for the most current spy shots as well as a bunch since December 2007.

You can keep up with all of the R57 news right here at Motoringfile as well, just watch the R57 section.

[ Spied: 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible in America ] Leftlanenews.com

CNet Reviews the Clubman

MotoringFile Sections: R55 May 14th, 2008 8 Comments

2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman video - CNET TVBrian Cooley from CNet Car Tech takes his turn with the MINI Clubman S. It’s an interesting review to say the least.

Of course he doesn’t like the rear pillar or the Club door. Also, it would seem he isn’t a huge fan of the Automatic Transmission either.

It’s a great way to spend 3 1/2 minutes if you don’t have anything to do. If you are a fan of the 1 Series, he does a pretty good review of that as well immediately following the Clubman review.

Thanks everyone for sending this in!

[ 2008 MINI Cooper Clubman S Review ] Cnettv.com

Minspeed.net

MINI USA’s JCW Ordering Guide PDF

MotoringFile Sections: JCW, R55, R56 May 13th, 2008 15 Comments

A few weeks ago we talked about timelines and general information on the JCW cars. This week we’ve got the final (and official) ordering guides from MINI USA. You can grab them below.

+ MINI USA JCW Ordering Guide / MINI USA Official PDF

For more information check out our previous story on all things JCW and MINI USA related.

White Roof Radio #244

MotoringFile Sections: Podcast May 12th, 2008 No Comments

miniTo start, get used to hearing the reminder about MTTS, coming up in just a few weeks! Don’t forget to register.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for a new badge from Motoringbadges.com. The ‘I’m the Stig’ badge is very cool and it’s the next one coming!

So, live again tonight, sans Gabe. So Todd and I spent some time talking about electric cars. Of course we’d love to hear your thoughts about electric cars as well!

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Knauz MINI

iPhone your MINI: The Shure Music Phone Adaptor Reviewed

MotoringFile Sections: DIY, R50, R53, R55, R56 May 12th, 2008 3 Comments

This one sent in by MF regular Nathaniel Salzman. It’s a great way to get iPhone integration in your MINI without breaking the bank!

MINI iPhone integration: The Shure Music Phone Adaptor

The topic of iPod integration in the MINI is nothing new on MotoringFile. Options abound for getting your music through the speakers of your MINI’s stereo. With everything from integrated factory and ICE-LINK adaptors, to factory AUX port adaptors, to head-unit replacement. Each option has its inherent advantages of function and integration, and disadvantages of sound quality, chord management, or price.

Another common topic is that of mobile phone integration, particularly BlueTooth solutions both OEM and after market. Like with iPod integration, the available solutions vary in cost, compatibility, and function.

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White Roof Radio #243

MotoringFile Sections: Podcast May 11th, 2008 No Comments

miniLive again, audio only since I wasn’t wearing pants. Also, we got Gabe for tonight, but he was too wiped out to keep going, so tomorrow it’s just Todd and myself.

If you haven’t yet, don’t forget to register for MTTS! Remember, if you don’t register you won’t get the free bag of swag! And, if you are going to LA, come by and look us up. We will be celebrating our 3rd anniversary!

To those of you that have offered to run the WRR myspace page, I will be getting back to you later this week. Thanks!

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MINI of Manhattan

2008 MTTS is Coming, Will You Be There?

MotoringFile Sections: Events, MTTS May 9th, 2008 27 Comments

Sure the price of gas is going through the roof with no relief in site. But, if you are really a MINI person, trust me when I say this is an event you are not going to want to miss!

If MTTS this year is half as cool as MINI United was last year, it’s going to be awesome! Check out the MTTS site to get the lowdown on all of the events that will be going on. Don’t forget to subscribe via RSS or email to get those updates as they happen! Of course, the games and activities are cool to be sure, but the real reason you’re going is for the MINIs and the people. If you have never experienced a large scale MINI event, you will be in for a treat!

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BMW & MINI Win Engine of the Year Awards

MotoringFile Sections: Awards, Official News May 9th, 2008 9 Comments

Official BMW Press Release: Munich / Stuttgart. With six awards for five engines gained at this year’s “International Engine of the Year Awards”, BMW has successfully defended its position as the world’s leading manufacturer of efficient high-performance power units. For the second time in succession, the 3-litre straight six engine with Twin Turbo and High Precision Injection has won the overall ranking in this most significant international engine competition. The 225 kW/306 bhp engine employed in the BMW 3 Series, the BMW 1 Series Coupe and Convertible, as well as in the new BMW X6, also has repeated last year’s victory in the 2.5 to 3-litre engine category.

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White Roof Radio LIVE Tonight!

MotoringFile Sections: Podcast May 8th, 2008 12 Comments

miniThat’s right, going for 3 in a row. Todd and I will be doing the Woofcast live tonight via uStream.tv.

Thanks again to everyone for stopping by and listening along! If you missed it, don’t worry, this is getting very easy for us to do and we will doing it more often than not in the future.

Check back at 9PM CST (7PST, 10EST, 8MTN, 4HST, 03GMT) for all the action. Last time we did this at night we had over 50 people. Lets try to break that tonight!

Worldwide MINI Sales up 17.5% for April

MotoringFile Sections: Sales May 8th, 2008 2 Comments

clubman

Official BMW Press Release: Sales of the MINI brand continued to be very positive. In the month just past, 21,463 MINI were delivered to customers, 17.5% more than in April 2007 (18,264). For the year to April, 79,680 MINI were sold, which represents an increase of 22.1% (prev.yr.: 65,244).

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Gas Prices Driving Buyers to Smaller Cars

MotoringFile Sections: Best of the Web, Efficiency May 8th, 2008 19 Comments

Sales ChartA great article via the Paper of record. It would seem that those SUV drivers are really getting tired of having to swipe their credit cards twice to fill up their tanks.

In what industry analysts are calling a first, about one in five vehicles sold in the United States was a compact or subcompact car during April, based on monthly sales data released Thursday. Almost a decade ago, when sport utility vehicles were at their peak of popularity, only one in every eight vehicles sold was a small car.

Amazing stats. Oh, but there’s more.

Sales of Toyota’s subcompact Yaris increased 46 percent, and Honda’s tiny Fit had a record month. Ford’s compact Focus model jumped 32 percent in April from a year earlier. All those models are rated at more than 30 miles per gallon for highway driving.

Not to mention MINIUSA Sales up almost 40% for April.

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Japanese Honda Powered Classic Mini

MotoringFile Sections: Best of the Web, Motorsports May 7th, 2008 14 Comments

Race MiniYou have to give it to the good lads over at Jalopnik. Besides being huge fans of the Chevy El Camino, they also find some of the coolest stuff you’ll ever see on a car. Case in point, this race-prepped Mini.

Here are things we know about this racing Mini from Japan: mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive, gigantic wheels, Honda B18c engine. We’re not sure what compelled this individual to take the original Mini platform and flip it on its head, but we’d like to see this thing take on a Renault R5 powered by an SR2ODE motor for some reason. Clearly, what the Mini has been missing all this time is Integra Type-R power.

I’ve seen this done with a MINI (mid-engine BMW 6), but not in a Classic. Crazy.

[ Japanese Mini Cooper Does Everything Backwards ] Jalopnik.com

BMW & PSA Making Engines Together (Again)

MotoringFile Sections: Official News May 6th, 2008 19 Comments

As we indicated on BimmerFile a few days ago (we sat on it for a while as per a request from a source) BMW would be utilizing engines similar to the four cylinder turbo specifically utilized in the John Cooper Works MINI Cooper S. Today it was all made official:

(Official Press Release) Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. will use the four-cylinder engines it has jointly developed with French carmaker PSA in BMW brand cars, chief executive Norbert Reithofer said in a pre-release of his interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. He said the future generation of the BMW 1 Series will be fitted with these four-cylinder engines. The report said BMW had previously intended to use these engines only in the MINI brand cars. Reithofer also disclosed the new generation of the BMW 7-Series, which will be launched this year, will be fitted with a new hybrid engine.

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Previous Select MF Features

2007
MINI Officially Updates Line-up for 2008
New Models & Production Locations Confirmed
MotoringFile's MINI United Coverage
2007 JCW Kit Officially Announced
MINI's Top Secret Colorado Project
2009 Factory JCW MCS (Stage II)
More MINI Variants Officially Confirmed
MINI Clubman Official Photos and Specs
R56 Pedestrian Crash Analysis
Future JCW Vehicles Revealed
MINI USA's Motorby Pilot Program
MINI Clubman Update & Sketch
BMW To Re-Brand JCW
2007 MINI MotoringFile Q&A
MINI One and MINI Cooper D Now Official
2007 MINI Reader Reviews
2007 MINI USA Pricing and Options
MINI Unveils the Sidewalk

2006
MF Design Analysis: 2007 MINI
2007 JCW Accessories Revealed
MINI Names the R55: The Clubman 2007 MINI In Detail (Part 2 / Part 3)
2007 MINI Official Photos (Part 2 / Part 3)
2007 MINI Drops Weight
Official 2007 MINI UK PDFs
2007 Nav Includes iDrive-Like Controller
2007 US Market Options Packages
Hey Stracco: The Interview
Let's Plan: MINI Clubs & MTTS
MINI's Official R56 Preview Photos
MINI's Official R56 Preview
Next Generation MINI Revealed (#2)
'07 MC & MCS Spotted in Death Valley
2007 MINI Color List (US Market)
'07 MINI Gets More Power/Less Weight
MF Review: MINIs on the Dragon
MINI USA Releases JCW GP Pricing
JCW Cooper S Long Term Review
Seven New Colors for 2007
MINI Release Info on Next Gen Engines
Chicago Autoshow Gallery
JCW GP at Geneva (final release info)
2006 JCW Product Info
MINI Concept Detroit - In Detail
MINI Sourced Triump Still Years Away
US Connection for MINI's new Roadster
First MINI Now Triumph?
More News on the MINI Triumph Concept

2005
Behind the Wheel of the 2007 MINI
MINI Concept Tokyo - In Detail
MINI Concept Frankfurt - In Detail
Driven: The Nürburgring Nordschleife
MINI Wins at Targe Newfoundland
2006 JCW Accessories
US Market Color Changes for 2006
Getrag's All Wheel Drive MINI In Depth
BMW/MINI to Buy JCW?
Official 2006 MINIUSA Pricing
Special Editions/Package for 2006
Checkmate Options Package (USA)
JCW Direct From to the Factory in '06
Tips on How to Sell Your MINI
2006 Model Year Timeline
MINI's 2006 Color Changes
Next Generation MINI Revealed
Official MINI Armrest Revealed
MotoringFile Review: MCS Auto

2004
Details on the MCS Limited Slip Dif
MotoringFile 2004 Holiday Gift Guide
Getrag Tests All-Wheel Drive MINI
Q&A on the OutMotoring ARC Armrest
2005 Chicago Auto Show / Gallery
MINI USA's JCW GP Delivery Program
2005 MINI Changes
The Cabrio In Depth / Gallery
Special Edition MC40 / Gallery
MINI Plant Tour Review
Hood Rub Service Bulletin
2004 Chicago Auto Show / Gallery

2003
MINI Accessory Additions for 2004
CVT Paddles Retrofit
2005 MINI Spotted
Rear Fogs Almost Here
New Prince Engine Caught Testing
MINI Releases Hood Rub Bulletin
MINI_Motion Launched
MINI Conquers Snow and Ice
MINI One D Announced
MINI Named North American Car of the Year
Otto's MINI
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MotoringFile Buyers Guides

R50 ('02-'06 MC) Buyers Guide
R53 ('02-'06 MCS) Buyers Guide

MotoringFile Reviews

Auto Reviews:
'08 MINI Clubman
Comparison: '08 BMW 135i
'06 R53 MCS vs '07 R56 MCS
'07 R56 JCW (Stage 1)
'07 MINI Cooper S Long Term
'07 BMW Z4 M Coupe
'07 MINI Cooper & Cooper S
Audio: '07 MC/MCS at the Track
'06 JCW GP Long term
Reader Review: JCW GP
'06 JCW Cooper S Long Term
Comparison: '06 Lotus Elise
Comparison: '06 Mazda MX5
Comparison: '06 UK Focus ST
Comparison: '06 Civic Si
Comparison: '04 TVR T350
Comparison: '06 Nissan 350z
Comparison: '06 VW GTI w/DSG
Podcast: Cooper S Auto
Podcast: BMW 325i
Podcast: JCW MC Soundkit
'04 JCW MINI Cooper Tuning Kit
'05 MCS: One Month Review
'05 MCS Auto
'05 JCW S 1st Drive
'05 MINI Cooper
'05 MCS Conv. Long Term
'05 MINI Cooper S
'05 MCS Cabrio 1st Drive
'04 JCW MCS First Drive
'04 MC w/JCW Tuning Kit
BMW M3 SMG Vs. MCS
'04 MINI Cooper CVT
'02 MCS 3 year Review
Autocrossing the MINI Range

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Performance Accessories:
R56 JCW Suspension (Track)
R56 JCW Suspension (Street)
R53 Craven Speed Short Shifter
R53 M7 Understrut System
Kumho Ecsta SPT Tires
R53 M7 Strut Tower Plates
R53 JCW Alcantara Wheel
R53 JCW Brake Kit
R53 Webb 15% Pulley
R53 Helix MCSa 15% Pulley
R53 H-Sport 19mm Sway Bar
R53 MCS Supersprint Exhaust
Podcast: R53 MCS SS Exhaust
R53 JCW Cold Air Intake
Reader Rev.: R53 JCW Brakes
R50 Supersprint Exhaust
R50 Remus Exhaust
R50 Promini Intake
R50 Remus Dual Exhaust
Schroth Harness System
R50 CVT Steering Wheel Paddles

Exterior Accessories:
Miniature's Receiver Hitch
OEM White Tail Lights

Lifestyle Accessories:
MINI_Motion Watch
MINI_Motion Driving Shoe

Audio:
MINI Digital SoundModul
ICE-Link Plus iPod Adapter
Official BMW/iPod adapter
ICE-Link iPod Adapter
Kenwood iPod Interface
Alpine iPod Interface
Harman Kardon Stereo

Interior Accessories:
JCW Alcantara Steering Wheel JCW Leather Dash
MCAW Auto Up Circuit
MINI Rear Camera
MINI Rear Saddle (official)
MINI Rear Cargo Storage Case
Official MINI Rear Saddle Bag
2004 MINI Armrest Reviewed
Mymini Knee Pad
MINI Bluetooth Kit
MINI Video Input
Aftermarket Bluetooth Integration
Ian Cull Auto-up Circuit
Universal Mobile Phone Holder

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MINI Model Number Cheat Sheet:

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