Jet-Engined MINI Crashes During Demo Run (Video)
Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently someone thought it was a good idea to strap a jet engine to their MINI and drive it on a track. Unfortunately, the run at Snetterton raceway in Norfolk, England didn’t go quite as expected for the driver. As far as we know the driver is safe, but please don’t try this at home.
<p>Weird that it would understeer like that with so much weight in the back…</p>
<p>I am not an engineer or expert, but it appears the energy/vector of the thrust trumped the dynamics of the power going to the wheels and the traction. I would imagine the larger the jet engine output (if taken to an extreme limit on a function curve) the less ability you would be able to turn the car – basically a horizontal rocket.</p>
<p>Maybe somebody should tell him about thrust vectoring…… better yet… stick to Issigonis/Cooper’s original formula!</p>
<p>I guess they should have taken the car to the drag strip and not a road course.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/119269" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/119269</a></p>
<p><blockquote><em>the Mini was heading in the wrong direction at low speed in order to turn around for its jet-powered run down the straight towards Riches.
…
“The Mini was only supposed to trundle the wrong way down the start finish straight in order to turn around for its jet powered run the other way; clearly something went wrong as between driver and car,” the spokesman said.
</em></blockquote></p>
<p>is this available as a retro-fit?</p>
<p>There’s a guy who works at Moffett Field who found a loophole in the DMV regulations. Turns out you can have two drivetrains in a car without going afoul of the CARB laws if they aren’t connected and the added one wasn’t used on the street. So he stuck a turbine from a small helicopter in the back….. MC Squared did an article on it early on….. Car had plates and everything! I think it was light blue with a white top.</p>
<p>Sad to say, I think it prompted a change in the law take things like that off the streets, making the drive up and down 101 just a little more boring.</p>
<p>I’ve dreamt of this car since 1985</p>
<p>Off Topic, yesterday (6-4-2015) MINI USA Configurator was updated and the option changes were made as reported here on MF.</p>
<p>For Base Model, only way to get front fog lights is to chose LED Fog which then requires person to purchase LED Headlight option too (total of $1,000). (Quite frankly, Fogs should be standard on Base model too.)</p>
<p>Rear fogs are still listed and available.</p>
<p>Autodim mirrors: can no longer only get inside Autodim, now have to get outside and power fold mirrors ($500)</p>
<p>A “Cargo Net” option ($250) has been added, but if you click on details it shows “N/A”</p>
<p>Sport Suspension gone. Only Dynamic Damper Control available</p>
<p>Visual Boost now only available via pkg: either with Media Pkg, or Wired Pkg. Standard NAV no longer available, only XL Nav (via pkg).</p>
<p>No more CD/DVD changer option</p>
<p>Also as reported by MF, only Full Loaded Pkg now (no loaded pkg)</p>
<p>I priced/spec’d a S Cooper under new options/pkg configure as close to what I ordered in Feb 2015. It would now cost me $1,000 more (MSRP)and I’d be struck having to have power fold mirrors (+ outside Auto Dim mirrors) and the armrest (which 99% of Media and Auto reviews didn’t like and neither do I).</p>
<p>Yes MSRP price without option for both the Base and S didn’t go up, Younification choices were reduced 9or eliminated) thereby actually raising the price of car if you wanted certain options. Single option (al carte) without having to get a pkg (or just one or two items you really wanted and not the rest) is what made MINI special, unique, different and good from other car mfg. Seems MINI is following other now. IMO, disappointing and sad.</p>
<p>I am so glad I order my Cooper S when I did.</p>