Revisiting the R50’s Debut: How the Press Fell for the New MINI
It’s hard to believe, but the R50 MINI made its grand entrance at the 2000 Paris Motor Show over 20 years ago. Enthusiasts were smitten from the start, but what did the...
A Guide to the R50, R52 & R53 MINI Cooper Special Editions
The R50, R53, and R52 generations of MINI are celebrated for their classic styling, perfect proportions, and visceral dynamics. But if you’re looking for the perfect used example, you’ll want to get...
R50 MINI Cooper Launch Relived with the First-Ever Photos & Press Release
When the sheet was pulled off, wows could be heard from an audience. Even the most jaded automotive journalists seemed to be stunned at what BMW and the Rover team had pulled...
MINI’s Secret Concepts From the 90s That Almost Changed the MINI Cooper Forever
If you think the new J01 MINI Cooper EV is a radical departure, wait until you see what MINI was cooking up in the 1990s. As MINI ushers in an entirely new...
A Look Back at MINI Mavericks – An Early Ad Campaign From MINI USA
After weeks of new MINI news we wanted to dig into the MotoringFile archives for a blast from the past. Behold the MINI Maverick trading cards from the MINI Maverick campaign. Mavericks...
It’s The 20th Anniversary of MINI USA – Join Us As We Look Back
Twenty years ago today I decided to take the afternoon off from work and head down to the local BMW dealer to check out something I had a hunch would be something...
Opinion: It’s Time for BMW To Embrace MINI R53 Generation
We have never shied away from showing our love for the current range of MINI products. They are faster, better built and offer higher levels of tech, comfort and safety than anything...
The R50 & R53 MINI Prices Are Going Up
The crazy inception of the R50 and R53 is even more an an amazing story that just gets better when you realize just how good those cars were. Literally from day one...
Celebrating 20 Years of The New MINI at Plant Oxford
It’s almost impossible to believe but the modern new MINI now 20 years old. We take it for granted now but the ramping top of production that up at Plant Oxford was...
MotoringFile Review: The R50/R53 JCW Leather Dash
This story originally appeared in the April 2006 edition of MotoringFile. Due to a recent post on Instagram we’ve seen a bunch of interest in this long forgotten and highly rare JCW...