The clever kiwis at MINI of NZ and DraftFCB Advertising have stuck 330 harmonicas to the exterior of a MINI Clubman, dubbing it “The Carmonica.” All in the key of G, the combined sound is sort of an angelic hum strangely unhindered by the doppler effect of the car coming and going. Sounding mostly like a disembodied hip hop sample, it’s only fitting that MINI NZ has created a music video mixer feature on their website at MINI.co.nz/carmonica/ where you can mix and match clips and beats to make your own MINI mix. Catch a news report video after the break. continued →
Moving up from last year’s fifth place finish, MINI sits atop the J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 Customer Service Index Study in the category of dealer service in the mass market segment. Lexus topped the Luxury category with MINI parent company BMW down in seventh place. The study covers the first three years of ownership, measuring owner satisfaction regarding visits to dealers for service, maintenance and repair work. The survey covers five main areas: quality of work done, ease in getting appointments, the performance of the service adviser, the facilities themselves, and the experience of receiving your vehicle again. Congrats to MINI for coming out on top. Full table of results after the break. continued →
On Monday at SXSWi, MOG and MINI will debut the beta version of a new app for MINI Connected. The app will bring the MOG on-demand streaming music service into the dash of your MINI. A $9.99 per month MOG Primo subscription plan provides subscribers with access to MOG for unlimited, on-demand listening access. Subscribers can listen online at MOG.com, through compatible CE devices from major manufacturers such as Roku and soon Samsung, Vizio, LG and Sonos, and through the MOG app on iPhone and Android phones.
There’s a lot of data here, but the key numbers are pretty impressive. A 19.3% revenue jump to 60.4 million euros (approx $83.5M) in 2010. Profits in the automobile segment were up 8%, helped by great performance in the MINI brand. Get the full info after the break. continued →
We’re getting more and more reports from various sources that the rear bench seat option for the R60 is go for the 2012 model year here in the US of A. We’ve also heard that the bench could be available as soon as July of this year from the factory and, we’re guessing, for retrofit purchase if there are units available. While the rear buckets will likely remain the standard, those looking to seat that fifth passenger will soon be able to do so from the factory. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.
While the i8 is undoubtedly the sexier of the two, the i3 that is the big news here. And that’s why what you see above is so big. Our friends at Kilometer have the very first photos of the i3 in the wild testing and showing off the basic shape of the car. 100% electric, the three door hatch is tall and wide with a very high front end and beltline. You can see the entire series of photos over at Kilometer.
Autocar.co.uk is reporting that MINI’s Ian Robertson “has given clear indications that the MINI Rocketman could make production and gives hints towards other future MINIs.” Now it almost goes without saying that a production version of this smaller MINI wouldn’t have the Rocketman name or most of the Rocketman concept details. What would be very likely to remain are it’s shape, its dimensions, its likely 3-cylinder powerplant and and its 3+1 seating. continued →
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
If you or your company are interested in advertising on the most influential MINI website in the world, please visit our Advertising section. If you have further questions about becoming a sponsor or would like to see our rate sheet please feel free to contact us directly.
Sections: Best of the Web, In the Press, Marketing Mar 15th, 2011 5 Comments 
