DimON

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The year-over-year sales results for October are in, and led by best-yet Countryman sales, MINI is up 37% overall. The afore-mentioned Countryman, which has been on sale in the US since last December, had its best month to date with 2,012 units sold state-side. Last year we predicted the Countryman would eventual eclipse sales of the hatch this winter. As you’ll see after the break it’s around 50 units sold away from doing that already. To say the Countryman has been a success in the US market is a bit of an understatement. Also interesting are the sales numbers on the Coupé, which at 414 units, is only outselling the Convertible. Look for that number to rise with a full month of sales and better awareness of the new model, but also expect the Hardtop and Countryman to stay at the top and battle for the sales lead over the next year. Full figures after the break. [source: MINI] </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Which would you have? All things (price) being equal, which would you prefer to have in your driveway? Vote after the break. Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. <a href="http://s3.motoringfile.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2012-MINI-Roadster-103-1024x6611.jpg" rel="lightbox-20905">

Here’s the latest in MINI’s Another Day, Another Adventure series of videos. This time, they’re featuring the new MINI Roadster and the always fascinating city of Istanbul. Full press release after the break. Official Release: This debut film was shot on the history-laden streets of Istanbul. Emmy-nominated director Peter Berg (Hancock, Very Bad Things) announces the newest player on the MINI line-up with sophisticated calm in the face of adventure. Caught under a morning sun that seems to have come up a little sooner than expected, the MINI Roadster emerges from the dusty heart of the Bosporus capital to eventually discover the kind of smooth early morning drive we all fantasize about. Want a taste of that dream? Watch and enjoy. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Want a closer look at the newly announced MINI Roadster? Look no further than the 75+ photos in the gallery below. We’ve got every detail, inside and out, captured for your inspection. And be sure to give us your first impressions in the MF comment section. </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Dear Motoringfile.com readers, On October 21, 2011, I finally got the chance to drive the what is possibily the most argued about MINI ever created; The MINI Countryman. The MotoringFile long-term tester, in a drive from Illinois to Michigan, where we where celebrating Woofcast 400. Following Gabe in his fancy BMW, we begin our journey to Detroit by navigating to the nearest coffee shop. The roads were quaint and all of the trees were changing color, something I’m not used to being from the West Coast. Coffee procured, we begin heading out of town, starting with a run down Lake Shore Drive. Around town, this MINI drives as you would expect. You can tell it’s larger than the hardtop, and heavier too. It definitely drives heavy. A fact that I found really noticeable going around corners without the sport button pressed. Navigating Chicago’s pot-hole riddled roads was a breeze, with a good ride. I would have expected this MINI to have a quieter interior. There was a fair amount of road noise from the run-flat tires and wind noise from the windows. And this was at speeds much less than highway speeds. On the highway, it was a great cruiser. And not afraid of speeds that could earn you more than a few motoring awards. I had my iPhone connected for music playback and the bluetooth connected for voice communications, and both of those worked very well as you would expect. MINI Connected was installed, so I put it on my iPhone. I didn’t get a chance to really play with it, but I did look and I wasn’t impressed. Something I would want to revisit in the future. Is it me, or has the nav system gotten slow? I’m used to navigation provided by a stand-alone device or the older nav systems. This one seemed to lag quite a bit. By which I mean I knew where I was 10-20 seconds after I was there. Tough to decide on “is it this street or the next one?” when there is so much lag. Halfway through Indiana we made a stop for provisions for the evening and some lunch. I had about 3 hours in this MINI so far and wasn’t really impressed. Little things had bothered me like the way it handled and the amount of noise in the cabin at speeds. Also, while the entertainment/nav system is chock full of features, getting around in is not what you expect. It’s a push down and turn controller, that you turn the opposite way that you think you should to makes the changes you want. I spent 6 hours in the driver seat of that MINI and never got used it. Driving it on the highway, besides the road and wind noise, was nice. It was a comfortable ride and I was never not comfortable in the sport seats. One thing I did notice on this that I haven’t noticed on the 6-speed manual transmission before is the sheer reach required to get into 5th and 6th gear. I felt as if I was reaching into the passenger side footwell to make the gear change. But I have a short wingspan. Gabe kept telling me that hitting the sport button was where it’s at, so I did. Everything tightened up a bit, throttle response improved and in general, it felt like sport mode, but not really. I could tell a change in acceleration or throttle response while in sport mode, but just barely. The steering did felt a a little tighter too. Then, I did straight line acceleration with the sport button pressed. What a squirrelly machine! Gobs of torque steer and an overall feeling of being a little out of control. But boy does this MINI go! In unsuccessful attempts at keeping up with Gabe and Nathaniel in the BMW, I made the red needle travel north of 100MPH more than once. I was really excited to get the chance to drive this MINI over an extended period of time and glad that I did. I also know that many of you really enjoy your Countryman, and I’m sure with time (and some non-runflat tires), I would too. I’m disappointed that the first impression wasn’t that great. Sincerely, Don ‘db’ BurnsideMINI Enthusiast, Podcast host, 2003 R50 driver </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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mikebush +1 опередил меня. На последних 4х(!!!) страницах высказаны буквально следующие конструктивные критические замечания: 1. Место для финиша было маловатым. 2. Не на всех чеках персонал был подготовлен должным образом. Не волонтёры, а именно персонал самой организации. Человеческий фактор, с которым сложно бороться, но пробовать нужно. 3. Много бегали. В этот раз для многих это было весело (для меня в том числе), но в зимнем квесте лучше избежать. 4. .... собственно всё. Теперь по остальному трёпу-ниочём: 1. Если вам, вашим сотрудникам, хамят, то вы реагируете! Те кто говорит о непрофесионализме Ольги за то, что она выплеснула на всех свой правилный гнев за людское неуважение к близким ей людям - такие же хамы. Один товарищ за это ушёл только что в читальню на 3 дня. Будут ещё желающие - тоже пойдут. И мы ещё называемся КЛУБОМ, СООБЩЕСТВОМ, мать вашу! Я всегда думаю о всех как о семье. Так получается, что всё по житейским правилам - в семье не без ..... 2. Если кому то не нравится что-то в любом клубном мероприятии, есть 2 варианта развития событий: а) больше в них не участвуй или б) организуй сам лучше. Все готовы лаять с трибун! Иди и сделай или вали! Повторяю ещё один (наверное 500й) раз: MINIpeople -это абсолютно добровольное собрание людей! Никто, никому тут НИЧЕГО не обязан! В том числе и организации-партнёры клуба. Ну и в завершение: лично я, считаю эти 3 квеста одними из наиболее организованных из всех клубных квестов. В этой серии квестов была проявлена организованность наивысшего класса среди людей, которые делали это в первый раз, в частности, и среди оргов просто квестов в целом! Пока все шапкозакидатели этой темы не попробуют сделать квест своей группкой сами, считаю большинство высказыванием пустым трёпом. Организаторам - зачёт почти по всем пунктам! По тем, по которым незачёт, критика была высказана уже субботним вечером и, уверен, все они, по возможности, будут устранены. Совет на следующий квест как оргам, так и всем участникам: - Перед началом выполнения задания на чеке попросите листок с подробным описанием задания. Он есть на каждой точке, но иногда его забывают дать орги или участники не смотрят на него. Читайте внимательно. - есть смысл на каждом чеке спрашивать есть ли тут секретное задание. Иногда, когда стоит очередь, чекер может забыть или неуспеть выдать (мы быстро бежим в машину и в спину уже ничего не слышим) вам доп легенду и тогда вы в пролёте. - Одевайтесь удобно и по погоде. - задания не являются супер секретной шифровкой. Не вчитывайтесь в задание слишком "глубоко", но и не упускайте ключевых слов.

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It’s no understatement that the MINI WRC team is racing strong this year. Even though drivers Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke are only running about half of this year’s rally schedule of 13 races, they’ve already managed two podium finishes and and a 4th/5th finish in their latest race, the Rally of Spain. After the race, Meeke had this to say: After 40 kilometres [25 miles] we were only four seconds off the top speed. Now we know we’ve got a fast car on our hands. Next year we’ll be competing for the championship title. For a team just getting off the ground, in an incredibly challenging racing series like WRC, MINI’s successes so far are nothing short of phenomenal. It’s a testament not only to MINI’s racing heritage, but MINI’s commitment to taking their entry into the WRC very, very seriously. By partnering with Prodrive, MINI isn’t just dabbling with racing for the sake of marketing. They’re out to win. Kris Meeke thinks they can chase down the WRC title next year, and if these early showings are any indication, I believe him. [source:MINI Space] </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

The MINI WRC Team was in a celebratory mood at the end of Rally RACC – Rally of Spain. Not only did Dani Sordo (ES) and Carlos del Barrio (ES) and Kris Meeke (GB) and Paul Nagle (IR) finish fourth and fifth respectively, but the MINI John Cooper Works WRCs were also first and second fastest on the Power Stage. While it was Sordo’s home event, it was Meeke who took the honour and the three points for being fastest on this final stage. This was the first WRC stage win for the Northern Irish driver and, in fact, he has now scored his first ever WRC points. The result was helped by an inspired tyre choice at the start of the day. The team’s weather forecast showed rain was expected later in the day, and so they chose to ignore what the other works teams were doing and opt for the appropriate Michelin tyres. Both cars left Salou after the mid-morning halt with two soft tyres on the right hand side, two hard tyres on the left hand side and two soft spares. This proved difficult for the drivers on the two long tarmac stages which were held in the dry, but as the first cars arrived at the final Coll de la Teixeta stage the promised rain came. This was vital and gave Meeke the fastest time, Sordo the second and the customer MINI of Daniel Oliveira the fourth. Third quickest was Sébastien Loeb (FR) who assured Citroen of the 2011 Manufacturers’ titlle. Dave Wilcock, Technical Director: “Obviously we started the day wanting to maintain our positions and keep Sébastian Ogier behind us. On the morning loop Dani picked up a puncture in one of the stages, and that cost 25 seconds so was really close. On the second loop all the weather forecast were showing various options, and it was a matter of which one you chose to believe. When the cars left no one had any idea what the other teams were running in terms of tyre strategy. Our call at the time was it was going to rain halfway through the second stage of the loop, so we took what we considered at the time a safer option and we went for four soft and two hard. We had the wrong tyres for the first stage, and then realised Ford had taken five hard tyres and Citroen four hard and two soft. They believed it was going to stay dry. After the first stage we took a big hit on time, as we were clearly on the wrong tyres. Going into the second stage Ogier’s engine let go, which was fortunate. Then fortunately our weather forecast came true and the power stage had rain just prior to the stage start. We were on the right tyre at the right time. We were one or two by a country mile. We just picked up and extra five points for the drivers in that stage. Credit has to go to Michelin for the durable tyre, because even with the soft tyre on the drying stages it was not that bad. Impressive as ever.” Dani Sordo (MINI John Cooper Works WRC No 37): “It is okay to be fourth, but we lost a lot on the first day on the gravel stages and with the dust. We had hoped the rain would have come a little bit earlier today. For the first two stages we had the wrong tyres and the others had the right ones, then in the final stage we had the right ones. It was fun and a little bit slippery in some places. I am quite okay, but not totally happy as I really wanted to finish on the podium on my home rally, but it didn’t happen this time.” Kris Meeke (MINI John Cooper Works WRC No 52): “That was the perfect end to this rally for me. I knew we had made a good start to the stage, but then knew I had messed up on the last roundabout. I had a quiet word with my engineer, Teena (Gade), in service before the last loop and she was saying just get it home as we will be happy with a finish now. I was so frustrated and wanted to go fast, as I loved the power stage the first time through. To be quicker than Dani on the same tyres on his home patch is something pretty special. Over the whole rally I don’t have the experience to compete with the other guys yet, but this shows that when I know where we are going we can be with them.” </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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UK-based AutoCar has some spy shots of a particularly interesting MINI Countryman apparently in the hands of WRC specialists Prodrive. The rumored details are particularly interesting. It’s an All4, it’s got custom wheels and a hulking carbon fiber wing on the back. Under the hood, AutoCar’s sources are saying: Performance upgrades include a Prodrive-branded Milltek exhaust and a Superchips-tuned version of the Cooper S’s turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine. Sources have indicated that the car had run 230bhp on the dyno, but Superchips is still hoping for even more power and a larger turbo was under consideration. So what is it? Is it a one-off? Will this be a special edition available for sale? Details are still vague, but we’re actively reaching out to our sources for more information. No mention yet of suspension setup or whether the All4 system has been reprogrammed for a more performance-oriented focus. But let’s clarify a couple of things we do know. This is not the JCW Countryman. That’s a separate animal all together. In fact, this may simply be an aftermarket kit Prodrive would offer through UK MINI Specialists, similar to what they have done for Suburu, among others. Generally, these special editions are produced in small numbers and restricted to UK markets, so we might not see the final car here in The States, if it ever saw production at all. More photos over at AutoCar.co.uk </img><br/></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

[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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