MotoringFile/WRR Live from MTTS Chicago
The night is winding down and we’re talking about the Countryman, 19″ wheels and the very rare Bridger.us/MINI t-shirt. Oh and then Chad decides installing a Cravenspeed iPhone 4 mount on State St. in Chicago is a good idea. (Photos after the break)
<p>Here are the pics, that Chad and LilCooper talked about on the new 2011 MINI Cooper S with Green Leather with Spice Orange. Hope you dont mind LilCooper :)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilcoopr/sets/72157624557541063/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilcoopr/sets/72157624557541063/</a></p>
<p>Also the fuel gauge has been updated, with a 1/2 tank mark and better speedo makers. as seen here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilcoopr/4873257214/in/set-72157624557541063/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilcoopr/4873257214/in/set-72157624557541063/</a></p>
<p>Did you find out what they were shooting video of with the tripod and the compact point and shoot camera at the Countryman launch? It seemed like they were interviewing Chicago Illuminating Company staff, and not event staff or attendees. I couldn’t make heads of tails out of it, although I was half drunk half exhausted all night long.</p>
<p>And I’d like to thank my stepson for wearing his hat all the time, so I can be definitive about which out of focus pinkish/orangey blob I am in the background.</p>
<p>Where are all the costumes? 😉
I expect the next road update to be more like <a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2010/07/20/mini-at-the-2010-life-ball/" rel="ugc">https://www.motoringfile.com/2010/07/20/mini-at-the-2010-life-ball/</a></p>
<p>@Jas Slightly off topic but was the “Dark Silver” MCS in the shot with the ’11 Spice Orange MCS the replacement color for dark silver?</p>
<p>Versus, I believe that is Dark Silver, its an 2007-2010 MINI Cooper with the aero kit, since it has the old side scuttle.</p>
<p>Versus, an other person had a tour of the factory today. Confirmed they are only making the new facelifted model now. Saw all the new colours.</p>
<p>Eclipse grey looks really smart. Darker than before I think, looks similar to this but it was under the bright factory lights:</p>
<p><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audi_A4_Dark-Grey.JPG" rel="nofollow ugc">http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audi_A4_Dark-Grey.JPG</a></p>
<p>Spice orange is fairly popular, saw plenty of them as it pepper white and pure silver.</p>
<p>Question on the AUTO A/C refresh … I see in some photos here that the fan speed and temp controls are different style in the Countryman (still looking like the “wheel”) than the Hatch mid cycle refresh photos (looks like buttons)</p>
<p>will there be different controls for different cars? if not which is the real deal?</p>
<p>Hey <b>Jas</b>, thanks for posting that link to the pictures, glad they could help depict the Countryman. I am really impressed with it. Seems very practical and yet not larger than other MINIs when side by side on the road. I have a picture of that, just not a good one, yet!! The Countryman really just looks like a taller version of the Clubman – so it’s not the ginormous beast that press photos make it out to be ;)</p>
<p>I have a QUICK video of an Eclipse Grey <em>the new colour</em> at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this afternoon (this video is just a couple hours old!).</p>
<p>The video’s purpose was to show the cool decals, but it gives an idea of what Eclipse Grey looks like. It’s darker than Dark Silver… almost like a faded black/and I thought it was a faded Connaught Green at first actually – but I think lighting had a lot to do with that quick assumption!</p>
<p>Enjoy: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEl-nAwvayst" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEl-nAwvayst</a></p>
<p>xo LILCOOPR</p>
<p>PS: <a href="http://www.lilcoopr.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.lilcoopr.com</a> has more!</p>
<p>@ Jas & lilcoopr,</p>
<p>Thanks for all the insight!!</p>
<p>Is that Chat from Detroit Tuned? Having done the first MTTS, this one seems like it is a lot more of a press/media/sales pitchy event than an event for the owners.</p>