MINI will be replacing Mellow Yellow for the 2010 model year with White Silver. Mellow Yellow was an R56 launch color and has been around sine September 2006 when the new car launched. Like Mellow Yellow, White Silver will be available across the MINI range. Additionally MINI will be introducing cloth/leather combo in Tech White and Leather Lounge in Toffy. Both are being introduced to coincide with the MINI Camden and Mayfair limited edition models. Apparently MINI will be spreading the costs of developing some of the new trim by making them available across the range in specific markets. Included in this will be a Toffee and White Tech interior color-line option as well. You can see both after the jump.
The R56 has been a commercial and critical success for MINI. Despite the loss of some steering feel and some of the brashful character of the R50 and R53, MINI clearly hit the mark with the car overall when it came to market in 2007. And in some ways it’s surprising how well the car has done. From a design standpoint it was evolution on the outside but revolution on the inside. The form and function of everything was rethought from the R50 to the R56 and along the way MINI seemed to have lost the plot in a couple of areas. Now they intend to fix it.
In the spring of 2010 MINI will be introducing the refreshed (or LCI – Life Cycle Impulse as it’s known in BMW speak) R56 and all its variants (ie the Clubman and Convertible). While the number of changes (major and minor) will be huge, there will be several key changes.
First and foremost, MINI intends to fix the interior. Yes, the radio controls and the heating and cooling interface will be refined and in some cases rethought. Additionally MINI will introduce some upgraded materials and subtle design changes meant to eliminate many of the complaints owners have had over the years. Or to put it another way, if you look at the top five complaints most MINI owners have, then you have an idea of what will be worked over in this refresh. continued →
We’ve held off reporting about the new system at the request of our sources for awhile but MINI hinted at the new system in its recent Camden press release so all bets are off. Here’s what we know. There were quite a few at MINI who weren’t overly happy with the current optional hifi audio system that replaced the venerable H/K that was found in the previous generation MINIs. Both were made by Harmon (parent company to Harman) but some cost was taken out an the sound suffered for it. Make no mistake it was a nice upgrade to the stock system, but it just wasn’t as impressive as had been hoped.
So MINI went back to Harmon and asked them to design a system in the same vein as the (now almost mythical) DPSM system available on the R50 generation. However with one big change, this new version would be available from the factory as an option rather than a very expensive dealer installed accessory.
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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.
Official Release: When fashion and music come together at the Life Ball, the result will always be something fascinating and unique – the new Life Ball MINI created in Katy Perry style by American designer duo The Blonds.
MINI is supporting the Life Ball for the ninth year in succession in 2009. The 17th Life Ball – taking place on 16 May 2009 – marks the beginning of a four-year cycle, the elements water, earth, air and fire representing both metaphorically and in their artistic embodiment the fundamental symbols of life. Europe’s biggest AIDS charity event offers MINI an outstanding platform on which to underline its socio-political commitment. continued →
The driving excitement and individual style so typical of the MINI are now being combined once again with all the flair and refreshment of driving in the open air, the new MINI Convertible offering this unique rendition of motoring freedom in particularly intense style.
With its design improved in an evolutionary process and an even wider range of practical functions, with the most advanced and sophisticated suspension technology, even more powerful and, at the same time, economic engines, and with optimised safety technology, the new version of the open-air four-seater MINI consistently raises its strengths and qualities to an even higher level. continued →
A few weeks back we invited you to ask us questions about our weeklong stint behind the wheel of the 2009 R57 MINI Convertible. Well now we have the answers…
Question: can you put the top down AND up while driving less than 20 mph? can you still open the top using the key? (such a great feature – i use it all the time!)
MF: Yes you can do it at 20 mph or less and the top action now takes two seconds less.
Question: 1) Overall body rigidity 2) Handling vs hardtop and Clubman 3)Fabric top overall quality and operation vs R52 4) Visibility with and without the top 5) Trunk space 6) Rear seat comfort
MF: Rigidity is higher. Handling and turn-in are more eager than the Clubman, but less so versus the hardtop. Fabric quality looks the same but my understanding is that it has been improved. Visibility is bad with the top up but better due to larger side and rear windows. The boot is not surprisingly small but with the ability to fold the seats down it’s versatile. Rear seat comfort is the same as the R52 – almost non-existant. continued →
Okay so this should be pretty easy right? The R57 is the convertible version of the R56. So I can copy and paste any one of our many review of the R56, do a find and replace here and there and I’m done.
Wow that was easy. Now I can go back out and drive the thing. I’ve got one day left with the new 2009 version of the MINI Cooper S Convertible and I’m dying to get outside and put the top down. The sun is out, the temps are hovering near 60F, it’s Chicago in March and the lakefront beckons.
Yes the 2009 MCS Convertible (MCSc or R57 for short) is a chop top R56. But the culmination of this is much more than simply a roofless coupe. This new convertible truly has its own identity. For one the R56 platform just feel so much more right for this car than the previous iteration. The power delivery, the exhaust note and the more supple ride all just feel right in this car. Forget arguments about hard edge handling and raw edge performance. The R57 feels like a bigger leap over the previous drop-top than the R56 over the R50/R53 Cooper and Cooper S hardtops built from 2001-2006. continued →
In the next few weeks JCW will be releasing a retrofit kit for all R55, R56 and R57 models that allows owners to install one or two of the following gauges:
Coolant temperature gauge
Torque reserve gauge (relative torque as MINI calls it)
Lateral G gauge
These gauges will sit on the side of the tachometer exactly like the current MINI convertible’s always open gauge does. The retrofit kits will be available at MINI service centers around the world starting this spring.
But you know we couldn’t just end at that. We did some digging and managed to find the official retro-fit PDF manual. This document gives us a clear look at the work needed and the parts included in the kits. However a word of warning, this might be a little bit more than most of us can handle when it comes to DIY. It may be best left to your dealer or favorite independent MINI shop.
Ok the above isn’t exactly in Chicago but here’s a sneak peak at our press car and our coming review of the R57 due late next week. 60 degree temps gave us a chance to put the top down and actually (gasp) enjoy the car during the Chicago winter. Now if it would only stop raining.
For all those of you in the NYC area MINI of Manhattan is having a launch party for the R57 MINI convertible March 21st from 10am – 4pm. You can RSVP via Facebook below. And be sure to tell them MotoringFile sent you!
This weekend will mark the start of our full review of the new R57 MINI convertible. In an effort to prepare for our time, we want to hear what you want to know about the car. What do you want us to test, look at, prod and poke? Let us know in the comment section below.
Later today MINI USA will be announcing 2.9% financing on all hardtop models. Here’s the rundown:
2.9% financing up to 36 months all hardtop models except JCW
3.9% financing up to 48 months all hardtop models except JCW
2.9% Financing all hardtop JCW models up to 60 months or 5 years
It’s an incredible deal and the first time MINI has gone this low on any models (let alone the JCW).
MF Analysis: It’s both a sign of the times and a sign that MINI missed the mark with the specifications on the JCW. The fact that they are willing to blow out the JCWs at 2.9% for 60 months is a very obvious admission that something isn’t quite right with the specification vs the price. We expect to see some sort of specification updates to the JCW later this year.
The online press introduction of the MINI Convertible is now online for all to enjoy. There are nine video parts to the event including a Q&A with MINI USA VP Jim McDowell and a segment on future plans for the brand. For fans of the R57 convertible or just fans of the MINI brand, this is a must see online experience.
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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: R55 (Clubman), R56 (Coupe), R57 (Conv.) Jun 27th, 2009 42 Comments 
