DimON

[Official Release] With the introduction of MINI Connected in 2010, the BMW Group became the world’s first carmaker to allow the application-based and extensive integration of the Apple iPhone into its models. Available as an option, MINI Connected links up with a simple USB connection and the MINI Connected App to turn the smartphone into a central interface for infotainment inside, and relating to every aspect of, the car. This technology has provided the launch pad for an all-new in-car infotainment experience. In spring 2011 this interface and app were also made available for BMW vehicles in the form of BMW Apps and BMW Connected. Added to which, the BMW Group has since expanded the app concept to include the internet-based services from BMW Online (available since 2001) and, this summer, also BMW Live. Other compatible apps – and therefore services – from third-party providers can also be integrated into the concept and used in BMW and MINI vehicles. Scope for rapid and flexible expansion. With the app concept – using either the application-based integration of a smartphone or a browser inside the vehicle – the BMW Group developers have created a highly flexible and still unrivalled platform. Indeed, the functional scope of the vehicle can be significantly broadened with the help of vehicle-specific apps certified by the BMW Group, enabling functions such as web radio, GoogleTM Local Search and FacebookTM to be used inside the vehicle safely and in convenience. But that is only the start. The app concept allows the range of functions to be expanded almost infinitely. Updating the app or installing another compatible app brings new functions into the car – without the need for any modifications to the car itself. “For us, the whole issue of apps is about not only the individual functions inside the vehicle, such as web radio or Google, but also the avenues this opens up to us beyond them. This technology makes our vehicles fit for the future.” (Florian Reuter, Product Management MINI Connected) Market-led solutions – worldwide. The BMW AppCenters. In addition to speed, flexibility and personalisation options, the app concept also opens up significant potential for solutions tailored to specific markets. And that prompted the BMW Group to add a third AppCenter, in a joint project with the BMW Group ConnectedDrive Lab China in Shanghai, to complement the first AppCenter in Munich’s Research and Innovation Centre and its American counterpart at the BMW Group Technology Office USA in Mountain View, California. “Where ConnectedDrive is concerned, we want to maintain our edge in future as well. That is why, alongside the existing AppCenters in the Research and Innovation Centre in Munich and at the BMW Group Technology Office in Mountain View, we have established a new BMW Group ConnectedDrive Lab in Shanghai. Together with my colleagues from the development department, I was able to visit the lab this summer. Even before completion of the new premises, our colleagues over there are already working on developing the first apps specifically aimed at the Asian marketplace.” (Dr. Klaus Draeger, Member of the BMW AG Board of Management, Development) Extending its development capacity in this way underlines the great importance which the BMW Group attributes to the subject of applications. The three AppCenters in Munich, Mountain View (California) and Shanghai form a network that is working on the research and development of forward-looking apps for smartphones and browser-based technologies. With its three locations, the BMW Group is in a position to optimally meet differing customer requirements and the desire for a geographically relevant range of apps. “The regional proximity of the AppCenter in Mountain View to Silicon Valley allows us in-depth insights into and exciting collaborations with highly innovative and creative start-ups.” (Dirk Rossberg, Head of BMW Group Technology Office USA)The AppCenter in Shanghai factors the needs of the Asian market into its development work, which means that, in conjunction with its Munich location, the BMW Group can drive developments forward with its fingers firmly on the pulse of the time. All three AppCenters work as part of a network using identical platforms, technologies and software components. Short development times of between two and 12 months allow the swift implementation of premium-quality market-led and brand-specific solutions. The focus of the developers is primarily on apps in the areas of community, car-related functions, infotainment and location-based services. Depending on the brand and the targets, the focus can shift and be expanded to meet specific requirements – for, as the BMW Group experts predict, this is going to be a hot topic of the future. BMW Group ConnectedDrive Lab China. In addition to the market-led offerings for BMW Apps and MINI Connected, further software topics fall within the lab’s remit as well. Asia-specific features for the display and operating concept and for driver assistance systems (e.g. traffic sign recognition) can be optimally developed on location thanks to an intercultural, predominantly Chinese team. Moreover, it allows activities such as the development of an open source infotainment platform as part of GENIVI to be directly linked to the Asian markets. Needless to say, the developers are working in close consultation with the heart of BMW Group development at Munich’s Research and Innovation Centre. “It is really exciting to be leading a young, interdisciplinary team here in China as part of a global development network. As a megacity, Shanghai is a globally significant location for innovations and trends. It’s a place where groundbreaking impulses are generated for design, mobility and the key technologies of the future. After just a few months we are delighted that, with our team of 20 highly qualified and motivated developers, display and operating concept designers and software experts, we are already able to present the first tangible results for series development.” (Alexis Trolin, Head of BMW Group ConnectedDrive Lab China) Third-party apps from external providers. In addition to the special functions it has created itself, the BMW Group is also using the technical capability provided by MINI Connected and BMW Apps as a platform for the integration of services from other providers. These “third-party apps” will allow a host of infotainment functions which customers already use at home to be transferred seamlessly to the car and operated by the driver. And that means they will have access to the services they want – such as personalised music streaming – at all times, whether they are on foot or travelling in the car. “With third-party apps we’re aiming to give customers the chance to select the provider they prefer, or at least one they are familiar with, for each specific application. In addition, when it comes to new functions through other apps we can, of course, also recommend a provider offering the service they are seeking.” (Andreas Schwarzmeier, BMW ConnectedDrive)By opening up this platform to apps from other providers, the BMW Group is underlining its leading position in both the integration of mobile devices into its cars and the introduction of internet-based in-car services. Development times are getting even shorter, and the selection of products wider and more customer-specific. And, most importantly, local requirements can be covered to optimum effect by a diverse structure underpinning the available services. In the USA, BMW Apps and MINI Connected customers can already use the popular and cost-free personalized internet radio service Pandora®.“Our aim for the future is to take our cooperation with premium infotainment providers to the next level in order to give our customers in-car access to the services they already use at home.” (Andreas Schwarzmeier) Only apps which meet the requirements of the BMW Group for in-car use are certified and approved by the BMW Group for MINI Connected or BMW Apps. Development partners assist the BMW Group to this end with suitable guidelines, tools and car-related expertise. Innovative functions, adapted to the brand. The flexibility of the local interface is also evident in the brand-specific development of BMW Apps and MINI Connected. Both apps offer access to web radio and Facebook, for example, but MINI Connected also features driving and community-oriented functions such as the MINIMALISM Analyser and Mission Control. BMW Apps, meanwhile, serves the need for seamless functionality and ease of information access with functions such as the integration of the iPhone calendar. “MINI drivers are different from BMW drivers. That’s why it’s important for us to be able to offer them a specially developed service – in the form of MINI Connected. This also applies to apps from third-party providers. Here we can work effectively with exciting external partners to give customers access to their services inside the MINI.” (Florian Reuter)The latest version of MINI Connected already offers up to ten different functions, but the developers at the BMW Group are also working on the integration of additional features. As well as the integration of streaming podcast services and virtual travel guides, foursquare® would enable the community area of MINI Connected to expand to include the link-up with location-based services and social networking. Customers can use foursquare to explore their surroundings or check out a nearby restaurant, for example, and to access any tips the community can offer. They can also see where their friends are hanging out. “We have a local interface, which can be adapted along individual and customer-specific lines so that every customer – BMW or MINI – can access a set of functions which suit their personal requirements.” (Uwe Higgen, Head of the BMW Group AppCenter in Munich) Personalising applications in BMW Online. From this summer, BMW ConnectedDrive customers have been able to widen their app experience beyond iPhone-based BMW Apps to include browser-based applications from BMW Online. Added to which, they can use their internet-compatible smartphone to access the latest applications from BMW via BMW Live. For example, BMW offers all customer groups and markets a constantly updated and configurable range of functions. To enable this browser-based functionality, the car needs to be specified with BMW ConnectedDrive and have an Internet connection – either via the integrated SIM card or the customer’s mobile phone – to the backend servers on which the applications are running. The applications can then be selected from the menu of the on-board system via BMW Online or BMW Live and accessed immediately. In this way, the BMW ConnectedDrive package offers comfortable access to the desired applications, in the style you would expect from BMW. “With BMW Online and BMW Live, MINI Connected and BMW Apps, we are offering a range of technically contrasting but complementary solutions which appeal to different customer groups. Keeping both smartphone and backend applications separate from overall car development will allow our models to stay at the leading edge of technology over a period of years.” (Uwe Higgen) Leadership stretching back years. The BMW Group already has something of a tradition when it comes to taking the lead as an innovator in the integration of CE devices. In 2004 the BMW Group became the world’s first carmaker to allow the Apple iPod to be integrated into the audio system of its models. Indeed, the BMW Group exclusively unveiled the first technology solution for the integration of the iPhone into the infotainment system of its cars just in time for the device’s launch in 2007. Also, since March 2011 the iPod Out function has allowed the familiar Apple iPod interface to be displayed in the car’s on-board monitor and operated via the iDrive Controller or multifunction steering wheel. Since the vehicle can thus access the iPod function of the iPhone directly, BMW also offers customers all the native add-ons for the iPod, such as the Genius function, which searches the user’s music library and automatically compiles playlists of tracks that go well together. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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The Detroit News is reporting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the ’07-’08 R56 Cooper S after 12 complaints were filed, including five vehicle fires. At this point we can only speculate as to the cause of these incidents (as to whether or not they’re turbo-related), but it’s important to keep in mind that we’re talking about five cars in approximately 36,000 vehicles, with no injuries or crashes reported. So we’re pretty sure it’s safe to go ahead and drive your Cooper S to the office this morning. While only preliminary at this point, we’ll keep you posted on any findings this investigation turns up. Full story excerpt after the break. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the 2007-2008 BMW Mini Cooper S for engine fires. NHTSA said in a notice posted on its website Saturday it is probing 36,000 models sold in the United States after receiving 12 complaints, including 5 alleged fires resulting in a total vehicle loss. The investigation covers the Mini Cooper S, the Mini Cooper S convertible and the 2008 Clubman edition. Eight complaints said fires occurred while the vehicles were parked with the ignition off. The complaints show an apparent increasing trend with most complaints received within the past year, NHTSA said. NHTSA has reviewed field reports submitted as part of its Early Warning Reporting data. A preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the cause, scope and frequency of the alleged defect by the agency. NHTSA said no injuries or crashes have been reported as a result of the fires. BMW didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment Saturday. [source: The Detroit News] </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

This Green Car Reports story about a particularly enthusiastic group of MINI drivers who recently got together found its way to the MF inbox recently. The group gathered at Nauna’s Bella Casa Restaurant in Montclair, NJ to celebrate the end of the MINI E trials before the time came to hand in their electric MINIs. Tom Moloughney, owner of Nauna’s Bella Casa and MINI E alum, hosted the event after clocking more than 65,000 miles in a MINI E of his own. The sentiment among attendees was a bittersweet mix of sadness in having to hand back George Jetson’s MINI, and excitement that even better electric cars are in the works from BMW. MINI E pioneers – the name that BMW have given to the few hundred of us who leased MINI Es – are both sad and happy. It’s sad to see the end of the program that delivered us one of the most fun-to-drive cars we’ve ever used, but we’re happy that its replacement will be here soon. That replacement is BMW’s upcoming ActiveE, the all-electric BMW 1-series. With key learnings from the MINI E program, the ActiveE will be an even more refined electric vehicle from BMW Group. The only question for the MINI E Pioneers at this point is, where do they sign up? Head on over to Green Car Reports for the full story. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

The new MINI Coupé debuted this month, and along with it, MINI USA is running their annual Motortober events at dealerships across the country. However, that’s just the beginning. For one lucky MINI fan, they just might get to go on the ultimate test drive. All it takes is six words. Six words to describe your ultimate test drive. Go to your local dealer’s Motortober event, or head on over to Facebook and give them your six word test drive story. The winner doesn’t just get bragging rights, though. MINI is going to do their darnedest to make that ultimate test drive happen. My six words: Bonneville Salt Flats Bury The Needle What are yours? Tell us about your ultimate test drive in the comments. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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News from MotoringFile as always with a little Shuttlecast thrown in for good measure. Finishing off with some more excellent Ask Chad questions, including some great information if you are looking to tow with your MINI. Reminder: White Roof Radio Live is happening next week! RSVP on our Facebook page and get more information like hotel group rate and directions to Detroit Tuned here. We are all VERY excited and hope you are too! Woofcast 398 Download| 1:06:00 | 31.4MB |WRR @ iTunes | Show Notes </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Уважаемые форумчане, МИНИпиплы. Я хочу поздравить всех нас с открытием Клубного Сервиса в Москве. Те кто из вас был в это воскресенье, уже увидели как всё классно! Большая и светлая приёмка (90 кв.м.), много места в ремзоне, самый крутой туалет! Помимо широкого спектра слесарных работ, у нас есть шино монтаж, малярный цех (через дорогу). При этом вы можете записаться на диагностику к всеклубно известному Роме Голубеву (Golubev). К вашим услугам будет полноценный тестовый стенд, для программирования машины, коробки и прописывания доп оборудования. Практически всё что можно сделать у ОД и больше. Роман сможет сделать вам качественную шумоизоляцию, установить различное дополнительное аудио оборудование и доп охранные системы. Пока ваша машина гостит у нас, вы можете взять на прокат один из автомобилей MINI Rental Service, которые теперь базируются у нас. Во время открытия мы объявили об акции по привлечению клиентов. Мы просим вас помочь нам быть лучше. Каждый может при посещении сервиса взять несколько специальных бирок с резинками. На каждой бирке вам нужно написать или номер своего авто или ник. Дальше вы отдаёте бирку дикому минику и когда тот приезжает на сервис в первый раз, то вы получаете 1 бал. Тот, кто наберёт максимальное количество балов до конца ноября, получит право на бесплатные работы по Замене масла и всех фильтров при следующем ТО (один раз) и 5 моек (в течении остатка этого и всего следующего года). Второе место получит просто 5 моек, а 3 место получит 3 мойки. Мы надеемся, что вы будете приезжать просто так. По поводу и без. В ближайшее время, у нас появятся удобные диваны, столы, телевизор и интернет. В ближайшие дни, я расскажу вам о грядущих Клубных Паспортах и что они будут значить в рамках Клубного Сервиса. До встречи.

Official Release: The MINI brand experienced a strong growth of +20.5% in worldwide sales in September. With 30,387 (prev. yr. 25,221) deliveries, the brand reported its best September result ever. A major contributor was the new MINI Countryman which launched just over a year ago and has already been received by over 76,000 customers. In the period up to and including September, MINI crossed the 200.000 mark with an increase of 24.1% in worldwide sales (208,216 / prev. yr. 167,752). The brand new MINI Coupé will hit the market this month in October and is expected to provide further momentum for the brand. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

ВСЕМ ПРИВЕТ!!! Рад сообщить, что 22 октября пройдет очередной MOSCOW MINI QUEST, организованный клубом MINIpeople.ru и телеканалом Global Star TV!!! Еще больше позитива, радости, сюрпризов и подарков от партнеров мероприятия! PLAY LIKE JAMES BOND… Бонд, Джеймс Бонд – легендарный британский суперагент 007, имя, известное всем и каждому. Почувствуйте себя суперагентом на автомобиле MINI в игре MOSCOW MINI QUEST 2011, организованной телеканалом Global Star TV. Участники игры должны пройти испытания, достойные настоящих суперагентов. За предложенное время Вам необходимо разгадать головоломки и проехать все контрольные точки (чек-поинты), указанные в «легенде», в каждой из которых требуется выполнить несложное веселое задание, заработать баллы за основное задание и некоторые дополнительные баллы и получить наклейку о прохождении чек-поинта. MOSCOW MINI QUEST III - третья игра сезона 2011 года! И снова на старт выходят 100 самых веселых и решительных MINIпиплов! Первоначальная регистрация экипажей проводится на форуме клуба MINIpeople.ru, www.minipeople.ru, раздел "MINIpeople-Москва - Тусуемся Москва - MOSCOW MINI QUEST III" Взнос с каждого экипажа - 1000 рублей. Старт квеста: ресторан Starlite Diner, Страстной бульвар 8а. Сбор гостей и регистрация экипажей с 16:00 до 17:30. Инструктаж экипажей – в 17:40. Старт MOSCOW MINI QUEST III - в 18:00 *. Финиш, праздничный фуршет и награждение победителей в культурном центре "Дом на Патриарших" – в 22:00. Впервые online-internet трансляция финиша в прямом эфире на сайте www.domkult.ru Приглашаем к игре всех MINIпиплов, всех владельцев автомобилей марки MINI! Специальные призы от телеканала Global Star TV и компании MINI. Специальный приз от компании ABTODOM - победителю “охоты на диких” **. Розыгрыш iPhone 4 от компании BEZLIMITNO.RU *** Туроператор морских и океанских круизов VIP CRUISE дарит Вам возможность отправиться в увлекательный круиз вдвоем!

 Лучшие из лучших по итогам четырех MOSCOW MINI QUEST 2011 станут обладателями сертификата на круиз! Всего в этом году запланировано 4 уникальных игры MOSCOW MINI QUEST, организованных телеканалом Global Star TV и нашим клубом, по результатам которых в декабре будет объявлен победитель года и вручен кубок MOSCOW MINI QUEST 2011! Традиционно телеканал Global Star TV будет снимать телепрограммы, посвященные MOSCOW MINI QUEST, где вы сможете увидеть себя, своих друзей и, конечно же, свои любимые машинки в самые веселые моменты квеста! Смотрите! Прямой эфир и подробная информация на сайте www.globalstar.tv Обязательное условие MOSCOW MINI QUEST III: - к игре допускаются только автомобили марки MINI любой модели и года выпуска! - в экипаже обязательно должны быть пилот и штурман! - вам потребуется карта Москвы, GPS-навигатор, фонарик, хорошее настроение, позитивный настрой и командный дух! Игра проводится в городских условиях с соблюдением всех правил дорожного движения! MINI QUEST - ЭТО НЕ ГОНКА! MINI QUEST - ЭТО ИГРА! По всем вопросам обращаться на горячую линию MOSCOW MINI QUEST +7 919 7667424 * Учитывая сложности с парковкой на Страстном бульваре и Пушкинской площади, просим соблюдать осторожность при парковке и уважать других участников дорожного движения. ** Условия для конкурса "охота на диких": 1. конкурс начинается 13 октября 2011г. Все желающие участвовать в конкурсе «охота на диких» могут получить флайеры в офисе телеканала Global Star TV (1-й Щипковский переулок 1, офис 213, +7-919-7667424) или салоне MINI компании АВТОDОМ (ул.Зорге 17). Флайеры раздаются всем мини-пиплам без ограничений. 2. охотник должен засунуть флайер под дворник переднего стекла «дикого» MINI или лично вручить флайер владельцу автомобила MINI. 3. если охотник засунул флайер под дворник и сфотографировал автомобиль, чтобы были видны номера, он получает 1 балл. если охотник сфотографировался вместе с хозяином автомобиля MINI, он получает 3 балла. 4. каждый охотник создает свою ветку в форуме MOSCOW MINI QUEST III. куда заливает свои фото, также он может заливать фото в общую ветку форума, но жюри такие фото не засчитывает. В зачет принимаются фотки только в своей ветке. 5. жюри - сотрудники компании АВТОDОМ. 6. фотографии принимаются к зачету до 24:00 21 октября. 7. отчет о всех участников конкурса (таблица с результатами) будет вывешена на форуме. *** Условия участия в лотерее BEZLIMITNO.RU: - при пополнении счета на 300 руб. - Вы получаете Красивый номер стоимостью 3500 руб БЕСПЛАТНО! Пример номера: 8 ХХХ ХХХ aa bb. - при пополнении счета на 500 руб. - Вы получаете Красивый номер и право участвовать в розыгрыше iPhone 4. - пополнить счет можно у представителя bezlimitno.ru на старте или финише квеста. Розыгрыш проводится следующим образом: необходимо положить отрывной купон от полученного комплекта в призовой барабан. В конце мероприятия победитель будет определен случайным образом путем изъятия купона из барабана. Все деньги зачисляются на счет абонента! Подключение на безлимитный тарифный план, получение Красивого номера и участие в розыгрыше БЕСПЛАТНОЕ!

Спасибо всем, кто приехал к нам сегодня. Пожалуйста, заберите с парковки Кантрик на транзитах. Вы стоите на месте директора комплекса. Наши места у входа.

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Every year, both MINI corporate and MINI enthusiasts put on a myriad of events both here in The States and around the world. From AMVIV, to The Dragon, to MINIs On Top, to the myriad of other grass roots regional events held around the country each year, chances are there’s something fantastic that will fit either your schedule or your region. Then there are the biannual official events like MINI United and MINI Takes The States that are put on by MINI itself. Both are well worth going out of your way to attend. Next year, 2012, is going to be a near perfect storm of MINI events. We don’t have specific dates or scope for some these events just yet, but here’s what we do know. MINI USA specifically will have its hands full in 2012 being involved in these events: The Tenth Anniversary of MINI Look for MINI USA and MINI worldwide to celebrate the new MINI in some pretty special ways next year. From special events, to special unveilings of new models (we’re anticipating the next generation MINI, the F56 to be unveiled at some point next year). Several Major Grass Roots Events There are nearly too many fan-driven MINI events to name here, but look for MINI USA to make a significant showing at both MINIs on the Dragon (MOTD) and MINIs on Top (MOT) next year. The Dragon is celebrating its tenth year, right along with MINI itself. MINI Takes The States It’s been two years since MINI last put on its signature epic American road trip. While we don’t have dates or destinations yet, we do know that this year’s route will be more akin to the first MTTS. That is, expect one big cross-country route rather than multiple routes with a common rally point. The 2012 London Olympics We’ve already reported on the London special editions, but look for close involvement in the games themselves. BMW is a flagship sponsor of the 2012 London Olympic games, and with MINI being one of the UK’s most iconic brands, look for MINI to play a major role in BMW’s involvement in the games. MINI United Originally scheduled and then cancelled for summer 2011, MINI United was postponed until 2012. Despite speculation that MINI United might combine with MINI’s involvement in the London Olympics, our information still has MINI’s world party happening in the south of France as originally planned. MINI United is also where we’re placing our bets for the world’s first look at the next generation MINI Hatch, the F56. As in previous years, MINI USA will be taking special care of any Stateside MINI fans who make the journey. We’ll be there It’s going to be an epic and busy year, but MotoringFile and/or WhiteRoofRadio will be there in one form or another to bring you the latest and greatest. But don’t just rely on our coverage, spend that saved up vacation. Splurge on that big trip you’ve been dying to take. If you’ve never been to a big MINI event, this is the year to start. There’s so many to choose from, you can’t go wrong in 2012. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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It’s rare when someone affects our lives as much as Stve Jobs has. Whether you have an iPhone in your pocket or not, Steve Jobs has defined our technological present and future more than any one man in the world today. And today he passed away at a young 56. When the iPod Mini was release, Steve said Apple’s main influence was the MINI itself. Less is more was the idea and the iPod Mini delivered on that in a new smaller form-factor. Why does it matter to us? Because here was a man that created the future by looking at what was around him. In this case it was the MINI that inspired his team. In other cases it was the button on a Lecia Camera. Whatever the situation was, Steve took what was right in the world and created something inspired and new. And ultimately something that changed the world in which we live. Steve and the people at Apple have inspired automakers like MINI and BMW to create in different and distinctive ways. MINI Connected and BMW ConnectedDrive are here (more or less) due to Apple. But you could go further in saying that BMW’s recent gamble and total re-think of it’s brand with BMWi is more inline with Apple’s re-invention (and Steve Job’s mantra of ‘Stay Foolish’) than anything from BMW in its history. And one could make the argument that the closest automotive equivalent to what Apple has done recently is actually the launch of the original Mini in 1959. In any case, Steve, we will miss you greatly. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits.The rebels.The troublemakers.The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them,disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal.They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward. Maybe they have to be crazy. How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written?Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels? We make tools for these kinds of people. While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to thinkthey can change the world, are the ones who do. Steve Jobs </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Уважаемые друзья! Я с радостью сообщаю вам, что в это воскресенье пройдёт официальное открытие Клубного Сервиса в новом месте. место сбора: Дубиниская улица д. 55, к. 1, с. 2 Для тех кто уже был на клубном сервисе, то поворот к нам будет направо в 50 метрах от старого поворота направо если вы двигаетесь от центра. На въезде будет стоять MINI, так что не проедете. Если что, звоните на Клубный телефон +7 905 737 6666 Время: 9.10.11 двери откроются в 12:13, официальная часть начнётся в 14:15 и закончится в 16:17. В это время мы будем угощать вас вкусным чаем и кофе, конфетами и всякими вкусняшками. У вас будет возможность внести собственный вклад в оформление зоны ожидания и высказать все свои идеи по поводу дальнейшего развития. Приятное общение гарантируем. В субботу и воскресенье машины приниматься не будут. Мы откроем свои двери с понедельника.

Three months and 2,500 miles. The Countryman has proven quite popular when it comes to what car to take every morning out of my garage. While my 2004 BMW 3 Series ZHP has that perfect, almost M car feel, the Countryman has been winning out lately as a better commuting choice. Nimble and quick enough while achieving almost 28 mpg in the city recently, it’s hard to argue with the CM as a daily driver. Where it loses out is when I factor in my new BMW 1M (in the middle above). On a sunny dry day with the 1M at my disposal, the Countryman doesn’t stand a chance of getting out of the driveway unless there’s people or things to transport. Yet the Countryman is a different kind of MINI. One that gets driven more often for different reasons than any before. <a href="http://s3.motoringfile.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG_6013.jpg" rel="lightbox-20339">

It’s been far too long since we all got together. Wait a tic, adding Nathaniel to the mix means we never have. That means a party is definitely in order. Join us Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 at Detroit Tuned for White Roof Radio Live. It was a scheduling nightmare but we’ve lined-up Gabe, Todd, db, Chad, and Nathaniel to record Woofcast 400 and wanted to invite you along for the show. There will be food, drink and some sweet MINIs including the MotorignFile Countryman and Gabe’s new BMW 1M. Plus, there are rumors of a Coupe or two — one of them getting some killer stripes from Todd! Not enough for you? How about a MotoringFile meetup in Chicago on Friday, October 21st, 2011? Done and done. How about a caravan to Detroit Tuned from Chicago on Saturday, with a possible stop at Bell’s Brewery? We are doing that, too. It’s not often that we get a chance to get together, but it’s always a fantastic party when it does. Those of you that have been to AMVIV, MTTS or MINI United know what we mean. Full details, including a great deal on a hotel room that is walking distance from Detroit Tuned can be found here. We also have an event page on Facebook and think it would be keen if you could RSVP if you plan on going, or not. Update: Gabe has since told me that the MF Meet-up is an invite only affair. But he says that MF readers are welcome to crash it. You’ll just have to figure out where it is. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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The MINI Coupé Press Launch took place in the beautiful smokey mountains around Nashville, TN. Before we got there, MINI USA put several press cars in front of the camera for their glamour shots. They shared those images with us, and now we’re sharing them with you. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

It’s safe to say that the MINI Coupé and its sibling, the Roadster, are two of the most highly anticipated models within the enthusiast community since the original ‘new’ MINI. On a temperate Tennessee Thursday I arrived in Nashville for the official launch for the first of “the twins”, the 2012 MINI Coupe. Though Gabe got a sneak preview of the car earlier this year, and a handful of pre-production cars have been circulating around the country, this was our first real look at the production versions. Here’s what I learned, and here’s what I experienced. MINI’s most focused model yet Two doors is nothing new for MINI. Even two seats has been done before with the rear seat delete in the MINI GP. What the MINI Coupé brings to the table is a much more ground-up development to be a particular kind of car because of those two seats. The crux of that focus is performance. The Coupé was designed, in essence, for enthusiasts by enthusiasts. From the love it or hate it roofline to the model’s focus on the JCW version, the Coupé is the furthest away from “all things to all people” as MINI could get. It’s the niche within the niche. MINI designed the Coupé to be driven hard, and to be hard to ignore. Both came into play during the two day press launch. The chassis Our previous information had the Coupé predominantly based on the MINI Convertible, the R57. This was only partially true. In fact, the Coupé and it’s sister the Roadster are actually based much more heavily on the R56 — borrowing only a handful of rear chassis components from the R57 to help stiffen the frame. Additionally, the partition behind the driver and passenger cabin is not simply architectural, but structural. A pressed steel structure lies under the upholstery with only the boot pass-through door cutting through it. This creates a sort of “H” in the structure of the car. The result is impressive. If anything, the Coupé feels stiffer than its hardtop siblings. That overall stiffness and solid construction of the Coupé bodes incredibly well for its soft top twin, the Roadster, because even now, the Coupé isn’t relying on its diminutive roof for any structural stiffness, yet it’s a noticeably solid car. Once you see the size of the boot opening, this chassis-first approach makes total sense. MINI couldn’t rely on the Coupé’s roof for lateral stiffness if they wanted to. There’s just too big a hole cut out of the back of the car. The approach they’ve taken has added benefits though. Those extra structural pieces have shifted the center of gravity much lower in the car. The result is a rigid chassis platform ripe for suspension tuning. More on that later. It’s also worth noting that though MINI has engineered many key structural upgrades and reinforcements, the weight gain is as little as 11 lbs for the Cooper, and only about 30 lbs on the JCW (on US-spec cars). Euro-spec cars push up to around 40 lbs max weight gain. Given the gains in chassis stiffness, aesthetics, and suspension poise, that’s a weight tax I’m happy to pay. The roof Love it or hate it, the MINI Coupé’s most distinctive feature is its roofline. The windshield is backswept 16º from the R56, yet the Coupé is only 1.25″ lower than it’s hardtop sibling. Thanks to the dished-out sections in the interior, internal headroom is reduced by less than half an inch. At 6′ 3″ myself, I found slightly more headroom in the Coupé than in my sunroof-equipped R53. Viewed on its own, the rake of the Coupé’s windshield isn’t something you really notice. It looks completely “right” on the car. It’s only when you see the Coupé next to another MINI that the windshield angle becomes noticeable. Even then, it’s a positive notice. From the belt line down, a Coupé and a Hardtop are basically the same car, but the swept windshield plus the Coupé’s distinctive roof, make it look more contemporary and more aggressive. In a lot of ways, the Coupé looks like the car the R56 and R55 evolved from, rather than the other way around. At the other end of the roof, the first of the Coupé’s two spoilers gives the car its distinctive backwards baseball cap look. I came to learn that this first spoiler serves a dual purpose. First, it directs airflow down the tail of the car toward the pop-up spoiler on the boot lid. This not only aids the downforce produced by the second spoiler, but serves to reduce the drag on the rear of the car. Secondly, the airflow off the first spoiler, according to MINI, keeps the rear window clean. This is why you won’t find a rear wiper on the Coupé. I’m curious to see if this turns out to be true in real world use. Aesthetically, the roof looks simply fantastic in person. From every angle, the Coupé looks intentional and carefully thought out. It’s aggressive. It’s sleek. It’s mean. However, as bold a choice as the Coupé’s roof is, it’s not without its costs. Firstly, getting into the Coupé isn’t quite as easy as its hardtop siblings. It’s not difficult, even at my height, but it’s different from what current MINI owners have grown used to. Getting out is no big deal, but current MINI owners will have to relearn how they get into the car. Once seated, the MINI Coupé still seems surprisingly spacious and comfortable inside. The arc of roof feels much more sculpted around the cabin. Everything is a tad closer, but not in a claustrophobic way. However, those sculpted angles do cut into your visibility a bit. Looking forward, the Coupé has even more of a brow than the R56 does. This isn’t an issue for seeing traffic, and is actually pretty handy as the sun gets lower in the sky. The only place it’s a problem is if you pull up too close to the traffic light. This is already an issue in the current MINIs, it’s just a touch worse in the Coupé. Rear visibility, however, is a different story. While the rear window essentially fills the rearview mirror, the position of the window meant that for taller drivers like me, you’re only able to see things immediately behind the car. It bothered me that I couldn’t see more than few car lengths behind me at any given time. I also couldn’t see the horizon behind me, let alone get a real picture of what traffic was doing. I couldn’t help but think that if I had a cop on my tail, I wouldn’t see him until he was right on my rear bumper. With the rear spoiler in the up position, you see even less out the rear view. I joked with one of the other journalists that it’s almost as though the rear window is there just so you can watch the spoiler move up and down in your rearview mirror. And really, the spoiler is so much fun that I’m completely okay with that. MINI is aware of the spoiler’s impact on visibility though, that’s why at 37 mph, it automatically retracts. Where straight back rear visibility has its challenges, rear 3/4 visibility is all but compromised entirely. There are small windows between the B and C pillars, but the view through them is so limited that you’re left with a significant blind spot. Adjusting the side mirrors takes care of most of this issue, but it’s a significant difference from what R56 or R55 owners are used to. It will change the way you read traffic, especially while merging or changing lanes. On the driver’s side, the rounded shape of the door window cuts into some of your rear 3/4 view on that side as well. This was especially challenging when trying to see oncoming traffic from the left when stopped at an intersection. I had to lean further forward than I’m used to in order to get a clear view of oncoming cars. That said, none of these compromises in visibility really detract from the Coupé in my opinion. If anything, it’s character. But they’re worth mentioning because they’re a significant change from the rest of the solid roofs in the MINI lineup, yet also slightly better than say, a MINI Convertible with the top up. The suspension Without the possibility of rear passengers, MINI engineers were able to dial in the Coupé’s rear suspension with greater precision. Gabe has already reported on MF that the Coupé is the most neutral and even tail-happy factory MINI ever produced. I can confirm this in the wild as well. The rear seat delete and chassis reinforcements have shifted the CG down and slightly forward, and MINI has balanced this against a 1mm thicker rear sway bar, plus stiffer rear dampening and rebound rates in the rear shocks and springs. This was especially noticeable on the JCW-equipped cars, but the Cooper S Coupé felt just as eager to turn in and poised through the corners. The Coupé takes the MINI handling feel we’ve all come to appreciate and turns it up to 11. If I had to sum it up in one word, it’d be this: poise. The Coupé feels put together at every level without ever feeling clinical or boring. In fact, the suspension is so responsive, and the car so eager to go where you tell it, that much of the time I was out driving the Coupé around, I’d forget to hit the Sport button. The car was already so much fun, it didn’t seem to need it. Though the roofline will get all the attention, it’s the Coupé’s suspension that makes it so special. Driving the John Cooper Works Coupé Though the Coupé will be available in Cooper, Cooper S and JCW trim, only Cooper S and JCW models were available for review at the press launch. Day one found me behind the wheel of a Lightning Blue/Silver John Cooper Works Coupé. As I pulled out onto the city streets of urban Nashville, the JCW Coupé felt immediately familiar. This is still a MINI, after all. This particular car was equipped with MINI Connected with Nav and the H/K sound system we’ve come to love in other MINI models. In the Coupé, however, the H/K system sound especially good as it’s a much smaller space to fill with sound. I wasn’t particularly interested in music at this point, I must confess, as I was having far too much fun listening to the rumbly growl of the JCW engine in front of me. My JCW Coupé was equipped with all the JCW kit that counts: the powerplant, the suspension kit and the big brakes. Mated to the Coupé’s stiffened and rebalanced chassis, these top-shelf components combine to create a driving experience that made the car feel like the ultimate MINI that it is. Touting a 6.1 second 0-60 time, the JCW Coupé is the fastest production MINI ever built, including the GP. That speed bump is thanks to both its power and its improved aerodynamics. But make no mistake, this is no point-and-squirt muscle MINI. Mated to the specially-tuned JCW suspension, the JCW Coupé was poised at every speed and in every situation I could legally (or mostly legally) throw at it on civilian streets. Moving through freeway traffic was effortless and downright giggle inducing. On winding B-roads, the car positively dares you to push it faster and harder — a dare that only the local law enforcement can dissuade you from taking. At the end of our day one route was an auto-x course set up in the parking lot at the Tennessee Titans football stadium. While not an ideal course for showing off the JCW Coupé’s high-speed poise, the course did give me an opportunity to push both the braking and handling limits. I parked my JCW review car and opted for a BRG2/silver JCW Coupé. The course kicked off with a balls-out, straight line acceleration, followed by a panic stop. Even the track-beaten demo car stopped in an incredibly short distance, thanks to its bright red JCW brakes. This was followed by the a series of quick turns and an aggressive slalom. This is where the Coupé’s unique suspension tuning really came into view. Driven straight through, the Coupé would understeer if pushed through the slalom with too much speed. However, a full lift or even a quick jab at the brake before each transition would bring the rear of the car around aggressively and duck the nose of the car into each tight turn. Even at this, the Coupé was very poised. That extra control over the rear end of the car let me push it much harder than I thought I’d be able to, yet at no point did the rear end come all the way around on me. The JCW Coupé is, above all, a precision instrument. It’s so capable, and so poised, that by the end of the day I couldn’t help but feel like it was almost too capable for daily use. MINI fully intends the JCW Coupé to be a “halo” car for the brand — something to be aspired to. In that, they’ve succeeded completely. It’s all the MINI I could ever hope to drive. But that immense capability all but goes to waste on civilian roads. It’s a car that I would enjoy endlessly on roads like The Tail of the Dragon, or at a track day, but in my daily commute to the office, I think it’d be too restless — too anxious to live up to its immense potential. That’s not a criticism, as it’s not the car’s fault it’s basically too brilliant. It’s simply the reality of the roads I drive on every day. Thankfully though, there’s an alternative. Driving the Cooper S Coupé On day two, I got to go on a four hour road trip in the Cooper S Coupé, and had the pleasure of MINI’s Jim McDowell as my co-driver and navigator. Where the JCW Coupé is a serious, scalpel-precise and fire-breathing machine, the Cooper S Coupé is playful, quick and far more civilized. It’s as precise as you’d ever need it to be, yet retains a much more precocious and forgiving character than its older brother. Though the stiffer feel of the JCW was never uncomfortable, the Cooper S Coupé is a more compliant but still capable road feel. It retained the eagerness to turn in and its real handling limits are still well above the bounds of state and local speed limits. Yet the Cooper S Coupé was simply more fun on regular roads than the JCW version. The torquey, Valvetronic-equipped turbo engine replaced the JCW’s snarling brute force with an eager gallop that for lack of a better description, was simply more cheerful. With Sport button on, the engine back burble rounded out the package to create a driving experience that, for me anyway, would be enjoyable every day. As we wound our way through the rolling Tennessee countryside, the Cooper S Coupé was a joy to drive. If a corner was a bit off camber or a bit sharper than anticipated, it didn’t matter. The Coupé would tear right through it. Braking was more than adequate, but I found myself missing the JCW brakes from the previous day’s car. With a huge boot full of luggage for our respective flights out that afternoon, the Coupe’s positioning as the ultimate two-person road trip car came into focus. The boot would seem large on most mid-sized sports sedans, so it’s especially impressive in the back of a MINI. Sipping fuel along our four hour journey, the Cooper S Coupé was the perfect blend of back road assault vehicle and long-distance economy. Conclusions If I had to pick one over the other, I’d spend my own money on the Cooper S Coupé, rather than the JCW. Not because of price though, because when you stack the JCW Coupé against its rivals such as the Audi TT, you’re getting terrific value for money. No, I’d choose the Cooper S Coupé because it’d be so easy to live with and fun to drive in those every day situations. With the available JCW body kit and brakes added, the Cooper S Coupé would be the sweet spot for my garage. However, if you’ve got regular access to the kinds of roads that would really challenge it, or are a much more avid auto-x’er or track day enthusiast than I am, the JCW Coupé may indeed be your ultimate MINI. It’s a car that fully lives up to its halo aspirations. In terms of overall feel, the Coupé felt like a slightly more well-balanced R56. In fact, everything about the Coupé felt familiar yet special. The thoughtful interior touches, such as the cabin parcel shelf behind the seats, made the car feel wholly intentional. The Coupé, at every level, feels like a bespoke special edition — like a much more limited edition car than it is. When you drive one, you don’t get the sense that it’s a production car. It seems too right, too unique, too custom tailored. From the outside, it’s the same story. The Coupé looks so intentionally MINI, yet so uniquely its own animal. If it were the only one in existence, it wouldn’t surprise you. The looks I got from other drivers told the whole story. From one fellow in a minivan, it was a huge thumbs up and a bounce in his seat — especially when I put the boot spoiler up for him. From another guy in an older Z4, it was an open mouthed stare of pure envy. My favorite reactions, though, were from other MINI owners. I got waves, pointed fingers and huge smiles from folks in Coopers, Clubman and Countryman — exactly who this car is aimed at. If you’re a fan of MINI, your hero car is here. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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1 DimON 2 Z 3 R 4 Gregy 5 fedmil 6 Katike 7 MiniVic 8 Yusup 9 Andre Bore 10 ThBug Спасибо всем, кто записался. Те кто хочет приехать на место, должны написать мне смску на 89один0 4один38один37 и записать ся на приглос. Их всего 20. Далее нужно ровно в 19.00 быть тут До встречи, будет весело. Если у кого вопросы, пишите на смс. Личку возможно уже не увижу или не смогу ответить. Не забывайте подписываться ником.

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