Section: Best of the Web

Rauno Aaltonen’s Accidental Shortcut During Rally Monte Carlo

Sections: Best of the Web, Classic Mini Jan 23rd, 2012 1 Comment

If you ever get a chance to talk with Mini rally champion Rauno Aaltonen, definitely do so. He’s a wealth of driving knowledge and terrific company. Recently, Rauno sat down with Sympatico’s Matt Bubbers and recounted one hell of a story about a snowy race course, an accidental shortcut and winning the stage by only five seconds. Read the whole story over at Sympatico.

Video: NYC Coupé Test Drive

Sections: Best of the Web, Video Dec 23rd, 2011 6 Comments

A very fun driving video from MINI USA showing off the new Coupé in the cityscape of NYC. Big thanks to db for pointing it out over on dbmini.us. You’re all reading db’s blog, right? RIGHT?

Video: EVO Drives the Countryman WRC

Sections: Best of the Web, Countryman WRC, In the Press, Video Sep 10th, 2011 6 Comments

[Source: EVO]

Richard Hammond Loves the Mini

Sections: Best of the Web, In the Press Sep 9th, 2011 2 Comments

Top Gear UK presenter Richard Hammond featured the Mini Cooper S MkII in his “Hammond’s Icons” series in the September ’11 issue of Top Gear Magazine. Like any self-respecting Englishman, the Hamster loves the plucky little Mini which like Hammond himself, is impressive well beyond its stature.

But does it work? Yes. Gloriously. With a smile-inducing whine from the transmission, that 75bhp is enough to give a chunky, determined pull straight from the off. If anything, it feels slightly pugnacious; this is a car with ‘small man syndrome’ – and if there’s one thing about which I know anything, it’s that.

It’s a fun read, all of which you can find here.

Classic Mini Cut-Away: the Essence of Simplicity

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

MINI USA Gets in Touch with its Manual Side

Sections: Best of the Web, In the Press, Marketing Aug 2nd, 2011 69 Comments

Here at MotoringFile, we’ve held one consistent point of view when it comes to manual transmissions in MINIs: they’re a must. Sure, some people need an auto, but they’re sacrificing a lot of the car’s character in our opinion. Trouble is, a lot of people, especially here in America, don’t know how to drive a stick. So MINI USA and it’s agency BSSP, in typical cheeky fashion, are encouraging people to go manual. continued →

MINI Needs the Countryman

Sections: Best of the Web, Sales Jul 21st, 2011 38 Comments

It’s no secret that we weren’t crazy about the idea of the MINI Countryman when we first heard about it. The very thought of a MINI SUV was repugnant to most enthusiasts, and still is to some. However, now that we’ve driven it, the Countryman has more than won us over. Regardless of where you stand on the fan/hater continuum, there’s one thing we’ve said many times here and on WhiteRoofRadio: MINI needs the Countryman for long-term financial health, and this previous month’s record-breaking sales figures prove it. This Countryman-powered growth is what makes more enthusiast-oriented cars like the MINI Coupé possible. So we were delighted to read that we’re not alone in this opinion. continued →