Sections: Best of the Web, Classic Mini Aug 8th, 2011 15 Comments 
Sometimes it’s the simple things that make a Monday morning tolerable. Like a vintage cut-away drawing of a classic Mini. Enjoy.
Via Jon Sibal
Sections: MotoringFile Garage Aug 5th, 2011 51 Comments 
In one week I’ve gotten more questions and comments driving the Countryman than I have driving any car since the Tesla Roadster. And that includes the 1M press car I had two weeks ago. Seemingly everyone is at least interested in this new MINI and doesn’t mind coming up to me to share it. And why not. It’s the same general cross-over shape we’ve seen for years but made miniature and more interesting.
From the driver’s seat our Countryman is off to a great start as well. After 500 miles I’m getting seeing anywhere from 20-26 mpg in the city and 30-32 on the highway. However with the heat in Chicago well into the 90′s I have noticed one issue that I hadn’t seen in a MINI since my 2002 Cooper. continued →
Sections: F56 Hatch Aug 5th, 2011 16 Comments Image removed at the request of the photographer
Worldcarfans is recycling spy photos today of a MINI prototype that we saw earlier this summer. Is this the new MINI? Actually it’s a strange franken-car that is made up of an R56 body wrapped around a BMW version of the UKL1 platform. Basically a serious case of cloak and dagger meant to throw-off sites such as Worldcarfans. continued →
Sections: MF Advertising Message Aug 5th, 2011 10 Comments 
Being primarily based in Chicago, MotoringFile has long waited for the day when a MINI dealer would actually be located within city limits. The wait is over. a few weeks MINI of Chicago opened its doors to one of the largest MINI markets in the US. And perhaps fittingly MINI of Chicago is also the largest MINI dealer in the Midwest. So to mark this occasion we at MF wanted to give them a hearty welcome to the only MINI dealer in our own backyard.
Sections: Countryman WRC Aug 5th, 2011 2 Comments 
The chaps at MINImotorsport.com had a chat with Rally legend Rauno Aaltonen about MINI’s showing at last weekend’s WRC Rally in Finland. Among other topics, Rauno explains what happened to take the MINIs out of the race:
There was one section on the “Leustu” stage that had been repaired with large pebbles. On the second run on this special stage, the ruts were deeper than expected. Maybe some cars caused small sandhills there, or Dani and Kris happened to brake at this particular part of the course. The car sank into the pebbles and the spoiler gathered up stones, sand and coarse particles like a snowplough. All that found its way into the air inlets on the radiator and engine. In my opinion, a special surface like this should not be used on a special stage in Finland. On a safari yes, but not in Finland. You set up the chassis and the spoiler so that both are right for the conditions on site, but you do not expect this coarse surface in Jyväskylä. Nobody could have predicted that.”
Check out the whole interview over at MINI Motorsports.
Sections: MINI E Aug 4th, 2011 1 Comment 
Similar to the US MINI-E trial results, MINI UK has released some very interesting findings from their trial program of one of the world’s first production all-electric cars. Conclusions include:
It’s also interesting to learn that much of the MINI-E fleet will continue to see use, including at the upcoming 2012 Olympics. Full details after the break. continued →
Sections: R60 (Countryman), Reviews Aug 4th, 2011 6 Comments A few weeks ago we started a new feature at MF called the MF Vault. The idea is to bring back some of our favorite reviews over the years and present them to a new (and larger) audience at MF. We started with our R53 vs R56 review from late 2006. Today we’re back with another view. However this time one that’s technically less than a year old. However with the internets having a such short memory, we thought it appropriate to re-aquaint some of you of our Countryman Comparison pitting the Cooper, Cooper S and Cooper S All4 in a death match.
And it’s a perfect time as we’ve just taken possession of our own long-term Countryman MCS All4. So with that, let the best really small cross-over win…
The roads west of Austin Texas were my personal rally stages last week as I test drove each of the three Countryman models back to back to back. It was a perfect combination of weather, roads and the right cars that so rarely happens with busy schedules. But beyond the joy of just driving, the time allowed me to dig deeper into each of the Countryman models and get past the initial “getting to know you” phase we had with our first drives of the Countryman. What it allowed me to do is truly evaluate each model compared to the next without any assumptions or preconceived notions.
If you’re looking for a more straight-foward review of the Countryman head over to our first drives of each model (MCS All4, MCS, MC). But if you’re ready to move beyond the typical first drive review and hear our objective thoughts on the entire Countryman range from an enthusiasts point of view, read on. continued →
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