MINI vs Porsche Challenge Continues

<p>Just out of curiosity, can someone please tell me anything positive that Porsche could get out of this “challenge?”</p>

<p>Well lets see, Porsche just walked away from the 24 hours of Lemans as GT2 class winners, try as I might I didn’t see a single MINI on the track.</p>

<p>The only way MINI can stand a hope against Porsche is to add the upgraded suspension and then using a carting track that does not allow the Porsche to use its power. MINI should go large and amaze everybody to prove it can out drive a Veyron around tight course, or maybe we can be amazed that MINI can out turn a ground taxing 747. This pointless test is a valid as McLaren wanting to race MINI around the ring. MINI is trying to compare an apple to a I-pad. Once again if you want to show off MINI try to take on your competition!</p>

<p>The original challenge was cute, fun, and playful. I find this followup to be rather annoying and it won’t help the cause to make the event happen.</p>

<p>this is becoming pretty pathetic. I miss Crispin Porter + Bogusky</p>

<p>Sir, please take off your t-shirt(s) and walk away from the ill-conceived marketing stunt.</p>

<p>Make the shirts available through MINI parts and dealerships.</p>

<p>A little bit of shark-jumping in this second vid but the idea is still sound and I hope some kind of race comes together end of this month… the more the MINI’s performance aspects are emphasized the better for all of us. Pretty much everyone “gets” that the MINI has a lot of design style (whether they like the style or not), but not everyone sees their driving dynamics.</p>

<p>Incidentally, I was at Montreal F1 this weekend but I thought of the MINI and this campaign while watching the Ferrari Challenge… getting real race fans to see MINIs tearing around a respected race track would be the best ad campaign MINI could ever organize and its effects on the brand as well as specific models would be overwhelmingly positive and long-lasting. Why not get the MINI Challenge Cup cars running in more locations?</p>

<p>In addition, with the LCI refresh this fall and The Twins coming soon might be a good time to organize “meet and drive” type events where people (not just media) can sign up to drive the MINI next to its competition back-to-back around a track?</p>

<p>I see MINI is still pushing this with a fly over Porsche HQ today.</p>

<p><a href="http://jalopnik.com/5562928/mini-launches-air-raid-on-porsche-headquarters" rel="nofollow ugc">http://jalopnik.com/5562928/mini-launches-air-raid-on-porsche-headquarters</a></p>

<p>I am trying to arrange with a couple Classic Mini owners to bring their cars to the event and see if we can setup autocross built for the Classic and see about inviting Brad and MINI to bring it on with a Classic and see which car is truly better. Its not any issue creating a course so tight that a MINI will be plowing through cones. Guess by Jim’s and Brad’s logic this would prove that a 40 year old car is better than the new MINI, let along the Porsche. Lets just hope that motorbike or skateboard doesn’t show up.</p>

<p>All I can say is that this is ill conceived and a total waste of money to me by MINIUSA. Proves nothing but a smaller car can go around a small circuit faster, plain silly at best!</p>

<p>This is incredible. A stunt like this solidifies the character MINI USA has been trying to achieve since its inception. In a world where most car companies barely advertise anything more than storage space, fuel economy, and Bluetooth connectivity, it’s really refreshing to see MINI bringing back what is really important about car ownership, which is pride in your vehicle’s abilities and individuality. These videos, and particularly the banners flying around Porsche headquarters, make me proud to drive what I do because I’m on their team. I can’t imagine anyone in a Honda feeling that way.</p>

<p>Immature or not, I really wish all car companies behaved this way.</p>

<p>As found by Kevin</p>

<p><a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jun/12/minisbrifs/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jun/12/minisbrifs/</a></p>

<p>”
So why would Porsche hesitate? Well, a bunch of reasons. First, Mini laid out the course, which doesn’t cover all of Road Atlanta but is an autocross track with lots of tight turns and few straightaways to pick up speed.</p>

<p>“We stacked the deck a little,” Davis said.
“</p>

<p>Basically MINI can’t even outrun its direct competition around a normal track and realizes that a dog and pony show is the only way to go.</p>

<p>So Jim, Brad , and MINIUSA accept a challenge to race a course setup for a classic and prove your worth. It would not take much effort to produce something that would have a MINI plowing cones through most corners. Building a circuit specifically for this just means the MINI turns tight corners better than the Porsche. I know which one I want to be in on a race track in a high speed corner and its not the one that comes from the company that doesn’t add a sports suspension to its faux sports car, the jcw.</p>

<p>I think the ad campaign is genius. MINI’s not trying to prove that it’s faster than a Porsche. It’s trying to prove that it can handle the curves better…so JonPD that’s why they picked the course…duh! Also, it’s trying to show that MINI is fast, affordable, and gets great gas mileage. I for one think it’s great to be able to own a vehicle that is pretty freaking fast despite it’s low HP because it’s so freaking light and has more torque. Not only that, I still get 33 mpg. You don’t get that in any other sports car. And, being next to some jerk in their “fast” cars at a light and then smoking them….priceless. BOTTOM LINE: THE POINT OF THE CHALLENGE IS THAT MINI HANDLES CURVES. And, it’s way more fun to drive. As far as the campaign being childish: the car is called MINI for a reason…it’s fun, quirky, and youthful.</p>

<p>Not only that, it is what it is: a publicity stunt. And, I think it’s been quite successful as such because they have gotten a whole lot of publicity thus far!</p>

<p>xoxo I totally love Justin Beiber!!</p>