NextAutos.com Talks with Jim McDowell
Mini USA vice-president Jim McDowell took some time this week to talk to the guys at NextAutos.com, the new site by Windingroad.com. Much of the information here was covered in the Fox News interview we posted earlier this month. There are some new nuggets here as well.
>Recent word of 500 electric Minis coming to the U.S. is accurate (but the announcement caught them “by surpriseâ€) and plans are to have cars in the hands of actual customers “about this time next year.†That said,it isn’t clear whether these cars will be sold, leased, or otherwise disbursed. It is also undetermined whether these cars will be offered outside of California.
Very interesting. Looks like this is really going to happen. Curious to see if those electric cars go for sale or lease and in states other than California.
>Mini USA is keen to incorporate some of the fuel-saving measures present in Minis in other markets (namely stop-start), but U.S. OBD II (on-board diagnostics) regulations are making this a more difficult process.
This is great to hear. We talked about why we don’t have start/stop on cars in the US a few weeks ago. Glad to see they are still looking at it.
>There is still no official word on a timetable for the forthcoming Mini softroader. This model will bring Mini’s total offerings to four, but McDowell believes that the Mini brand could accommodate six models without issue.
If you are waiting for this MINI, still no word on how much longer you’ll have to.
>U.S. Mini officials “would like to see†a diesel powertrain option in the States that achieves at least 50 miles-per-gallon, but there are no firm plans for anything at this time.
This is something we kept hearing during MTTS as well. Glad to see they are sticking with it.
[ Outlining a Big Future for Mini USA ] NextAutos.com
Regarding the electric MINI: I would like to be one of those “actual customers”….
I have been with MINIUSA since the launch ,Count me in for cold weather testing in Minnesota! Electric would be sweet (with a JCW) .
Electric cars are plenty fast. They don’t need JCW or pesky transmissions.
After watching “Who Killed the Electric Car” on DVD I surely hope this latest effort into the electric car arena in California, does not end up in the crusher years down the road like the GM EV-1 electric car did.
The EV-1 was an impressive car and well ahead of its time. I feel the electric MINI will be picking up where the EV-1 left, that is, if the local politician, auto industry lobbyists and big oil don’t kill it first.
If a MINI electric becomes a reality for the rest of us living outside the People’s Republic of California, I’ll be more than glad to give up my affection for fossil fuels and the internal combustion engine for one of these beasts capable of probably doing 0-60 in 3, 4 or even 5 seconds flat!
Oooh , I love minis :D, I found some pictures of the new minis today, really nice, check it out : <a href="http://www.carchannel.be/nl/artikel/mini/telex-211-pk-en-30000-euro-voor-de-mini-cooper-s-jcw" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.carchannel.be/nl/artikel/mini/telex-211-pk-en-30000-euro-voor-de-mini-cooper-s-jcw</a>
You’ve already got a USA company converting MINIs to hybrid electric power; <a href="http://www.hybridtechnologies.com/products/cars/flash" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.hybridtechnologies.com/products/cars/flash</a>
Can someone more in the know please explain what the US OBD II regulations are and how they present a challenge to incorporating the engine start-stop technology that’s avaialble elsewhere (and also on the Prius) in MINI’s sold in the USA?