We’ve heard the notion before that, with the MINI, BMW brought premium to the small car segment. While that could be argued with a number of earlier products (all available outside the US) it’s hard to argue anyone has ever done it better. This video of MINI USA Vice President Jim McDowell is an update to that ideology with some ties into the 2009/2010 world economy and a renewed emphasis on efficiency.

But more importantly there are a couple of recent exclusive MF reports that McDowell confirms in this video:

– Confirmation that the MINI Countryman has been delayed to an early 2011 launch in the US
РYes the Speedster and Coup̩ are coming to the LA Motorshow
– The US dealer network is expanding substantially and rapidly.