Sections: MINI E Jun 9th, 2009 32 Comments 
Are you currently leasing a MINI E? Let’s hear about it. Tell us what you like. What you don’t like. How it drives. How it handles. What kind of looks do you get. We want to hear it all. Sound off in the comment section below. Or if you’d like to create a more thorough review feel free to contact us via the contact link above.
Sections: Official News, Sales Jun 8th, 2009 10 Comments 
Official Release: Sales of the MINI brand were 19.1% lower in May than for the same month last year (22,685) at 18,348 units; for the year to the end of May, 79,260 MINI (prev.yr.: 102,364 / -22.6%) vehicles were delivered to customers. In Germany, MINI increased its sales volume by 11.8% (3,569 / prev.yr.: 3,193) in the month under review. The brand made gains in countries such as China (350 / +48.9%), New Zealand (26 / +30,9%), Malaysia (20 / +33,3%) and Switzerland (447 / +0.2%). 25,000 continued →
Sections: JCW, Official News, R55 (Clubman) Jun 8th, 2009 6 Comments 
MINI UK has finally launched the JCW Clubman almost a year after it was launched in most of the world. The reason for the delay? The MINI UK refused to release the car without the JCW aero-kit (which was just released for the longer Clubman). The JCW aero-kit is of course standard on the MINI JCW Hatch in the UK as well. Here’s the full release:
We are delighted to announce the addition of the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman to the MINI Range. Production of the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman will be from Production Week 21 (week commencing 1 June 2009) with customer deliveries starting from Production Week 25 (week commencing 1 July 2009). continued →
Sections: Diesel, Efficiency, MINI Competitors Jun 5th, 2009 28 Comments 
We know that MINI USA is very interested in getting diesels in the US market. The roadblock has always been cost. Now that roadblock may be slowly eroding away. Recently we reported that MINI’s US diesel plans are back on the table. Based on sources this is due to several reasons. For one the lowering cost of diesel fuel has helped tremendously. Secondly the sharing of BMW’s 2.0L diesel engine (currently powering the 1 and 3 series outside the US) that is destined for the updated R55 and R56 platform could help the cause as well. If BMW federalizes the engine for use in 1 and 3 series in the US (not that unlikely since the passing of the EPA’s new efficiency mandate), MINI’s costs for using the power-plant go down considerably.
Now comes potentially another reason for MINI USA to push the diesel option. VW is reporting that over 36% of all Jetta (Bora outside the US) sales in May were diesel. That’s almost 4,000 diesel cars sold in one month alone. Not impressive in Europe but quite eye-opening for the US market. continued →
Sections: Ask MotoringFile, MINI Competitors Jun 5th, 2009 93 Comments 
Let’s say the unthinkable happened in 2000 and BMW scrapped plans to launch the new MINI during the infamous “Night of the Long Knives“. What would you be driving? How would it have differed from the MINI?
Sound off below…
Sections: Site News, Sponsor Events Jun 5th, 2009 4 Comments 
If you didn’t have to take your MINI out today we here at MF proudly tip our hats to you. If you did then kudos again for at least having great taste and fun while behind the wheel.
Sections: MINI E Jun 5th, 2009 5 Comments 
USA Today is reporting that MINI E owners are experiencing recharge times of around 23 hours thanks to not having high voltage cables. Instead some owners are having to use standard wall outlets which is resulting in the longer charge times. MINI USA is telling customers to expect the cables by mid-July. Once they have all the necessary equipment full charging should take no more than four hours.
However in the meantime MINI is waving the $850 lease fee for the 23 MINI E owners who already have their cars.
+ Foulup may mean around-the-clock recharges for Mini E drivers / USA Today
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