In Jay Leno’s Garage

Sections: Efficiency | MINI E | Video Mar 12th, 2009 15 Comments

Jay Leno is a car guy, we all know this. Makes sense then that he would want a MINI E parked in his shop. And, since he is a TV guy, makes sense he did a bit of video to go with.

We do get the chance to see under the bonnet and find out that the MINI E will charge on normal household current in the US.

[ 2009 MINI E ] Jaylenosgarage.com

Written By: DB

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=707695212 Gregory Kaufman

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing. Very cool.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1477028168 Andrew Zimmerman

I thought the purpose of the MINI E field trial was to gather real world data on the car’s use as a daily driver Giving it to a celebrity with hundreds of other cars doesn’t seem to make much sense.
http://dbmini.us DB

@Andrew Zimmerman: I’m pretty sure this was a press car. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if is leasing one “just because”.

But you are right, wouldn’t make sense if he did.
bee1000

It’s a demo car. It has dealer plates on it, and it seemed clear in the interview that it wasn’t Leno’s.

I wish the in-car parts of the video were better. I would have liked to hear it with the windows up to see how quiet it was, a side-by-side acceleration run against pretty much any car would have been nice, and a demonstration of the regenerative braking is a big oversight. I remember reading that Mini expected the regen to do the vast majority of the braking work, and we didn’t get a good idea of that from Jay.

That said, it’ll hold me over until Top Gear test drives one.
JonPD

Fun video, actually happy to see a review from somebody outside of Mini. Not a lot of new information but still find my self wishing this was going to be leased locally.
greg

Actually, it makes NO sense that Leno would have this in his garage. Leno likes FAST cars, not a glacier on wheels.

A JCW in Leno’s garage makes sense.

In general, this car makes no sense. But of course that doesn’t matter anymore.
goat

Very cool vid and glad BMW has put this car out there for field trial. I think the car seems a more-than-credible “first version” of all-electric propulsion for MINI and will be interesting to see the accounts of daily driving!
Fred

Collecting data is only one part of the experiment. Who better to generate publicity than a car aficionado who happens to be a congenial, well-known television personality? Nice, basic review/promo. Thanks.
JonPD

Actually Greg Leno does have a huge selection of cars that are not exactly fast. He also is a well known car nut so I would have to say makes sense if Mini tried to get one of these into his hands.

I also have to say it was a better video for the Mini E than anything Mini has done so a win/win.
JonPD

Add this technology and I think this car could be very viable.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090312/CARNEWS/903129987
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo M. Dillon

I liked the video. If there is anybody I would listen to,in regards to cars,IT would be Jay Leno…

…not a bunch of,”arm-chair car snobs”,who spend their time hating every other article on MotoringFile…

Also,in a bit of irony,I watched the,”Living With Ed”,show last night,and saw Jay and Ed talking about the Baker Electric Car(…did not know it was made for women in mind…lol).
Dr Obnxs

Makes perfect sense that one would end up in Lenos garage. Despite what some others think, there are lots who are interested in automotive technology that are very interested in electric vehicles. And Mini could pretty much gaurantee that if one did end up in Lenos garage (for an hour, a week or a year) that it would generate more PR than having it parked in some Garage in some suburb.

Pretty cool!

Matt
C4

I think Leno owns/owned a MINI at some point in time? (R53 S)

Madonna is another huge MINI fan, FWTW.
Pingback: AUSmotive.com » Jay Leno talks about his MINI E
goat

He also has a supercharged first-generation mazda miata… also not exactly “unobtainium” but it’s interesting, a great drive, and so it’s got a spot in his garage.

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