DimON

At the NAIAS this year in Detroit, MINI featured the new Roadster — their latest addition to the MINI model lineup. For those keeping score at home, that brings the total number of unique MINI configurations up to six: Hardtop Clubman Convertible Coupé Roadster Countryman Count the production version of the Paceman concept due out [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

(visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

The MINI All4 team has won Dakar. No it’s not an actual Countryman like the WRC rally car is but this is the Dakar. Something much more serious is required to not just race but survive. Therefore the X-road Countryman is a tubular framed off-road race car that was designed by the MINI Design team [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

MINI UK has joined forces with a group called MotorSport Vision, providing a group of MINI Ones for their YoungDrive events where kids as young as 11 years-old get their first experience behind the wheel of a car. What better way to be introduced to driving than behind the wheel of a MINI? I’m jealous. [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Stephane Peterhansel clinched his 10th Dakar Rally win today and the first for Mini as a brand in the car category. Peterhansel lead much the event in the category. The Frenchman battled American Robby Gordon’s Hummer team for most of the way. However a combination of car issues and possible sanctions over a tire inflation [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

(Updated with detailed information) In perhaps the largest recall ever announced, MINI USA is recalling every Cooper S and JCW model sold from 2007 to 2011. The recall effects almost all 2007 – 2011 R55, R56, R57 and R60 models with the turbocharged Cooper S engine. For a full list of the cars affected and [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Todd got a great interview with Dr. Kay Segler, MINI Brand Manager Worldwide, at the Detroit Auto Show this past week. Dr. Kay was in a great mood talking with Todd about all great things MINI, including hints of a possible reboot of the JCW MINI GP. WRR Interview – Dr. Kay Segler Download| 11:45 [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

We’ve seen this car before. It wasn’t the F56 then. It’s not the F56 now. Yet World Car Fans is showing off a set of photos of what they’re reporting to be a next generation MINI Cooper undergoing winter testing. While that’s a reasonable assertion, it’s not exactly correct. Our sources are telling us that [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Exclusive: Thanks to our partners over at BimmerFile we have the first viable rumor regarding a diesel powered MINI coming to the US. Since the moment the first MINI diesel was released in Europe, US MINI enthusiasts have been wondering when they could share in the diesel love. It would now appear that the answer [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Last year MINI raced a pair of JCW Coupés in a 24H race at the Nürburgring. Those aren’t the only MINI’s to race for endurance though. Teams such as S.I.G. Motorsports (above) and Besaplast Racing will be entering the 24H of Dubai this year starting tomorrow, January 12, 2012. In races like these, just finishing [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Can’t make it to the Detroit Autoshow this year? No problem – we’ve got it covered for you from every angle. And perhaps the most important angle are the debuts. These are concept and production cars from all major automakers that are taking the wraps off for the first time in public. Check out the [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Sometimes it’s just nice to be back where you feel most comfortable. Those were my thoughts as I slipped begin the wheel of a lightly spec’d 2012 MINI Cooper S hatch. No this isn’t some chopped coupe or puffed up crossover. This is the car (or at least the shape) that owes more to the [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

The North American International Auto Show is underway and MINI is there with the world debut of the MINI Roadster. Check out the full gallery after the break. (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Hot off the presses: While at the Detroit Auto Show Todd and Matt managed to tease out a few details about MTTS 2012. According to the best sources possible, we’ve confirmed that MINI Takes the States will begin July 4th and eventually end in Chicago. Route details, events and other information is not yet available. [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Last week it was MINI USA announcing record sales. This week BMW Group global is doing this same. 2011 was the best year on record for BMW Group and the three automotive brands, BMW, MINI and Rolls Royce. MINI in particular had a great year as it diversified its product portfolio and brought a new [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Need to kill a few hours. Your’re in luck as MINI USA has updated their online configurator with the new Roadster models. Also included are several new options for March 2012 product – most notably Recaro seats. Ladies and gentlemen, start your clicking. (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

[Via MINI Motorsports] Five MINI ALL4 Racings in the top six places after a challenging fifth stage of the Dakar: it doesn’t get much better. Krzysztof Holowczyc takes the stage victory, while Stéphane Peterhansel remains the overall leader. The news received shortly before the start of the first real test on this year’s Dakar was [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

MINI USA is reporting not only their best December but their best year ever for sales in the US. Sales in December totaled 5,711, up nearly 1,400 from the previous year. Total sales for 2011 were up 26% overall with sales of 57,511 units, up nearly 12,000 cars from 2010. VP Jim McDowell, head of [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

According to Autosport, MINI has finally confirmed it’s 2012 World Rally Car entry. But it wasn’t without some drama. Apparently MINI has been unhappy with the sports coverage in BMW’s home market of Germany. Is it possible that MINI was playing hardball with the WRC in order to get better TV coverage for an important [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

As those who listened to yesterday’s MF podcast yesterday found out, BMW doesn’t intent on releasing the 3rd generation MINI until well into 2013. Unlike the R50 and R53, BMW is planning on producing the R56 for a full seven year cycle typical to BMW cars. Given that the R56 was released in late 2006 [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

MINI is proving its racing chops this year in the Dakar Rally in Argentina, leading the race overall going into Stage 3. More than just the lead, MINIs held five of the top ten rankings. Looks like it’s going to be a shoot-out with Hummer, which couldn’t be more entertaining. Video recap of stage 2 [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Subscribe | Download (10 MB MP3) Something funny happened after Michael and I finished our last podcast for BimmerFile. We started talking MINIs. And as we’re prone to do, we quickly started talking about future cars and the direction of the brand. What followed was the most efficient use of ten minutes possible to MINI [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

MINI United has been officially announced for May 11-13, 2012 at Circuit Paul Recard. So what’s next? Tickets. Today MINI has officially opened the virtual ticket window for MINI United. The three day price is only 40 Euros and is available at Ticketmaster. So why MINI United? We’ve done all the major MINI events around [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

We love a good comparison test here at MotoringFile, especially when the MINI gets its due as a driver’s car – especially the Cooper. While MINI doesn’t always come out on top in these small car shoot outs, it’s always interesting to see how the automotive press compares the Cooper to its rivals. This month, [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

According to a report by German publication Auto Motor und Sport, MINI intends on showing a cargo van version of the current Clubman in late February at the Geneva Motor Show. The concept (which could be very close to production) reportedly will feature two seats and a flat load floor. Gone are the typical rear [...] (visit MotoringFile for the full article) </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше