DimON

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The chaps at MINImotorsport.com had a chat with Rally legend Rauno Aaltonen about MINI’s showing at last weekend’s WRC Rally in Finland. Among other topics, Rauno explains what happened to take the MINIs out of the race: There was one section on the “Leustu” stage that had been repaired with large pebbles. On the second run on this special stage, the ruts were deeper than expected. Maybe some cars caused small sandhills there, or Dani and Kris happened to brake at this particular part of the course. The car sank into the pebbles and the spoiler gathered up stones, sand and coarse particles like a snowplough. All that found its way into the air inlets on the radiator and engine. In my opinion, a special surface like this should not be used on a special stage in Finland. On a safari yes, but not in Finland. You set up the chassis and the spoiler so that both are right for the conditions on site, but you do not expect this coarse surface in Jyväskylä. Nobody could have predicted that.” Check out the whole interview over at MINI Motorsports. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Similar to the US MINI-E trial results, MINI UK has released some very interesting findings from their trial program of one of the world’s first production all-electric cars. Conclusions include: Over 250,000 miles driven on UK roads. Average cost to charge less than 2p per mile. Average daily distance driven 29.7 miles. Virtually all recharging carried out at home. Almost all participants said they’d consider buying an electric car as a result of taking part. It’s also interesting to learn that much of the MINI-E fleet will continue to see use, including at the upcoming 2012 Olympics. Full details after the break. [Official Release] Understanding how electric cars are driven in the real world has taken an important step forward with the release of data from the MINI E field trial in the UK. With 62 members of the public and 76 pool users running the battery-powered hatchbacks over two six-month periods, the Government-supported trial is the most in-depth of its kind in the UK to publish its findings. An enormous amount of data was collected electronically by data-loggers in the car and the home charging points, and also from extensive driver research carried out by Oxford Brookes University. The early findings have already informed the development of the 2011 BMW ActiveE car, a four-seat car based on the BMW 1 Series Coupe, but the biggest beneficiary will be the BMW i3, the first purpose-built EV from the BMW Group, set for launch in 2013. This information has also helped to inform UK policy-making decisions and other EV market stakeholders. The UK trial discovered that everyday use of the electric MINIs didn’t radically differ from the typical driving patterns of a control group of drivers of conventionally powered cars in the same segment. In fact, the daily journey distance of 29.7 miles was slightly more than the 26.5 miles recorded by the control cars, a mix of MINI Coopers and BMW 116i models. Interestingly, the UK average daily distance driven for private cars overall is less than 25 miles. With information gathered by on-board data-loggers, the average single trip distance was recorded as 9.5 miles compared to the UK average of seven miles. Four out of five people reported that 80 percent of their trips could be done exclusively in the MINI E, and this increased to 90 per cent of users saying that with the addition of rear seats and a bigger boot, all their trips could have been done in the MINI E. 84 percent said that severe the severe low temperatures during both phases of the field trial affected the distance that could be driven between charges, but despite that, four out of five participants told the researchers they thought the MINI E was suitable for winter use, with one user, Janet Borgers, saying she “regularly did 88 miles in a single journey in the cold weather”. Another female commuter clocked up almost 8,000 miles over a September to March period. Given the daily driven distance of just under 30 miles, the drivers felt confident enough not to have to charge their MINI E every night. In fact, the average was 2.9 times a week according to information fed back via electricity smart meters, with special night-time tariffs successfully encouraging individual drivers to charge when it was cheapest, which coincided with a low demand period and a greater proportion of renewable energy in the grid mix. Nine out of ten drivers told the researchers that charging actually suited their daily routine, with 81 percent agreeing with the statement “I prefer to plug in the car than go to a fuel station”. The running cost-savings were appreciated by users, with one participant telling researchers the thing she’d miss most was: “the money I will have to start paying for fuel again!” Most charged at home, with 82 percent using their wall-mounted charging box 90 percent of the time. The lack of a comprehensive public charging infrastructure in the UK was noted, with four out of five participants (82 percent) saying they thought that it was “essential” that a network of charging points was established. However, almost three quarters (72 percent) said they were able to use their car perfectly adequately right now as they had access to private charging. Asked about their driving experience, the trial participants were full of praise. Every single one enjoyed the quietness, with one user quoted as saying: “I like the silence – it’s very futuristic and it causes a reaction when people notice you pull away without making a sound.” And they all agreed with the statement: “electric vehicles are fun to drive.” The reason was partly down to the “fast pick-up and quick acceleration” of the 204hp MINI, again a statement that 100 percent agreed with. One even went so far to say it was “absolutely the best car I have ever driven”. Driving efficiently to extend the range was seen as part of the enjoyment rather than a chore. Understanding that use of the regenerative braking could increase the range by approximately 15 percent, three quarters of the users (74 percent) agreed with the statement that it was “a game for me to use the regenerative braking in a way that enables me to reach my destination without draining the battery.” Asked by the Oxford Brookes University researchers for suggestions to deal with the potential danger from the low noise at low speeds, over half (56 percent) said that instead of an artificial noise, the driver should pay more attention. However just over a quarter (28 per cent) said they’d like to have a warning noise below 12.5mph. Almost all participants (96 per cent) said they’d consider buying an electric car as a result of taking part, and half (51 percent) revealed they would pay a third more for an EV. A third (30 percent) said they’d consider taking the plunge within a year, while 55 percent said they’d hold fire for two or more years. The trial found that one week was all that was needed for customers to adapt to the characteristics and peculiarities of driving an EV, such as charging, range, regenerative braking and low noise. However those company car drivers invited to use the MINI E as a pool car on a less frequent basis needed increased training and support during the initial period of vehicle use in order to consolidate their learning. Fleet use was a big part of the trial with organisations in the UK and in Europe reporting positive feedback from both individual drivers and also fleet managers monitoring the MINI E’s use as a pool car. Those users who swapped out of their regular car reported that the MINI E was fine for 70 percent of journeys made during the working day, while the pool car success rate was even better with between 80-90 percent of regular trips achievable. The speed of charging was an important consideration for fleet users, while managers also flagged up the need for a clear procedure for the efficient charging of pool vehicles. Companies that participated included Scottish and Southern Energy, Oxfordshire County Council, and Oxford City Council. The MINI E trial was one of eight UK projects supported by the £25m Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator Programme, funded by the Technology Strategy Board and Department for Transport. These are aimed at bringing forward the introduction of viable electric passenger vehicles to the UK. Suzanne Gray, General Manager of BMW i said: “The feedback from the trial has been invaluable in helping our understanding of how people really respond to electric cars and other factors necessary to support electric car drivers. With this information we will be in a strong position to provide a well-rounded product and service proposition to customers of the BMW i3 and to work with other players in the electric vehicle market to make it a successful experience for a new generation of users.” Kulveer Ranger, Mayor of London’s environment director, said: ‘Electric driving technology is coming on leaps and bounds, but people naturally still have questions and concerns. Research such as this by BMW Group into real life experiences is invaluable as it debunks some common myths and underscores why electric vehicles are perfect for urban driving. The trial has also demonstrated the importance attached to supporting infrastructure, which is why the Mayor of London has launched Source London to provide a network of charge points that will help to create optimal conditions for electric vehicle use in the UK’s capital.’ The MINI E Trial in numbers 40 MINI Es 12 Months 138 Drivers (32 women 106 men) 258,105 Miles 33,345 Journeys 80,282 kWh Electricity Highest mileage by an individual driver over six months – 7954 miles Average mileage per vehicle over six months, including fleet pool cars – 3226 Average cost to charge over six months – £60, less than 2p per mile Notes to editors The MINI E is a two-seat development of the familiar MINI Hatch. It is powered by a 204hp electric motor that also generates 220 Nm of torque. It is driven by battery power in the form of a sophisticated 35 kWh Lithium-Ion battery containing 5,088 cells. The battery was charged by a special home charger supplied by consortium partner Scottish and Southern Energy. This enables a charge time of 3.5 hours at 32 amps. The MINI E has a top speed of 95mph and an official range of 149 miles (according to FTP72 standards), although a realistic range is 112miles. The UK field trial mirrored those on the East and West coasts of the USA, in both Munich and Berlin; Paris; Tokyo and Beijing and Shenzhen. In the UK 40 MINI Es were driven from December 2009 until March 2011. The 40 private MINI E Pioneers were selected from applicants in the South East of England and paid a subsidised monthly lease cost of £330. The remainder were fleet drivers with an individual car nominated by their company. They represented a mix of males and females from a cross section of income-groups, education backgrounds, urban/rural dwellers, family sizes and annual mileages. Drivers with access to a MINI E pool car also formed part of the study. The UK Consortium members who have supported the MINI E trials are Scottish and Southern Energy who supplied the home /public charging technology and energy, Oxford Brookes University who devised the research methodology, selected participants and analysed data from users, SEEDA who provided funding support and enabled the participation of Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council, and the BMW Group who led the Consortium, supplied the MINI E and managed driver education and support. The 40 MINI Es are still on UK roads in partnership activities which continue to promote awareness and understanding of electric vehicles, and they will form part of the BMW Group UK’s official vehicle fleet for the London 2012 Olympic Games. BMW’s battery vehicle research extends back to the deployment of an electric BMW 1602 during the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972 using lead-acid batteries. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

A few weeks ago we started a new feature at MF called the MF Vault. The idea is to bring back some of our favorite reviews over the years and present them to a new (and larger) audience at MF. We started with our R53 vs R56 review from late 2006. Today we’re back with another view. However this time one that’s technically less than a year old. However with the internets having a such short memory, we thought it appropriate to re-aquaint some of you of our Countryman Comparison pitting the Cooper, Cooper S and Cooper S All4 in a death match. And it’s a perfect time as we’ve just taken possession of our own long-term Countryman MCS All4. So with that, let the best really small cross-over win… <a href="http://s3.motoringfile.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC04381.jpg">

Over the past few weeks we’ve had more than a few of you email us about potential navigation ordering issues with 2012 MINIs. Due to supplier issues (relating to the Japanese earthquake) MINI had a shortage of navigation units earlier this summer. But the concern was that this would bleed into 2012. So we went straight to one of more trusted sources for the answer to whether or not Navigation was to be delayed any further. In a word no. According to our source dealer will be able to freely order both Navigation and MINI Connect in a couple weeks in time for August production. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Here at MotoringFile, we’ve held one consistent point of view when it comes to manual transmissions in MINIs: they’re a must. Sure, some people need an auto, but they’re sacrificing a lot of the car’s character in our opinion. Trouble is, a lot of people, especially here in America, don’t know how to drive a stick. So MINI and BSSP, in typical cheeky fashion, are encouraging people to go manual. This story came to our attention via Karl Greenburg over at MediaPost. He’d put out a survey asking what brand his readers thought would have “the audacity” to create a whole marketing campaign just around the manual transmission. Only one person actually got it right (kudos to Tom Keane at USA Weekend.) Yes, it’s MINI. And the BMW unit actually makes perfect sense if one recalls that when the brand (re)launched here in 2002, it offered the MINI Cooper only as a manual-shifter, and most certainly the brand has the highest manual take-rate percentage among any automaker that isn’t a pure sports-car brand. Thomas Salkowsky, manager of MINI brand marketing, says that in spite of an increasingly clutch-free world, about 34% of buyers of the Clubman, the MINI Cooper convertible and the hard top buy the manual version, and that even for the AWD version of the Countryman, MINI’s answer for a crossover, the manual take rate is about 30%. In New England, according to Salkowsky, it’s a 50/50 split between auto and manual, and even in highway-bound L.A. it’s about 15%. That’s a huge percentage, given the national average. AOL Auto’s editor, Kirk Seaman, wrote last year that back in 1985 22.4% of all vehicles sold in the U.S. came with a manual transmission. By 2007, it was 7.7%. AOL Autos says last year it was about 5.5%. BMW and MINI remain one of the few auto makers committed to making a manual transmission available in their vehicles. Not simply as the economy option for those who can’t afford the auto, but as a performance option for those who want to get the most out of their driving experience. Greenburg mentions the Countryman, which is actually the only AWD crossover in the US market right now that gets better than 30 mpg, costs less than $40k, and has an available manual transmission. We’ve said it before, and we’re going to keep saying it. If you want to get the most out of your MINI, opt for the stick. So it’s great to see that MINI agrees and the press is taking notice. Check out Greenburg’s full article over at MediaPost, and give BSSP a visit to see their thoughts on the campaign. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Even though the weekend was a bust, it was an important 2nd event for MINI’s WRC team. Here’s an inside look at the team and the weekend’s activities. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Ranging in price from £16,765 to £20,135, MINI UK’s latest special edition MINI Hardtop and Convertible follow on the success of last year’s Soho Clubman. Featuring unique “White Silver” metallic paint, black alloy wheels and black headlights, the Soho continues this high-contrast design inside with the piano black interior surfaces and anthracite headliner. The Soho name, like all of MINI UK’s special edition cars, draws its moniker from among London’s many iconic neighborhoods, sites and thoroughfares. Official info and photos after the jump. [Official Release] This summer MINI Hatch and MINI Convertible models are available in a special, limited edition called MINI Soho. Earlier this year the company announced that all MINI Special Editions will be named after London boroughs, districts, streets and landmarks. The Soho name has been introduced to MINI Hatch and Convertible models for a limited time following the success of the popular MINI Soho Clubman edition last year. The MINI Soho edition will be available in both Cooper and Cooper D models from July until March 2012. Thanks to the MINI Cooper D Hatch’s frugal credentials it is exempt from London Congestion charging with CO2 of just 99g/km and a whopping 74.3mpg* fuel consumption . MINI Soho editions have exclusive ‘White Silver’ metallic paint which is not available on any other current MINI Hatch or Convertible model, and to compliment the striking paintwork the Soho is finished with 17″ Black Star Bullet alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon headlights with black interior reflectors and white indicators. Inside the cabin the Soho has a sporty feel with Anthracite headlining, a 3-Spoke sport leather steering wheel and ‘Piano Black’ interior surfaces. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Official Release: Driving pleasure, premium quality and reliability guarantee the latest models from the BMW and MINI brands the highest acclaim in international automobile markets. That has been confirmed yet again in a recent study conducted by international market research firm J.D. Power. In its latest customer survey – the Automotive Performance and Layout Study (APEAL) – assessing satisfaction levels among North American new car buyers, the BMW 5 Series range, BMW X3, BMW Z4 and MINI Countryman emerged as winners of their respective vehicle segments. In addition, four more models from the BMW Group finished in the top three of their category. This tally means the BMW Group boasts the highest number of segment winners of all manufacturers in the latest APEAL survey. Such excellent individual scores also boosted the overall rankings of the BMW and MINI brands, with BMW coming third in the latest survey. As well as the class-winners – the BMW 5 Series range, BMW X3 and BMW Z4 – the outstanding results of the BMW 7 Series range also contributed to this outcome. The luxury saloon not only came second in its segment but also claimed the second-highest individual score of all the vehicles involved in the APEAL survey, making it the top European model in the entire competition. The BMW 3 Series range and the BMW X6 also finished as runners-up in their respective segments. The MINI brand likewise bumped up its overall results compared to the previous year. The main driving force here was the new MINI Countryman, which instantly took top honours in its vehicle class. The MINI Cooper also made it onto the winners’ podium, finishing second in its segment. J.D. Power and Associates ranks among the world’s leading market research firms. Through its numerous surveys, the renowned institute regularly evaluates satisfaction levels among vehicle buyers in the main international car markets. The results of the latest APEAL study for North America are based on a customer survey carried out by J.D. Power on average three months after initial vehicle registration. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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The 3rd Generation MINI (known internally as the F56) will debut late next summer at MINI United. And if you feel like you’ve heard this news six months ago on WRR and MF, you’re right. However with several sources recently confirming our original report it’s now 100% clear to us that MINI plans on making MINI United a bigger deal than even usual. We’ll have much more on the F56 in the next few days. And you can look for more event information leading up to MINI United late this fall. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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The MINI family has gotten complicated. From one model to five in just a few years is just the start. With a few years more MINI will have 9-10 models on dealer lots. The idea is to expand the potential customer base while staying true to the MINI aesthetic and ideals. So with that, let’s take a look at the full list what we expect (based on several inside sources) from MINI in the years ahead. MINI III (F56) MINI Convertible III (F57) MINI Clubman II (F55) MINI Traveller/Spacebox (F62) MINI Countryman (current and future) MINI Paceman Sport Activity Coupe (R61) MINI Coupe (R58) MINI Roadster (R59) MINI Rocketman Interestingly sources are telling us that, if the new Coupe and Roadster are successful, MINI many merge them into one with a new unique sports car that wouldn’t use use a Current (or future) MINI but use a bespoke body. <a href="http://www.motoringfile.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/5346204987_d8fdfabdb1_b.jpg">

We’re just two days away from the start of MINI’s next race in the World Rally Championship. This weekend both cars will be tearing their way through the scandinavian countryside. Want all the info? Here it is: [Official Release] The MINI WRC Team is aiming to get both its cars to the end of the Neste Oil Rally Finland to give its drivers valuable competitive mileage in their MINI John Cooper Works WRCs. The team has been very busy with an intensive test programme since its World Rally Championship debut two months ago, and it now heads north for the next event on its 2011 agenda on the 28th/29th/30th July. Dani Sordo (ES) and Carlos del Barrio (ES) will again be driving the number 37 MINI, while Kris Meeke (GB) and Paul Nagle (IR) will be in the number 52 car. “Finland is a specialist event, which always suits the style of the local Scandinavian drivers,” explained David Richards, Team Principal. “This early in our programme our primary aim is to put more competitive miles on the cars and to get both drivers through to the finish in strong positions.” This will be the second WRC event on the team’s six-rally schedule, and since its first one in Sardinia has covered approximately 3,000 kilometres in testing on both tarmac and gravel. In the intervening months the MINIs have been in the UK at Cornbury Park and the Goodwood Festival of Speed, testing in Northern Italy, Germany and Finland, as well as taking part in the recce for the Greek WRC round. The Finnish round of the WRC is one of the most famous events on the calendar. While this will be the first time there for the new MINI, in the 1960s the Mini enjoyed numerous successes in Finland. One of the drivers to appear on the podium in those days was Rauno Aaltonen (FI), so it is very fitting he will be at this year’s event supporting the team. One of his duties on the Saturday will be to present a MINI Countryman to two of his fellow Finns, Arttu Pihlainen, the world’s fastest downhill skater, and Peetu Piiroinen, a successful snowboarder. They won these cars, which are being given by BMW Suomi Oy, in races last winter and both have been customised according to the winners’ designs. Dani Sordo: “Finland is a really nice rally and what I would call typical of the sort you would expect in a World Rally Championship. I think I have done it about five times and always enjoy it. I also like the fact there are always lots of spectators, and I think maybe the most on any rally in the championship. It is an exciting rally to do as the roads are fast, we have lots of crests and there are big jumps. You really have to concentrate on all the stages as you are driving flat out, and in many ways it is like being on a race circuit. I was really happy after our test last week in Finland, as the car felt good, so I am going there with a lot of confidence for our performance in this rally.” Kris Meeke: “I have been to Finland twice before, but never in a WRC car. You have to treat this rally with respect, as it is most specific with regards to knowledge and I don’t have that knowledge, so I am going to treat it with caution. On some events you can make the pace notes and then drive a hundred per cent, but not here as there is a third dimension with the jumps. However, I am rally-hungry and can’t wait to get back after the long gap since Sardinia. The three day test we did last week went well, and I had a good feeling coming away from it. At the end of the day, that is what this year is all about, getting to know the car and the events.” History and Background The origins of the Neste Oil Rally Finland or, as it was previously called, the Rally of the 1000 Lakes, can be traced back to 1951 when an event called the Hanko Run was held in the seaside resort of Hanko in southern Finland. But from there it moved to Jyväskylä, which is the capital of Central Finland, for an event that went up to the Arctic Circle. It was in 1954 it was renamed the Rally of the 1000 Lakes. However, it was not until 1973 that it became a round of the manufacturers’ world championship, and then in 1979 the drivers’ world championship. It is sponsored by Neste, the Finnish oil company, and this association goes back as far as 1994. It was in 1997 the 1000 Lakes name was dropped. The event has always been unofficially called the Finnish Grand Prix or the Grand Prix on Gravel. Its stages are well known for big jumps, although in Finland the cars are said to be ‘yumping’. The event, which is being run for the 61st time and includes six new stages, starts on Thursday from its base in Jyväskylä at 16.00. There are three stages before the cars go into parc fermé at 21.15. On Friday service is from 07.30 with the first of eight stages starting at 09.00. There will be a remote service from 13.51 in Lahti, which is in southern Finland and very near Helsinki, and then the first car is due into parc fermé at 22.11. On the final day service starts at 07.00, the first car is due into final service at 20.09 after 11 stages, and the podium ceremony is at 21.00. In total there are 22 stages covering 314 kilometres, while the entire route is 1,355 kilometres. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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