Among the many bit of official information released yesterday with the introduction of the R57 MINI Convertible was final US pricing. Likely due to increased content on the cars (the MCc now comes standard with 16″ wheels for instance) the general weakness of the dollar and other conditions of the world economy prices have risen slightly. The MINI Cooper Convertible has gone from $22,600 to $24,550, a $1950 increase. For the Cooper S Convertible prices have risen from $26,050 to $27,450, a $1400 increase. All these prices include destination charges.
These prices reflect a substantially higher increase than the R56 saw over the R50 and R53. However given the current economic climate and the weakness of the dollar it isn’t entirely unexpected. continued →
After a long wait MINI has finally taken the official wraps off of the R57 MINI Convertible. Most MF readers have already seen the car when we debuted early photos. However with these photos we finally get a full look at the car at it’s new features.
Based on the R56, the R57 improves on the previous convertible in several key ways. For starters is benefits from all the performance and efficiency advances that the R56 brings. But beyond that added pop-up roll-bar protection is probably the most noticeable difference between the two cars.
Consistently Open: The New MINI Cabrio
The driving pleasure and individual style that are MINI’s signatures have been tapped to create the next-generation MINI Convertible. With its evolutionary design and increased functionality, specially tuned suspension, powerful, efficient engines and enhanced safety technology, the latest version of the four-seat convertible raises the bar.
New color choices and equipment features add up to endless options for personalization. The premium materials and finishes enhance the MINI Convertible – the only open-air car in its class – even further. continued →
Dan Neil, staff writer for the LA Times, has come up with a list of cars from this years LA Auto Show that he thinks are turkeys. I would have to agree with him on some of them like the Honda FC Sport Concept and the Toyota Venza. He also Included the Ferrari California which is ok because it looks odd.
It would appear that the MINI E wasn’t a favorite either.
This is like digging into a luscious Thanksgiving bird to discover it’s stuffed with floor sweepings and sawdust. The electric Mini is, in fact, a crude and rude retrofit of the existing British bumblebee, with a 28-kWh battery lump stuffed into the space where the back seat used to be.
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone! And thanks to all of you that sent this one in.
While out in LA MINI threw the keys to a few journalists to take a spin around the block with the new MINI E. And as you’d expect MINI International Magazine’s had a chance behind the wheel. Here’s the result.
Todd, Chad from DetroitTuned and myself get together tonight to talk about the latest news from Motoringfile.com, the state of the auto industry and spark plugs. Again. And, with the new show format, you get a long show. Feedback? You know what to do.
Be sure to keep an eye on detroittuned.com for cool stuff coming, like online ordering. And, if you are in the neighborhood cruise by and check out the new shop!
Is this what happens when a MINI and a Tahoe meet? Apparently in this case. Now we’re not here to pretend the laws of physics would always favor the smaller car. But in this case they clearly did and the result is nothing short of hilarious. Check it out at the link below.
We’ve had a few MF readers ask us this question over the years and we finally thought it was time to open it up to other MF readers to help us answer it. Especially not that early cars are getting up in miles, there seems to be a need for good advise when it comes to replacing suspensions. First up, here’s the question:
After spending hours on the many of the MINI sites, I have come to the conclusion that there are to many options for after market shocks, struts and springs to make the choice easy. That is where “Ask MF” can help, I hope.
I drive my 2003 R53 MCS (with the stock SS+ suspension) on both city and highway roads daily. Track days come about two or three times a year and I would say my daily driving is spirited when possible.
My goal is to stay low maintenance (I’m not interested in camber plates etc…) but retain my sport suspension advantage that came when the car was new. I don’t want coil overs, unless someone has a good reason, and I don’t know if I should keep my springs or replace them.
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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: R57 (Conv.) Nov 29th, 2008 46 Comments 
Todd, Chad from 
