Oct 23rd, 2013
When it comes to cars and safety, there’s the stats and there’s how a car makes you feel. Small cars like the MINI always struggle to be thought of as “safe” when so many bigger, heavier vehicles roam the streets. Yet even the first generation MINI had a four star crash rating. The current Hardtop Hatch and its variants have five star ratings and recently the Countryman was named an IIHS Safety Pick for 2013. To raise awareness, MINI USA has put together a TV spot focused on “feeling secure in a MINI Countryman.” Watch it all the way through to the payoff. It’s worth it.
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Oct 20th, 2013
With the official debut of the next generation MINI Cooper hardtop hatch, the F56, just weeks away, MINI has started the launch party off in earnest with a contest for MINI fans to see the car debut in person at one of three venues. In either London, Los Angeles or Shanghai, lucky MINI fans will get a chance to see the new car in person before the rest of the world as well as participate in celebration events in each venue city.
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Oct 10th, 2013
Despite being on the market for awhile, MINI looks at its current range of JCW accessories as just coming into their own. As cars get older owners typically start to think about modifications and MINI wants to remind us all what they have on offer. Thus we now have these videos detailing a few key products and accessories.
All eight videos after the break. continued →
Sep 14th, 2013
One place a MINI can really shine is a properly set up autocross course. In this video from MINI, a whole gaggle of folks take their turn MINIs and do battle with the cones. Looks like fun.
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Aug 8th, 2013
MINI has always done a great job marketing their cars out in the world. That is, in what’s known as “environmental” advertising. From billboards, to PR stunts, to a Countyrman in a snow globe, or a Coupe ready to be shot into space, to creative placements of cars and advertisements, the creative minds at MINI’s ad firms seem to never run out of fun stuff to do with MINI’s brand out in the world.
The latest, from agency KKLD, is shown in the video above. It’s a Countryman covered in LEDs that shows video and graphics sent in by participants over the web. The car is then driven about in London for all to see. Want to get involved? Want your face on a MINI tearing through London? Click through for the how. continued →
Jul 25th, 2013
A few weeks ago MINI’s carefully planned launch for the 3rd generation MINI (aka the F56) was rudely taken off script. Over 25 photos were taken of the F56 in various states of undress during a marketing photoshoot. And the reaction to what was seen wasn’t good. Due to the angle, lighting and the fact that the photos we’re taken using extremely long zoom lenses from far away the F56 did not come out looking good.
From what we know of the car the photos didn’t do the overall shape and design justice. And apparently MINI agreed immediately releasing a rather cheeky PR response. But today MINI is giving us much more on not just the new F56 MINI but the entire future of MINI design. Make no mistake this is a concept car. But the overall shape and many of the design features here are lightly disguised versions of what we’ll see on the F56.
With Anders Warming now fully leading the design team there’s never been a better time to take a step back and look at the future of the brand. From what we see here and what we know, it looks pretty bright to us. But we’ll let you be the ultimate judge after seeing the gallery, reading the interview and watching video after the break. continued →
Jul 23rd, 2013
In what has to be a massive cease-and-desist-letter in the making, virtual modeling site Humster3D.com has made some pretty ham-fisted rendering models of the still as yet unveiled 2014 MINI Hardtop, the F56. Based, they claim, “using official references and descriptions.” Does that mean time spent with the actual car? We don’t believe it for a second.
Here’s why. First, this model doesn’t even hold up to the now infamous leaked photo shoot spy pictures, even though that’s clearly what this is based on. Second, actual 3D CAD files exist for the F56 in its entirety, so there’d be no reason for MINI to partner with a company like this to produce additional models. Third, if BMW did have a relationship with Humster3D, why would they leak the model early and jeopardize that relationship? It doesn’t add up, and this model doesn’t look even remotely right. Given the timing of this model becoming available, we’d wager this 3D rendering is based entirely on the spy shots. It’s still a fun look at some of the car’s proportions, though. Here’s the 360 video:
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