Sep 7th, 2009
Earlier this week MINI USA released the first piece of it’s new “Covert” advertising that speaks directly to current MINI owners. An email was sent out to owners that gave them a URL (through the help of decoder glasses sent to all US MINI owners) that then lead to a super secret site full of interviews, and behind the scenes images from all parts of MINI. It’s definitely a mist for any owner or fan of the MINI.
One of the more notable parts of the experience is an image (above) that depicts what looks to be a refined version of the Clubman front facia. Knowing that the R56 Hatch, R55 Clubman and R57 Convertible are due for a refresh in the middle of next year we couldn’t help but put two and two together when we saw this image.
So is this a sneak peek at the mid life-cycle refresh that will affect the hatch, Clubman and convertible? It’s of course hard to say but it certainly looks like the kind of refinement that we’ve been told to expect for the 2011 model year. As we’ve reported we expect a new front and rear bumper, new lights all around (headlights should remain the same shape) and potentially a subtly different hood.
The other potential answer is that MINI is giving us a sneak peak at the new MINI crossover likely named the Countryman. The look is more aggressive with seemingly high ground clearance and a taller roof. We should know in just a few months with the crossover debuts at Detroit in January and the refresh debuts in Geneva in March.
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Sep 6th, 2009
The Mission Control option that debuted this May with the special edition Camden model at MINI United has generated quite a few questions recently. While MINI has given it’s own vague explanations within press releases, it’s been short of specifics. So Autoweek got some further information from MINI themselves.
(The MINI Camden) will showcase a new technology Mini calls “Mission Control,†which allows the car to interact with the driver, sort of like a British version of Ford’s Sync. Three voices offer information about the car and its surroundings. There are up to 1,600 different statements, and it’s a standard feature on the Camden.
For example: If the driver hammers the engine on a cold morning too quickly, a voice may say “ouch, I’m not warmed up yet,†in the words of Jim McDowell, Mini USA vice president. continued →
Sep 4th, 2009
MINI USA will be publicly announcing 2010 pricing in the coming weeks but we thought we’d give a sneak peak of what we’ll see. The combination of BMW AG charging an extra $100 for runflat tires, an increase of shipping costs (leading to a $50 jump in the destination and handling), and the $250 multi-function steering wheel, have made price increases pretty much a mandatory across the range. However the numbers vary from model to model. Here’s the breakdown (including $700 destination and handling):
- R56 Cooper: $19,500 (+ $300)
- R56 Cooper S: $23,000 (+ $400)
- R56 JCW: $29,500(+ $300)
- R55 Cooper: $21,150 (+ $300)
- R55 Cooper S: $24,750 (+ $400)
- R55 JCW: $31,700 (+ $300)
- R57 Cooper: $24,950 (+ $400)
- R57 Cooper S: $27,850 (+ $400)
- R57 JCW: $34,700 (+ $300)
There have also been a number of small changes to the options list for 2010. Most notably the limited slip differential that has been available since January 1, 2005 is being removed from the order sheets starting with March builds. The reason? There simply weren’t enough orders to justify its existence. It’s a sad realization for us at MF. We’ve always thought of it as a mandatory on the R53 (’05 and ’06 of course) and even the non-JCW R56 era models. Now with electronic aids doing similar with with less weight penalty (among other bonuses) it would seem the writing was on the wall. It’s a sad in that we were the first to break the story of LSD coming to the MINI, and now we’re telling you it’s gone (well we actually first reported this a couple of months ago). Time marches on and new technology arrives but sometimes it’s simply sad to see changes like this made. ELDC is fantastic but we’ll always miss the old school limited slip. continued →
Sep 3rd, 2009
Following up the news we broke this morning is the official release from MINI detailing the statement on production for the Coupe and Speedster. While the speedster isn’t named below, it’s clear that this is the second model mentioned.
Official Release: Dr.Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management, BMW AG has announced that two new MINI models are to be built at MINI Plant Oxford.
Reithofer confirmed the production plan during his two-day visit to BMW Group UK operations earlier this week.
One of the models based on the MINI Coupé Concept and a concept of the second vehicle will be unveiled for the first time to global media at Frankfurt Motor Show on 15 September.
Images of the stunning MINI Coupé Concept were issued to press on 26 August 2009, exactly fifty years after the first classic Mini was presented to the public. continued →
Sep 3rd, 2009
The Automotive News sat down with MINI USA boss Jim McDowell recently to talk about all things MINI. Top of mind was the recently introduced Coupe concept that has been all the range here at MF for the past week. Mr. McDowell optimistic it will find an audience:
“We think we have a good idea, and we want to get people’s reaction to it,” said Jim McDowell, Mini USA president. “If there is a great response, as I predict there will be, I think you will see it going into production.”
“I think it will attract a younger, higher fraction of male purchasers. It is really a pretty radical Mini,” he said. Today, Mini buyers are evenly split between males and females continued →
Sep 3rd, 2009
At the Oxford MINI plant BMW officially announced that the upcoming Coupe and Speedster were officially going into production at the Oxford Plant. We had heard for several months that the chassis (or body in white) would be built in Oxford and shipped to a 3rd party for final assembly. Either our sources were mistaken or BMW has changed its mind because within the official announcement was also talk of further plant expansion to take on the new production.
Our sources at the plant are telling us that, until today, there had been quite a few concerns about job security after 2011 and that this announcement was meant as a pep talk of sorts.
