Archive for December 2010

First MINI Coupé Being Built Today

Sections: R58 (Coupe) Dec 14th, 2010 12 Comments

We’ve received word from an inside source that the very first pre-production R58 MINI Coupé is being built at MINI Plant Oxford today. Exciting news indeed as that means we’re likely just days away from seeing our first glances of the production version of the car. We’ve previously reported that the production car won’t vary much from the concept we’ve already seen, but there will likely be small differences worth noting.

The “mini” MINI is Coming to Detroit

Sections: R?? MINI City Car Dec 14th, 2010 27 Comments

[CORRECTION] We’ve received updated information that the MINI city car concept will be coming to Geneva instead.

We’ve known for quite some time that MINI has been in the processing of developing both a concept car and a production car that will slot below the current R56 hatchback in both size and price. Now comes word that the 2011 Detroit Auto Show will see the debut of the “mini” MINI.

Word comes straight from MINI head Dr. Wolfgang Armbrecht via Financial Times Deutschland:

There will be a taste of ”the next spectacular idea from the Mini brand” at the Detroit auto show he told the newspaper in an interview published on Monday. ”Keep a close eye on the coming months,” he added. continued →

Video: MINI Canada Creates Huge Virtual Vending Machine

Sections: Marketing Dec 13th, 2010 7 Comments

Here’s the latest bit of advertising fun from MINI Canada. This interactive outdoor projection greeted fans as they exited what appears to be a Toronto Leafs game at the Air Canada Centre. More than just a billboard of projected light, if passers by text the number of a MINI in the virtual vending machine, the installation responds to their choice with a customized animation. Pretty clever.

Video: The Arch Enemy of Boredom

Sections: Video Dec 10th, 2010 6 Comments

Russ Swift + the refreshed 2011 MINI = fun with the handbrake.

New Photos Of Countryman Dakar Racer

Sections: Countryman Dakar Dec 10th, 2010 21 Comments

More angles on what has to be the beefiest looking MINI to date. continued →

Worldwide MINI Sales up 19.3% for Nov.

Sections: Sales Dec 10th, 2010 No Comments

All of BMW group did particularly well in November. MINI was up 19.3% for the month of November year-over-year, and up 5.3% for the year so far. What’s downright ridiculous are the sales figures for Rolls. The big double R is looking at +259.4% sales increase for 2010 so far. It’s official. I will never understand economics.

BMW Group sales in / up to November 2010 at a glance

MINI Cooper S Mill In Ward’s Top Ten

Sections: Awards, In the Press Dec 9th, 2010 12 Comments

Auto Industry analysts Ward’s has announced their Top Ten engine winners for this year and among the results are two power plants from BMW Group. First, a 3.0L Turbo straight six from BMW, then the newly revamped inline four from the MINI Cooper S. It’s a diverse list of winners, which includes motors from both the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf. Each winner was chosen not just for its technological advancement, but for the stand-out performance they offered the vehicles they propel.

“We have something for everybody on this year’s Ward’s 10 Best Engines list,” says Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine. “It’s the most diverse mix we’ve ever had, as well as the most technologically advanced.”

You can see the full list, plus commentary from Ward’s on the winners here.