MotoringFile

MTTS 2010: Time to Get Out of Dodge

Sections: MF Feature Aug 13th, 2010 No Comments

Our ride into the mountains today on MTTS. It’s time to officially get out of Dodge (and head to Denver). We’ll have updates via twitter all day.

MTTS: db Gets Ready to Leave Grand Junction

Sections: MTTS, Video Aug 13th, 2010 No Comments

MTTS Dodge City

Sections: MTTS, R60 (Countryman) Aug 12th, 2010 2 Comments

Today was all about the Countryman. I drove the Cooper S FWD Countryman just under 500 miles today. I’ll have a full review shortly but for a sneak peak check out the MTTS gallery above.

MINI USA Extends Warranty on MCS Fuel Pumps

Sections: Faults & Fixes, Official News, R55 (Clubman), R56 (Hatch), R57 (Conv.) Aug 12th, 2010 10 Comments

This has been brewing for some time with various customer complaints over the years about the high pressure fuel pumps going out on the turbo charged MCS and JCW R55 R56 and R57 cars built from 2007 to 2009 (when they made some mechanical changes). So here’s what MINI is sending to owners of the affected cars:

MINI USA has become aware of a potential problem that could affect the durability of the high-pressure fuel pumps in select 2007, 2008 and 2009 model year MINI vehicles equipped with the N14 turbocharged engines. continued →

MINI Countryman JCW Accessories Previewed

Sections: JCW, R60 (Countryman) Aug 12th, 2010 13 Comments

Our friends in Germany at Bigblogg had a chance to preview a few of the upcoming JCW accessories bound for dealers later this fall. We had already shown you the JCW aero-kit but until now hadn’t seen the rumored 19″ JCW wheels. The R129 wheels come in two finishes and cost either â‚¬ 2499 (flat black) or 2550 â‚¬ (gloss black with polished lip). As you’d expect with that pricing tires are included. Specifically 225/40/19 P Zero runflats from Pirelli. Here’s the full list of JCW accessories shown:

19″ Wheels
JCW Aero kit
JCW Strips
Red Mirrors
Red Brake ducts
JCW Steering Wheel
JCW Shifter

[Show as slideshow]

continued →

MF Review: Countryman Cooper Automatic

Sections: MTTS, R60 (Countryman), Reviews Aug 11th, 2010 14 Comments

There was a moment. A slight moment (as they say on the track) that made two things suddenly very clear. First off the Cooper Countryman I was driving had all seasons on it. Secondly (and more profound) is that no matter the spec, the Countryman is a MINI at heart. The moment? The slight rotation and four wheel drift around a corner of a country road just outside of Kansas City. That’s the moment they so many of us love driving our R50s, R53s R56s etc. And it’s moments like that that show that MINI engineered what has to be the most nimble small crossover in existence today.

First off this is a lightening review of a car that most here don’t care about. But MINI enthusiasts should take note. This is the car that is going to turn thousands of MINI owners into car and MINI enthusiasts.

The steering isn’t as immediate as the R56 and the ratio definitely feels slower but it adds up to the feel of stability that suits the car well. The suspension (non sport on this Cooper) clearly had more body roll than any MINI I’ve driven but it had more composure than any mainstream crossover I’ve ever driven. Or to put it another way there was body motion but it the R60 was always composed and predictable when pushed. continued →