This video was taken at the initial run of the MINI E around the ‘Ring last April. At the time you may remember there was some excitement over the 9:51 time it recorded. While that mark isn’t exactly GTR shattering, it is relatively impressive for an electric car that’s currently being used as a field study. continued →
Ok we’ve had it. We need a break from our regular programing to say a few things. We all critique MINI and wish it had this and that but the truth is we are MotoringFile and we love this damn car. There’s nothing else like it and frankly we’d be really pissed if it ever went away. It’s fast, it’s stylish and it’s (relatively) affordable for how incredibly good it is.
Because of all of this we’re creating a top ten reasons that the MINI is simply the best car in the world. Yeah we’re not pulling punches here, we said in the world. (drum roll please)…
It will eat E46 M3s alive at track days if driven properly.
It’s fun at low speeds in a way that almost no car (other than something vintage) can be.
There is no pretense of having an aggressive face that’s meant to scare pedestrians. It’s a happy, fun yet fast car when hustled.
It can be a personal expression of how awesome you are.
You can make friends with it by simply driving (try doing that with a Mazda)
It doesn’t look like anything else on the road. In fact it’s weird (and that’s good).
It exudes style in a British way that is totally unique in the current automotive market.
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But here’s the thing, we’re only going to give you seven reasons. The last three we need you to give us in the comment section.
We thought it was official already, but now it would seem that MINIUSA has made MINI Takes the States 2010 officially official with this press release.
MINIUSA Press Release The MINI Community Takes MINI Fun On the Road, Across the U.S.
Weekend festival in Denver confirmed for August 13-15, 2010
MINI drivers can choose to start the rally from one of five kickoff cities
Customers can meet the all-new MINI Countryman at stops along each of the routes
MINI USA has confirmed that “MINI TAKES THE STATES†(MTTS) is officially on for August 2010. The MINI community is invited to celebrate owning a MINI with thousands of their fellow enthusiasts by joining a caravan across the U.S. to Denver, Colorado, where they will enjoy a weekend-long festival of MINI activities. MTTS 2010 will drive through a total of 19 states, covering more than 8,000 miles of road and is expected to bring together as many as 10,000 participants. continued →
MINI will be once again tackling the famed Nürburging with it’s race modified MINI E. The event will be before the famed 24 Hours of Nurburgring and will take place immediately following the MINI Challange support race next Saturday. Check back on the day of the event (May 22nd) for video of the lap.
Official Release: A month ago, the MINI E Race became the first electrically-powered vehicle to tame the legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife at race speed. Now the BMW Group is about to repeat this tour de force before the massed ranks of spectators at the 24-hour endurance race – relying on blue blood to accomplish it. This Saturday, 15 May, His Royal Highness Prince Leopold of Bavaria will get behind the wheel to clock up a fast – but virtually noiseless – lap of the “Green Hellâ€.
Last week we told you about the efficiency aspect of MINI’s new 120 hp engine meant for the Cooper models. However as we alluded, that engine is just part of an entirely new range of engines meant for the next generation MINI line-up.
Based on what we know so far the star of the show will undoubtedly be the 1.5L powerplant that will power the 2013 Cooper S. And we not only have the skinny on the specs but a first-hand account of the way it drives (and sounds).
Over the past year we’ve reported on the new 3 cylinder powerplant that is being developed and built by BMW 100% in house. During that time we’ve also wondered out-loud what this meant for the future of the BMW PSA partnership that created the current four cylinder range of MINI powerplants. Now Reuters is reporting that BMW and PSA will be parting ways and not co-developing any new engine or drivetrain components. However what’s really interesting is that BMW themselves crafted a press release last February indicating that the partnership would continue culminating in a new four cylinder engine capable of meeting EU6 efficiency standards. Either things have changed rapidly or Rueters has simply gotten it wrong. We’d bet on the former.
Autoexpress got BMW to lend them a new Countryman (this one being the Cooper D in All4 form) for a quick photo session next to an original Mini. The result? Well since they weren’t allowed to actually drive the car the only conclusions made where the following:
Wow the original Mini was small
18″ wheels are way (way) bigger than 10″ wheels
The Countryman is exactly one meter longer than the original Mini
So when can we actually expect driving impressions of the new Countryman? Sooner than you think. In fact MotoringFile will be in Austria next week to drive all flavors of the new MINI Crossover and bring you a first take on the most important new MINI in years.
1st Gen MINI R50: One & MC Hatch R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt. R53: MCS Hatch 2nd Gen MINI R55: Clubman R56: Hatch R57: Convertible R58: Coupe R59: Roadster R60: MINI Crossover R61: MINI Crossover Coupe 3rd Gen MINI F55: Clubman F56: Hatch F57: Convertible F60: MINI Crossover F62: Traveller
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Sections: MINI E, Motorsports, Video May 16th, 2010 8 Comments 
