DimON

It’s clearly a bit of a marketing exercise but this video gives us a glimpse at what BMW has in-store for us with it’s new engine range. But first a couple of key stats. A single engine architecture will serve as the basis of the new family of engines that will include three, four and six cylinder configurations. Furthermore this common design allows for 60% of parts to be shared across the range which in-turn allows for more time spent engineering the parts while having lower cost (because of greater quantity). But more importantly this will allow for smaller, lighter engines to produce the same if not more power than current larger powerplants (all with greater efficiency). This means in some cases cars currently with eight cylinders will get six, six will get four and four will get three. None of this should come as a surprise as we’ve been reporting it on MotoringFile for a few years. But seeing the video demonstrating the engines is still somewhat of an a ha moment. But perhaps much more important is that this video clearly demonstrates that BMW will be going to a common FWD architecture. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Today MINI took off the wraps of the most anticipated MINI Motorsport program in over 40 years. Prodrive and the factory WRC team were on hand to speak to the crowd and offer a few lucky journalists some free rides around the Oxford plant parking lot. We’ve put together a quick composite of the day’s activities and Prodrive’s effort in prepping for the team. Enjoy! </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

It’s not the definitive look since the current WRC car is still technically undergoing testing. But you get the idea. We’ll have more from today’s Oxford debut of the rally car later this evening… </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

As though to compliment the Countryman’s superb winter handling, MINI has “yarn bombed” an R60 as part of their Wanderlust campaign. Stitched together by artist Magda Sayegis, it’s not what we’d call pretty, but hell, so long as somebody’s having fun, right? Check out more photos over at WorldCarFans. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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If you’re viewing this post on a mobile device you’re likely pretty happy. A few weeks ago the pinch and zoom functionality built into the iPhone (and other mobile devices) simply quit working on MF. Why? We’re still trying to sort that out. But due to the issue we felt it was the right time to roll-out the new mobile version of MotoringFile that we’d been working on for the past few months. It’s designed to be used as a standard mobile site or a web app. Why not spend our time building an iOS specific app? With the very fragmented Android growing alongside iOS we felt a web based app that took advantage general touch platforms was the best way to go at this time. Of course there’s still work to do. For starters we’re still are working on fixing the root issue that led us to launch the mobile site sooner (specifically as it affects the iPad). However we’re ready for you to start using MotoringFile Mobile. As always let us know what you think via our the comments below. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

After seven plus years of essentially the same commenting system on MF, we’re completely starting over. Starting immediately we’re moving all new and existing comments to the Disqus commenting system. So what does this mean to you the reader of MotoringFile? Quite a bit really. Read on for the details. Facebook, Twitter and Disqus login (anonymous is still available) Community profiles Comment editing (assuming you login via the three options above) Threaded comments (yes you can finally reply to a comment directly Twitter integration (known as ‘reactions’) Commenting promotion/liking Community flagging Notification and reply system Realtime commenting Inline media embedding Complete social integration Now for the downsides. There aren’t really that affect the majority. However for those who like to be 100% anonymous, you’re not going to enjoy a few of these new features. The other issue is that we’ve lost comments on a few recent posts with today’s transition. So if you see that your comment is gone, know that it was simply an import error and that we’re working on getting it back on the site. As always any comments, thoughts, concerns or suggestions are welcome in the (brand new) comment section below… </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Remember that incredible MINI Countryman the Monster Energy X-raid team built to race at Dakar? It’s back, and it’s winning races! Team X-raid came in first and second, with Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret piloting the Countryman race vehicle to the top of the podium a full 15 minutes ahead of their teammates in a BMW X3. The next race is the Silk Way Rally in Russia racing from Moscow to Sochi three months from now. Huge congrats to MINI and everybody involved at Monster Energy X-raid. Full release after the break. Official Release: The Monster Energy X-raid team celebrated an historic success in the five-day Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which started on April 3rd and finished on April 7th. It marked an historic achievement for the X-raid team. The MINI All4 Racing was triumphant less than three months after its first appearance in the Dakar Rally. The duo of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA/FRA), claimed victory ahead of their team mates Leonid Novitskiy and Andreas Schulz (RUS/GER) in a BMW X3CC. Novitskiy not only secured valuable points for the FIA World Cup for off-road rallies, but he also took the outright lead in the World Cup drivers’ standings. The two X-raid crews controlled proceedings in Abu Dhabi and made the fight for overall victory between themselves. Peterhansel secured three of the five possible stage wins and eventually beat Novitskiy by a winning margin of 15m16s. The Russian and his German co-driver shadowed Peterhansel and Cottret throughout the event. Novitskiy snatched victory on the third stage and briefly led Peterhansel in the overall standings. “Stéphane and the MINI All4 Racing have shown to be in excellent shape and deserved this victory,” said Monster Energy X-raid team boss Sven Quandt. “Although he stalled twice, technically we had no problems. Even Leonid has shown a very strong performance. The second place puts him in the FIA World Cup lead and in a very good position. He maintained his tactics and approached the rally wisely. “ The MINI All4 Racing was developed by the Monster Energy X-raid team in just 90 days for the Dakar Rally. In Argentina and Chile, it quickly became a crowd favourite. The next outing for the MINI All4 Racing will be further east at the Silk Way Rally. Teams will head from the Russian capital of Moscow to Sochi, the venue of the Olympic Winter Games 2014. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

So the president of FLUCC (Fiat Lancia Unlimited car club) came up with 75 questionable reasons why one would buy a Fiat 500 over a MINI. The reality is we tend to like the idea of the 500 and are looking forward to testing one later this spring. But a list like this can’t go unanswered by the MINI community. So we want you give him double the reasons why anyone should buy a MINI over the Fiat 500. Yes 150 reasons why a MINI is superior. Let’s get started. (and incase you missed the original list, check it out here) </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Through its MINI Space urban initiative, MINI has launched a “Wanderlust” campaign centered around the Countryman. Participants dream up their perfect escape from their (presumably) mundane daily routine and share it on MINI Space. The site lets you create your own Wanderlust adventure idea and share it with the community via Facebook and the MINI Space website. Ideas with the most votes get added to the Wanderlust map so that you can see what adventure ideas have popped up in your area. But what’s the incentive? Winning ideas compete for prizes including a MINI Countryman of your very own. Check out the site and create your own video at MINI Space. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Full crew this time around! Gabe and Nathaniel both join us for some news from MotoringFile. Plus, we talk about the Coupe & Roadster and our good man Chad answers your questions. You can ask yours too by sending emails to askchad(at)whiteroofradio.com. Download | WRR @ iTunes | 27MB | 56:17mini police car </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

It may not be the official WRC team nor the actual big leagues of the WRC, it is a FIA sanctioned rally against real competitors. And it’s also the first time a MINI has won on this stage in almost four decades. Here are the details courtesy of WRC.com: Driven by the Italian Andrea Navarra, the Prodrive-developed machine triumphed on Rally dell’Adriatico, the opening round of the Italian Gravel Rally Championship near Ancona on Italy’s Adriatic coast last weekend. Running with a 30-milimetre restrictor (as opposed to a 33mm version) to conform to the FIA’s Regional Rally Car regulations to balance the performance with normally aspirated Super 2000 cars, Navarra led from start to finish. Co-driven by Simona Fedeli, he completed the 100-kilometre competitive route with a margin of 12.6 seconds over Andreas Mikkelsen’s conventional Skoda Fabia S2000. “It’s a great honour for me to give MINI this first victory with Pirelli tyres and another milestone in our history together,” said Navarra. “It was a fantastic rally that was competitive from start to finish: we had to push hard but in the end we got the result that we wanted. I really enjoyed driving the car: the turbo engine means that you can drive with the throttle all the time compared to a conventional Super 2000 car, where you are driving with the gears.” Although he’s not eligible for points, Navarra will return to the Italian Gravel series – known as the Trofeo Rally Terra – with the Grifone team on Rally Costa Smeralda on 6/7 May. The event runs behind the main world championship rally in Sardinia where MINI will mark the debut of the World Rally Car version of its John Cooper Works. In addition to Navara’s machine, a handful of other Super 2000 MINIs are likely to be in action on the national-level Rally Costa Smeralda next month. Hat tip to Axis of Oversteer. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

MINI USA is reporting sales of 6,087 cars making it the best March, and the second best single sales month, since coming to the U.S. Sales are up by an impressive 68.6% over the 3,610 cars sold in March of 2010. What’s more, U.S. sales are up 41.4% (12,341 compared to 8,728) for the first quarter, year over year. Details after the break. Sales Overview BMW Group USA, March 2011 March 2011March 2010%YTD 2011YTD 2010%BMW brand20,29518,06012.452,61746,32313.6BMW passenger cars15,36114,4456.338,17635,7746.7BMW light trucks (SAVs)4,9343,61536.514,44110,54936.9MINI by modelMarch 2011March 2010%YTD 2011YTD 2010%Cooper /S Hardtop3,0432,24835.46,4765,44518.9Cooper /S Convertible5374968.31,0181,305-22.0Cooper /S Clubman778866-10.21,5461,978-21.8Countryman /S/All41,729N/AN/A3,301N/AN/AMINI brand total6,0873,61068.612,3418,72841.4TOTAL Group26,38221,67021.764,95855,05118.0 </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

In a surprise move Dr. Segler is making the move back to MINI effective May 1 of this year. In his place will be Dr. Friedrich Nitschke who has held various management positions within BMW since joining the company in 1978 (including being a major player at MINI within development). Segler has been with the company since 1988, mainly in management functions within the Sales and Marketing division, both in Germany and abroad. He previously managed the MINI brand between 2004 and 2008. He is now set to continue the brand’s successful growth story. What this mean for BMW M and MINI we don’t quite know yet. But clearly BMW brass thought Dr. Segler’s talents were needed back at the helm of the brand he helped established. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Серёга, поздравляем тебя с самым лучшим днём в году. Желаем тебе самого большого здоровья, самых добрых эмоций и самых лучших друзей. И вообще ты САМЫЙ!

A new video from MINI worldwide that’s one part music video, one part art project, one part commercial. Featuring lots of stop motion and other fun artistic juxtapositions, this video even gives us a glimpse of the new MINI Clubman Hampton Edition. Going model by model, the video definitely has an international flavor as we see MINIs zipping around the city, the desert, the mountains, the track and everywhere in between. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Todd, Nathaniel and I get together for a bit of news from Motoringfile where we discuss all manner of things, including, again, the Wil Wheaton Secret MINI Owners Club story at Motoringalliance.com. No Chad this week since he was getting doing married, but keep those questions coming in to askchad@whiteroofradio.com. Download | WRR @ iTunes | 18.9MB | 41:22mini police car </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Дорогие Пиплы, Весеннее время уже настало, но дороги ещё не готовы к нашим летним башмакам на машинах. Но это не помешает нам повеселиться в эту субботу. Программа такая: ровно в 22.00 по 3ему кольцу стартует машина, которая станет ведущей нашего flashMOBa. На протяжённости внешней стороны ТТК к этой машине будете присоединяться вы. Это суть затеи, более подробно место конкретно вашей дислокации, время и другие детали вывешены тут. Если вы спросите: "А для чего всё это?!?" Да просто так! Как говориться нет повода не выпить прокатиться в хорошей компании! Но это ещё не всё! По окончанию пробега, вас ждёт: "Без дураков Party." при поддержке: MIO DJ Cafe! В эту и только в эту ночь "Без дураков!" тебя ждут: - общение с умными (а другие на MINI не ездят!) и интересными MINIдрайверами; - эксклюзивные DJ-сеты от интеллектуальных диджеев владельцев MINI; Место проведение MIO DJ Cafe на Ленинском. Всем, кто приедет с ключом МИНИ - клубная карта заведения в подарок. Специально меню на коктейли. 22:00 сбор гостей - для тех, кто не будет кататься 23:00 - 1:00 Виталий Козак Special MINI DJ set 1:00 - 3:00 Александр MyLove Special MINI DJ set 3:00 - 5:00 Paris Special MINI DJ set А пока записываемся. 1. DimON+marika 2. coolcat + KsuOzone 3. 4. p.s.: нам нужно 2 отважных человека с приличными видеокамерами. 1 поедет в хвосте этого безобразия и будет снимать, а второй встанет на эстакаде около РАН и снимет всю колонну с "воздуха". стучите в личку к coolcat'у

Autoblog is sharing some spy shots of what at first glance appears to simply be a regular R56 driving around on the snow in Sweden. Looking closer, there’s a tell-tale sign that this is indeed a hybrid electric MINI prototype. It’s literally a yellow sign on the window that reads “HYBRID”. Autoblog is also reporting that the system being tested is actually an AWD system where the front wheels are driven normally using stock drivetrain and electric motors drive the rear wheels for power assist. This approach is not dissimilar to the BMW Efficient Dynamics hybrid system seen in the photo above. If this is the case, it holds some key engineering advantages. Firstly, it allows the system to complement any existing power plant in the MINI range without modifying the engines. The hybrid system would in essence just be a retrofit. Beyond that, added traction possibilities from AWD are intriguing, as it could mean an electric version of All4 for the smaller cars in the MINI lineup. Lastly, with the main wheels driving the car through conventional power train, the rear wheel motors should be able to easily feature regenerative braking or even use in-motion charging to top off the car’s batteries. No word yet on specs or plug-in functionality, but seeing this system on the hatch (rather than just the Countryman) is certainly interesting. Chances are we won’t see this system until the 2013 hatch refresh. Then again, that’s not really that far away. Have a look at the whole set of underwhelming photos over at Autoblog. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше