Sections: Best of the Web, MF Mailbox, R57 (Conv.) Dec 14th, 2008 5 Comments It’s a lazy Sunday. Snow, ice or rain keeping you indoors? Worry not friends because the UK MINI site has updated it’s configurator to include the R57!
Thanks to MF reader rkw for giving us the heads up!
Sections: MF Mailbox, Motorsports Nov 13th, 2008 15 Comments 
This into the MF Mailbox from our very own Jerry Bradbury who has been tearing up the USTCC circuits lately!
Jerry Bradbury drove his #37 MiniMania/Bay Bridge Motors Mini Cooper S to a successful finish at Infineon Raceway last weekend, holding off hard charging rookie Michael McColligan in his MazdaSpeed RX8 until the race was called due to a spectacular shunt by one of the other drivers. Out qualified by McColligan in the morning session, Bradbury was three cars behind the Mazda on the starting grid but managed to shoulder his way past in heavy traffic at the dangerous off-camber Turn Two and hold on until the end.
Sections: MF Mailbox, Recalls/Campaigns, Safety Oct 17th, 2008 15 Comments 
Sent in by MF Reader James, it’s the actual letter he received regarding the service action MINI USA will perform to shorten the exhaust pipe on the R56.
MINI division’s quality monitoring has learned that some Cooper S owners have contacted the centrally-located tailpipe extension at the back of their vehicles, while hot, with their uncovered legs.
To address this issue, MINI has decided to conduct a service action on these vehicles and we have shortened the tailpipe extension to help reduce the chances of inadvertant contact with the leg
If you have an R56 Cooper S, keep an eye on your mailbox for the same letter or head to your dealer and have this tended too. Click the image for a full size scan.
Sections: Efficiency, MF Mailbox Jul 14th, 2008 23 Comments 
Bosch sure is being generous with it’s handing out of the test drives on the MINI Cooper D they have in the US for testing. This time, NextAutos gets a shot.
We at Winding Road and NextAutos are always eager to test the diesel offerings from global manufacturers and we were grinning with excitement when the folks at Bosch offered us the keys to a Mini Cooper with a 1.6-liter diesel engine. According to Bosch, this Mini will achieve fuel economy numbers in upwards of 50 miles per gallon, which will shame many hybrid offerings currently sold in the States.
Sections: Efficiency, MF Mailbox, Rumor Jul 9th, 2008 41 Comments According to Autoweek, BMW plans to build a few electric MINIs and send them to the states to help meet the need for zero-emissions vehicles sold in California.
BMW plans to export nearly 500 electric versions of its Mini car to California, company sources said.
The electric Minis are being built at the Mini factory in Oxford, England, without engines, gearboxes or fuel tanks, then shipped to Munich, Germany, where they are being fitted with electric powertrains.
BMW sources told Automotive News Europe that 490 of the Minis will be leased to selected customers in California and 10 will be used as show cars.
Sections: MF Mailbox, Sales, Video Jul 4th, 2008 27 Comments Jim McDowell, Vice President of MINI USA on a recent episode of Fox News talking about MINI sales, what’s getting traded in and who is driving the cars.
Thanks Adam for sending this in!
Sections: Best of the Web, MF Mailbox, R53 (Coupe) Mar 15th, 2008 26 Comments 
We all know the Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile, right? A giant motor-home shaped like a hot dog in a bun, painted the colors of mustard and ketchup.
Well, someone over there thought it would be neat-o to give that same treatment to a MINI Cooper S. Same bubble top, same mustard and ketchup paint scheme, but this time, with chrome S-Lites. Bonus, we even have video of it from Good Morning America!
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