MINI’s plans for the Openometer gauge (as seen in the new MINI Convertible) are finally coming into focus. This morning MINI USA launched the theOpenone.com, a website to track R57 owner’s top-down motoring to the minute. The site will work for any owner of a 2009 or 2010 MINI Convertible.
The idea is simple. As a MINI Convertible owner you can register and start logging hours into the simple. However if you think you’re especially hardy and have the top down more than most you’ll have chance to not only impress friends but also win actual prices. continued →
This story comes from our friends at AUSmotive.com:
Forty-three years ago motoring journalist Evan Green caused a sensation when he became the first man to drive across Australia from east to west via the red centre. As if that wasn’t enough, Green then conquered the north-south route immediately afterwards. The car? An original, first generation Mini. The journey covered a staggering 19,000kms.
Now, a second generation Green has followed in his father’s tyre tracks by driving a second generation MINI Cooper, of course, along the east-west route. Gavin Green was joined by photographer Mark Bramley and mechanical support was supplied by BMW Group Australia Senior Technician Darryl Cook. continued →
visibility when the roof is up is woeful. It’s like sitting in a postbox. The only people who can get in the back are those who have stepped on a bomb and the boot is miserable.
And yet, despite all this, it remains a great little car to own. Because the style — and there’s tons of it — buries the substance, it doesn’t feel, or look, like anything else on the road. You therefore get to stand out without actually being in a lay-by trying to make a fan belt from plaits of pubic hair. The only trouble is that the new Cooper S rag top costs £19,000. The car I tested with something called the Chili pack was £21,205. And I’m sorry but if all you want to do is stand out while driving something new, it’d be impossible to ignore — or resist — the £13,605 Fiat 500 Abarth.
And there it is. You can read more here. But be warned, as is customary Clarkson style, the review is opened with a page or two of rambling about arcane references to 1970s British politicians or broad generalizations. My favorite actually comes on page one of this “review”. Look for it.
Owner number 19 has decided to go one step beyond with his MINI E. He is going solar and keeping a blog about it as well.
First of all, I have noticed that some of the blogs by new owners refer to the great handling of the car and the great ergonomics of the interior and how cute the car is. These people have obviously never owned a Mini Cooper before. They are ALL like that. Infact the MINI E is clearly the worst handling model in the line-up due to the extra weight. What I want to do here is focus on the things that make the MINI Es different from their petrol-powered road mates.
Follow the link above to find out his explination of the brake and gas pedals in his MINI. Makes perfect sense. Also follow the link below for the photo gallery.
The first MINI E has been delivered to a lucky owner in Southern California. Lucky for us, he has a blog!
The very first MINI E has been delivered to its very first customer. I am excited and humbled to report that the first MINI E was delivered to me this past Friday. As you will read below, these last few days have been a thrilling kick-off to my one year pioneering experience. There have been many pleasant surprises along the way including a very special car number – 111. Pictured above is my MINI E #111 on my front lawn near sunset this evening (more pictures will follow soon). However, being first to get the car means that I will be the first to return the car one year from now – but I’ll try not to think about that right now.
So far his impression is very positive. Click through to subscribe or read. I will be adding this to the MF News Room today as well.
With all the talk of RWD MINI city cars and FWD MINI speedsters we thought it was worth looking at why front wheel drive can be a great asset to performance cars at the limit. And besides, it’s Friday and we want to watch some video!
We always talk about the comparison between the MINI brand and Apple. Both are considered to be premium brands in their respective segments for a number of reasons. Size and efficiency being one of them.
“To us,” Wu wrote, “the new Mac mini is like a Mini Cooper, a premium small form factor product but with decent horsepower. We believe the Mac mini could turn out to be a surprise dark horse hit.”
The comparison is serendipitous for more than name commonality (although Mini — the car — has always been capitalized). That first commercial product imprinting the Mini name on cultural iconography was sprung on the world 50 years ago this year.
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1st Gen MINI R50: One & MC Coupe R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt. R53: MCS Coupe 2nd Gen MINI R55: Clubman R56: One/MC/MCS Coupe R57: One/MC/MCS Convt. R60: MINI SUV
Sections: Best of the Web, Marketing Jul 28th, 2009 13 Comments 
