DimON

C пзаазданием, но всё же. Наше семейство поздравляет спортсменку, комсомолку, любительницу кошек, да и просто настоящего минипипла с днюхой. Желаем счастья и любви.

We’re just four days away from the MINI factory rally team’s debut at the Rally d’Italia Sardegna. Who’s excited? </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Just as JCW is MINI’s high performance brand, Goodwood will becomes its luxury marque. According to Autocar MINI will build a series of products based on the name and the principles behind it. So what does that mean? Look for future products that use Rolls Royce materials and a look overseen by the RR design studio. [show as slideshow] [View with PicLens] 12► The MINI Goodwood is set to be released next spring and will cost approximately £42,000 in the UK, €47,000 in Europe and (if our sources are to believed) $50,000. You can read more in MotoringFile’s MINI Goodwood section. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Autocar.co.uk is out with a new review of MINI’s intrepid Cooper SD diesel powerplant. This time it’s specifically in the Countryman All4. Of all the cars in the MINI line, we think the R60 seams the most logical candidate for the beefier oil burner because of its added size and because the fuel economy offered in the petrol engines doesn’t shine quite so brightly in this largest MINI model. Autocar agrees. In many ways, this engine suits the Countryman better than any of its siblings. As the heaviest Mini in the range – by a long stretch in All4 guise – the Countryman really does need all the torque it can find. And this new turbo diesel develops more torque than any other engine in the MINI range, including the John Cooper Works power plant. That’s 225lb ft of the twisting stuff, which is very welcome. More after the break. Mr. Conway goes on to say that in SD trim, the Countryman is really best thought of as a capable cruiser. It’s not the hot hatch the smaller cars are, but that’s not much of a surprise. What it is, though, is a truly unique car in its segment that can actually seat four adults in comfort. Try doing that in the Cooper hatch. [source: Autocar.co.uk] </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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The stage is set and the gear is in place. With Rally d’Italia Sardegna right around the five-right corner, Kris Meeke, Dani Sordo and the entire MINI WRC Team are working to complete final preparations ensuring this first race goes according to plan. Just last week the team prepped the MINI John Cooper Works WRC and tested it stops-out at the proving grounds in Spain. “The car is now to full WRC specification, which is why it was important that Dani and Kris tested under similar conditions to those expected in Sardinia. An extensive shakedown will provide the finishing touch to our preparations.” says Technical Director of the MINI WRC Team, Dave Wilcock. Dani Sordo added that, “the test in Spain was great.” Sounds like things are ready to roll. Wilcock went on to say “It was an accelerated development programme during which we constantly pushed to our limits. We will find out how good we are when we take on the competition in Sardinia.” That’s great to hear. With the car set up to full spec and MINI’s team of veteran drivers having now shook loose everything that’s going to come free, Italy should be quite a show. Cheers, lads! </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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We don’t get the brilliant MINI diesel engines here in the colonies, but what do the europeans think of them? One of our favorite automotive magazines, Evo, did a quick rundown on the SD engine in each of the MINI models. A comparison of the range is interesting: the hatchback shows the biggest improvement in mid-range thump, the Clubman feels the most resolved and balanced on rough and twisty roads, the Countryman feels least eager to swing through the SD’s powerband and also requires stirring of its gears through stunted motorway traffic. The full review is mostly summary, rather than in-depth editorial, but overall they seem to like the motor. Being the SD, they focus mostly on the performance side of things, which we’re all for. With mileage as high as 65 mpg (imperial), that performance is even part of the conversation suits us just fine, even if we can’t have them here in the USA. Check out the full article over at Evo.co.uk. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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With city traffic more congested than ever, MINI is offering up a solution to urban parking overcrowding: the MINI Folding Bike. Rather than cram a whole roll of quarters into that parking meter for 15 minutes, park further out and finish your trip on a bicycle. Not just any bicycle, but a rather clever little number that folds up small enough to fit in the boot of your MINI. More after the break. The bike folds along the crossbar and handlebars. The saddle retracts and the pedals fold up close to the aluminum frame. This makes the bike extremely easy to handle and saves space. Fitted in a sleeve under the saddle is a fitted transport bag for portaging odds and ends. The MINI Folding Bike claims to match the riding characteristics of a “normal” bike. Weighing less than 24 lbs, the bike is equipped with 8 gears and 20-inch wheels, keeping it quick and versatile. The teflon-coated chain keeps your pants clean and reduces the wear and tear on the components, and the gel saddle keeps things comfortable. The bike also features the customary visibility features and fenders to keep the road off you and your clothes. Even on two wheels, the MINI design details show through. The bike comes in matte black, and features silver highlights in the MINI lettering on the crossbar. The MINI logo is featured on the handlebars and a monocrhomatic Union Jack motif on the rear forks. The bike chain and bell are the set apart in bold neon yellow. The MINI Folding Bike will be available in August of this year in select MINI dealers, and at www.MINI.de/shop, at an MSRP of about $730. No word yet on US availability. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Autosport.com is reporting that Prodrive chief David Richards expects 20 of their race-prepped MINI Countryman racers to compete in the 2012 season of WRC rally racing. Ten will be WRC spec cars, and the other ten S2000 spec. Two of the WRC spec cars are set aside for the factory MINI team, but Prodrive expects to sell the remainder to independent racing teams as this season progresses and people see the capability of the cars. More info after the break. “I believe there will be 10 Mini WRCs in the championship next year,” said Richards. “When we came back into the championship with Mini we had two aims, firstly to get Mini in there and winning and secondly to build cars for the customers around the world, both of these are very important to us. “There will be at least 20 cars, a mixture of Super 2000s and WRCs, out there for end of this year, so there will be plenty of cars out there for people. We haven’t started talking to people about putting deals in place for the start of next year, we’re still in the middle of producing the cars.” So look for more and more snarling MINI racers in the coming seasons. If early race results this season are anything to go buy, the MINI is already a car to be reckoned with. With Prodrive involved, the cars will only get better and podium finishes will only drive up more demand for the cars from race teams. Price differences between the MINI and the Focus won’t mean much if the MINI is winning! </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

We’re a week away from the start of one of the year’s major perennial MINI events: MINIs on the Dragon. MF and WhiteRoofRadio will be there in force. I’ll be attending for the first time, meeting up with Todd and Chad for several days of MINI fun. There will likely be as many cars as there are corners and when the tire squeal dies down, the campfires will flare up. I can’t wait. I’ll be getting in Thursday night and staying through Sunday morning. Flag me down and say hello. Now more on what the Dragon (MOTD) actually is. (video after the break) The Full Run Arguably the largest MINI event in the US not hosted by MINI USA, MOTD is unique in that it is centered around one road in a vastly rural area. But what a road it is. The Dragon (as it is known) is an 11 mile stretch of US 129 that starts in extreme eastern Tennessee and turns 318 times before it ends in western North Carolina. To put it mildly it is arguably the best stretch of road in North America. With it’s inspiring layout and excellent banking, the Dragon is a rare road in that it has almost a magical rhythm do it. And in early May MINI’s take over the entire thing With many hundreds registered (and many others sneaking in) MINIs on the Dragon (MOTD) is arguably the largest US MINI event outside of MINI USA’s MINI United. It’s also our favorite here at MF. Why? Because it’s all about driving the best road in North America. Everything else (no matter how good) is secondary to the road and the driving experience. Which begs the question, are you going? You can register and find more information below. The Way Down (Chicago to MOTD) + MINI’s On the Dragon / Event Site + Road Site / 129 Website + Wikipedia Dragon Entry / Wikpedia Post photo courtesy of MotoringFile frequenter blalor. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Couldn’t make it to Auto Shanghai this year? No worries because we’re brining it to you with a recap of the MINI press conference and a quick look around the MINI display. Included is the first public look at the MINI Goodwood – the new special edition model designed in cooperation with Rolls Royce. Yes The NYC show has been officially upstaged. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

While we don’t know much about the MINI Coupe (and won’t until very early June) we can confirm that dealers in the US have officially ordered their launch cars. MINI USA gave dealers some choices including Cooper or Cooper S and auto or manual. At launch each dealer will get two MCS and one MC to have for test drives and showroom cars. Other confirguration specifics will be determined by MINI USA closer to the launch. Look for much (much) more on the highly anticipated MINI Coupe late this spring. And what about the rumors or a JCW Coupe at launch. While that still may be the case MINI may also decide to push it back to spring to focus on the Cooper and Cooper S models. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Starting off with our man Todd having some fun with the intro after rolling through some serious Black Roof Radio. Once that was over, we roll through a rousing session of News from Motoringfile.com before talking, just a little more, about MINIs on the Dragon. Programming note. The boys are all heading to the Dragon next week, so we will be interrupting our normal show schedule. Watch for updates coming from Todd (if he gets internet) and for our regular show schedule to resume shortly thereafter. Download | WRR @ iTunes | 30.3MB | 1:03:00 </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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More video from the WRC team launch day, with more than 350 guests and 200+ journalists attending to celebrate the launch of the WRC Team at Plant Oxford. The highlight real looks like a great time. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Hot on the tail of our story about the 3rd generation MINI codename, the F56, Autocar is reporting this morning that ailing automaker Saab has made “an audacious bid to buy the rights to the outgoing BMW MINI platform.” The Swedish automaker wants to get into the premium small car game, but without all that pesky engineering. Having already licensed the current generation of 1.6L engines, it looks like Saab just needed a car to put them in. The target Saab model would be the 9-1, and be intended to compete against the F56 generation MINI and the Audi A1. It’s a bold move, but Saab will have to survive as a company long enough to take delivery of the new platform in 2012. With recent plant stoppages and suppliers complaining about non-payment for parts, Saab is clearly in trouble. Would a MINI clone be too little too late? Perhaps. I also wonder just how competitive a six year-old chassis and engine platform could really be against contemporary offerings from Audi, and especially the evolved MINI — a car likely to be lighter, more efficient and more powerful than the current generation. It seems Saab might only be able to compete on price, but if that’s the strategy, can they actually build a “premium” car that’s significantly price competitive? Time will tell. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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From the rally team launch event at Oxford this week, here we have video of champion rally driver Kris Meeke showing off the Countryman WRC’s incredible capabilities. With a fog of tire smoke and an unholy amount of engine noise, Mr. Meeke puts the car through its demonstration paces. We can’t wait to see him and this car flying around WRC courses! More video after the break. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Welt.de is reporting that MINI plans to price the Goodwood at €50,000 for the German market. It’s the first pricing we’ve seen on MINI’s most luxurious model and it gives us some indication as to pricing elsewhere. However (as always) don’t expect a simple conversion rate to give you the US price based on that figure. In fact we believe this gives the rumored $50,000 price point that we’ve heard for years quite a bit some credence. But at $50,000 (or €50,000) is this car worth it? As always that’s a very personal question that likely isn’t even meant to be answered by a typical MINI owner. We expect the Goodwood to be pitched towards Rolls Royce and other luxury brand owners as their urban runabout. It’s the car that gets used when you don’t want to pull-out the Rolls Drophead Coupe. And with RR levels of comfort and opulence and a healthy dose of understated British style thrown in, the $50,000 is almost not the point for that customer. Or at least that’s what MINI and BMW seems to be thinking. Regardless we’ll see final US pricing in the coming weeks. [show as slideshow] [View with PicLens] 12► </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Once upon a time there was a blog post. A blog post extolling the virtues of the Fiat 500 over the MINI Cooper. Then 1 day, 3 fine lads heard about this blog post. And they came to defend their champion. As did 75 of you. That’s right, your 3 favorite MINI Cooper fan boys doing what we do best for 42 minutes and 54 seconds. And then some. Enjoy! Download | WRR @ iTunes | 20.6MB | 42:54 </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше