Section: Official News

Worldwide MINI Sales Up 16% for February

Sections: Official News, Production Mar 10th, 2010 14 Comments

MINI Sales continue to look good for 2010. Worldwide sales are up 16% and BMW expects big things with the launch of the Countryman later this year in Europe (and early next in the US).

Official Release: Sales of the MINI brand also continued to perform well. Last month, 13,443 MINI cars, 16.0% more than in February 2009 (11,584), were delivered to customers worldwide. 25,645 MINI vehicles were sold in the year to the end of February. That represents an increase of 18.2% (prev. yr. 21,704). Ian Robertson: “Over the next few years the MINI product family will grow from three to six members. The MINI family’s fourth model, the new MINI Countryman, will arrive in showrooms in September and will play an important part in the premium brand’s long-term growth.”

BMW Disputes Claims of Fleet Size for the ActiveE

Sections: Official News, Project i Mar 10th, 2010 2 Comments

BMW has gone the length of officially disputing the notion that the upcoming launch of the ActiveE will be smaller than the MINI E field study. Why do you ask? Because the idea is to offer at least the same number in hopes that many of those MINI E customers would move over to the Active E. Would you trade your MINI E for a BMW 1 Series based ActiveE with a more advanced liquid heating and cooling? Let us know in the comment section.

Official Release: Recent published reports have incorrectly stated that the size of the fleet of BMW ActiveEs that will be deployed during the BMW Group’s second-phase field trial in the US will be limited to 200 vehicles. While the exact size of the fleet has yet to be confirmed, it will be at least as large as the MINI E fleet which is currently in operation. There are 450 MINI Es on the road in the US right now. They are being driven by a dedicated group of individuals and select fleet users. continued →

Geneva 2010: MINI Press Transcript

Sections: Official News, R60 (Crossover) Mar 2nd, 2010 15 Comments

MINI officially introduced the Countryman today in Geneva. The car will be on display throughout the next two weeks there before making its way across the pond to the New York Autoshow. But the big news wasn’t on the MINI stand but the BMW stand.

Official Release: Speech by Ian Robertson: MINI Press Conference, 80th Geneva International Motor Show.

Ladies and Gentlemen— Bonjour! Welcome to MINI! I’m always thrilled to see how many people come to join us at MINI. But that’s what this brand is all about. MINI is simply appealing!

I’d like to talk to you about three topics today.

First: Business at MINI
Second: MINIMALISM
And third, the world premiere of the MINI Countryman

MINI celebrated its 50th birthday last year and it proved that it is, without a doubt, the most exciting small car brand in the world. continued →

MINI at the Geneva Motorshow

Sections: Official News, R56 (Coupe), R57 (Conv.), R58 (Roadster), R60 (Crossover) Feb 28th, 2010 No Comments

This week MINI officially takes the wraps off of the Countryman to the public. The Geneva motorshow will host the Countryman Debut as well as the updated MINI engine line-up.

Official Release: Celebrating the world debut of the brand’s fourth model, MINI is setting one of the outstanding highlights at the 80th Geneva Motor Show 2010.

The MINI Countryman carries over the driving pleasure so typical of the brand into a new dimension. This is the first MINI with four doors and a large tailgate as well as a variable interior offering space for up to four occupants. At the same time the MINI Countryman is the brand’s first model measuring more than four metres (157”) in length and available as an option with ALL4 all-wheel drive.

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World Debut: MINI Connected

Sections: Official News, R60 (Crossover), Technology Feb 22nd, 2010 52 Comments

Today MINI takes the wraps off technology that debuted as a concept this past fall in Frankfurt. However here we see the final version which will make its debut in the Countryman later this year. We expect the R56 to get this upgrade in time for its 2011 refresh.

Here are a few of the highlights:

World-first in-car entertainment solution with unique-to-MINI technology integrating into the Apple iPhone.
World debut of in-car web radio; unique possibilities for customisation and integration of additional functions.
Data exchange capabilities, allowing a huge range of infotainment, navigation and communication functions to be used on board the vehicle.
MINI Connected brings enhanced user functionality and customisation to the MINI-exclusive Mission Control function.
Safe, convenient, intuitive control of all functions via the MINI operating system.

Updated: Well have much more on MINI Connected tomorrow.

Official Release: MINI has chosen the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show to launch an all-new, world-first in-car entertainment solution: MINI Connected. Through intelligent connectivity between the driver, his MINI and the outside world, MINI Connected offers new options for further enhancing the hallmark driving fun associated with the brand. Some of these new possibilities will be presented in Geneva. MINI Connected will be launched simultaneously with the MINI Countryman, as an optional specification.

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MINI UK Officially Prices the Countryman

Sections: Official News, R60 (Crossover) Feb 15th, 2010 3 Comments

MINI UK gets in on the pricing act today with full pricing of all Countryman models. While there are lots of specifics to digest for UK MINI fans, one thing that could be of interest to most markets is the mention of a All4 Countryman Cooper coming in 2012.

Official Release:

In September this year MINI will launch its latest and largest model, and the first to offer four wheel drive, to the UK market. The MINI Countryman range will be the fourth member of the MINI family following Hatch, Convertible and Clubman. It means that MINI owners who love the brand no longer need move to another make when they need more space in their car. The MINI Countryman will be available in five models, three of which will offer ALL4, MINI’s new four wheel drive option.

“Countryman takes the MINI story to a new level” said Jochen Goller, Director of MINI UK. “The extra space and ALL4 MINI break new ground in the brand’s 51 year heritage. With Countryman prices starting at £16,000 and a very high standard specification, we are introducing more MINI piquancy into the crossover market this year.”

Power and go

At launch the Countryman range will include three petrol and two diesel models, as well as two ALL4 all wheel drive models – the Cooper D ALL4 and Cooper S ALL4. The petrol engines are the new 1.6 litre power plants already announced for the Hatch, Convertible and Clubman models due in March 2010. The diesel units are shared with the rest of the MINI range.

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