DimON

It’s Countryman review season, as regular readers have probably noticed, and today’s comes from CNN Money. Par for the course is the usual summary, the usual “doesn’t quite drive like it’s smaller sibling”, and the usual moaning about the “weird” interior controls. There is one gem in this assessment, though. At the very end he makes a great point. Compare the Countryman to the entire car market, and on paper you’ll get more for your money elsewhere. However, if you’ve always wanted a MINI but needed more space, “I think I found your car.” Big thanks to everyone who sent this in. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Once again BMW has cleaned up in the annual Engine of the Year awards with four victories. And for the forth year in a row MINI’s turbocharged Prince engine has made the list. Here’s the full BMW/MINI rundown: 1.6L Turbocharged Four Cylinder (MINI Cooper S) 2.0L Turbo Four Cylinder diesel (variations found in everything from the 123d to the Cooper SD) 3.0L N55 Turbo Six Cylinder (Found in almost all BMW models) 4.0L S65B40 V8 from the M3 Official Release: With four class victories in the competition “International Engine of the Year Award” 2011, the BMW Group repeated last year’s success, whilst at the same time strengthening its position as the most successful manufacturer to take part in the competition. Four, six and eight-cylinder petrol and diesel engines prevailed in their respective displacement classes. The award-winning engines are featured in a number of current models of the BMW and MINI brands. In addition to the V8 power unit of the BMW M3 and the straight six-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, the four-cylinder diesel with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and the new four-cylinder power unit under the bonnet of the MINI Cooper S also received an Engine of the Year award. The commendation of the award-winners took place during the trade fair “Engine Expo” in Stuttgart. The success in four of the eight capacity classes in the world’s most renowned engine competition underscores yet again the BMW Group’s outstanding expertise in the field of engine development. Thanks to Efficient Dynamics there is a choice of exceptionally powerful and at the same time remarkably efficient engines available for all models of the BMW and MINI brands. Since 1999, the company has been able to claim more than 50 class and overall victories in the “Engine of the Year Award” competition. Commendation for the awards is decided by an international jury, which consisted this year of 65 car journalists from 32 countries. In the capacity class 1.4 to 1.8 litres an award went to the engine featured in the new MINI Cooper S. The 1.6-litres four-cylinder engine is equipped with a Twin Scroll turbocharger, direct petrol injection as well as variable valve control based on the BMW-patented VALVETRONIC system. This combination renders the 135 kW/184 bhp engine the world’s most efficient power unit of its type and size. It assumes the title from the predecessor engine used in the MINI Cooper S, which was able to seize the class victory in the “Engine of the Year Award” competition four times in a row. The second victory in succession went to the four-cylinder diesel engine with TwinPower Turbo technology. Like last year, the 2-litre power unit featured in the BMW 123d and the BMW X1 xDrive23d was also successful in the engine category 1.8 to 2 litres. With its impressive pulling power and exceptionally low fuel consumption and emission levels, the 150 kW/204 bhp engine still sets the benchmark in its class. A BMW engine was able to repeat last year’s victory in the capacity class 2.5 to 3 litres as well. The jury voted once again for the 3-litre, 225 kW/306 bhp straight six-cylinder engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, which is also featured in the new BMW 5 Series, in the new BMW X3 as well as in a 235 kW/320 bhp version of the new BMW 6 Series Convertible and the new BMW 6 Series Coupé. Its unique technology package comprising a Twin Scroll turbocharger, direct injection technology High Precision Injection and VALVETRONIC valve control ensures a particularly favourable relation between driving pleasure and fuel consumption. In this area, it even surpasses its predecessor, which was not only able to win the class valuation in the “Engine of the Year Award” competition three times, but also claim overall victory spanning several categories in 2007 and 2008. The only naturally aspirated engine amongst the four award-winners is responsible for the currently most impressive series of victories. For the fourth time in succession the V8 power unit featured in the BMW M3 was triumphant in the 3 to 4-litre capacity class. The 309 kW/420 bhp, 4-litre engine convinced the jury yet again with the exceptional pulling power generated by the characteristic high-revving concept utilised on this power unit. The engine under the bonnets of the high-performance sports cars BMW M3 Coupé, BMW M3 Saloon and BMW M3 Convertible combines its outstanding performance characteristics with remarkable efficiency, which is attributable among other things to the Auto Start Stop function, brake energy regeneration and further Efficient Dynamics technologies. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Our new friend Dirk Lauth, #44, sent us these two great in-car videos from his car during MINI Challenge Germany. For this race, MINI Challenge was hosted by the GT 1World Championship at Sachsenring in Germany. Some great racing action that’s definitely worth a few minutes of your day. A huge thank you to Dirk for sending this our way. Second video after the break. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

With a combined fuel economy of 57.6 mpg, it’s not a big surprise that Green-Car-Guide.com gave the Countryman SD All4 a score of 10-out-of-10. GCG gave the same score to the Countryman D, but had one nagging qualm: power. The Countryman SD All4 solves that with more power and torque — landing the sport diesel powered R60 nearly as sporting as the Countryman S All4, but with drastically better fuel economy. Read their full break down here. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Writing at length about both cars, Car and Driver have pitted the MINI Cooper against the Fiat 500. What we find refreshing is that C&D hasn’t just assumed that these two cars are true competitors. They point out what we’ve thought all along, that these are two cars created for two very different purposes. So it’s no surprise that they give the edge to the MINI. The MINI Cooper’s more flexible powertrain, more capable chassis, and greater comfort combine to make a car that is as fun as it looks. No doubt, the 500 has style. But the Mini has style and agility. It’s refreshing to see someone in the automotive press acknowledge that just because these two cars are small, it doesn’t mean they’re evenly matched. We like the Fiat 500 here at MF, but in our opinion, it’s not really in the same league as the MINI. That’s not going to stop some people from cross-shopping them though. C&D agrees. The current, second-generation MINI Cooper is sort of the automotive equivalent of  boxer/politician Manny Pacquiao. It can fight a class size up or down. It can thrill as a sport hatch, with numerous go-and-look-faster add ons, or it can serve as a simple transportation vessel. Here we have it punching under its weight as it enters the ring with its Italian opponent. They go on to point out something that doesn’t actually help the 500 in this market: its size. The MINI is small enough to be off-putting to a lot of US buyers, but the Fiat is even smaller. That makes its interior downright cramped for drivers of any taller stature. Calling the Fiat cute might be cliché, but the 500 is just so darn little (7.0 inches shorter and 2.2 inches narrower than the MINI). This Sport model’s larger grille opening and y-spoke wheels don’t man things up enough to elicit descriptors like “aggressive” or “poised for attack.” Cute still applies. From behind the wheel, the Fiat feels taller than the MINI, more so than its 4.4-inch-higher roofline suggests. The over-six-foot set will want to forgo the sunroof, as it reduces headroom by 1.3 inches. Mid-five-footers can feel their hair connecting with the burlap-crossbred-with-mouse-fur headliner. The only touch of interior panache is a body-color plastic dash panel. Without that, the cabin would be a black sea with the occasional piece of chrome debris adrift in it. Dimensions and head room are one thing, but it’s out on the open road that the two cars really start to show their differences. How do the cars compare in actual feel and performance? Ohio’s roads revealed how different the MINI and the Fiat are. The Cooper feels substantial and stiff where the Fiat shows some dynamic gaps. The 500’s body roll at turn-in gives the impression it is nearing, or at, its cornering limit. But there is more to be had. We were surprised to find its skidpad grip at 0.85 g. The high-mounted seats are partly to blame, as they exaggerate the sense of roll. …when you flip to the specs and results charts on these pages, be sure to take in all the bold print populating the Mini’s columns. The Mini lost to the Fiat in only three objective rankings (rear-seat space, cargo space, and as-tested price) and absolutely clobbered it in the performance metrics. As in any comparison, it ultimately comes down to what’s important. If you’re looking for a stylish little runabout, either car will probably do. But as is usually the case in these comparisons, if you’re looking for a driver’s car, spend the money and drive the MINI. Check out the full review over at the Car and Driver website. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Take a Facebook campaign, add an on-site photo booth, then a huge screen on one of Berlin’s busiest city squares, and you’ve got MINI’s “It’s Personal” campaign. Participants can throw on a matching set of headphones, choose their favorite MINI, snap a photo and then share their love of MINI with all of Berlin. Details after the break. [Official Release] You can’t choose your family, they say. Actually, with MINI you can. As of today citizens of Berlin, visitors to the German capital and Facebook users worldwide can make their choice when MINI presents the MINI family on Berlin’s Kurfürstendamm boulevard as part of the guerilla campaign “It’s personal”. Participants are invited to enter the on-site MINI Photo Box, clamp on a pair of vibrantly coloured headphones and select their favourite model from the MINI family with colour-matched exterior mirrors. There are four colours and four models to choose from: the MINI Hatch, MINI Convertible, MINI Clubman and MINI Countryman. Next, participants appear in real time on a 104-square-metre video screen together with their photo and personalised MINI model. The MINI campaign was set up overnight from 15 to 16 May and continues until 29 May 2011 at the intersection of Kurfürstendamm and Joachimstaler Straße. It is being run in parallel as an international campaign at http://www.facebook.com/MINI. “With our ‘It’s personal’ campaign, MINI fans interact individually and authentically in an urban environment,” says Julia Hartmann, MINI Brand Management. “Through the personal configuration of the model, along with their choice of colours, we encourage them to express their personality – in front of friends and a global audience.” This unconventional marketing campaign is set to reach more than two million people on location and over 1.8 million MINI Facebook fans. Dean and Dan Caten, creator of the fashion label DSQUARED2, are also taking part in the campaign. They will present this year’s Life Ball MINI in Vienna on Saturday. Facebook users can apply to participate online at http://www.facebook.com/MINI or direct at: http://apps.facebook.com/miniphotobox by taking a photo with their webcam, selecting their model from the MINI family and uploading it. They too appear on the video screen in Berlin. The images, in turn, are streamed live on the internet. Whether through Facebook or Photo Box, all pictures will be entered into a competition. For this purpose, visitors to the event in Berlin will be given an ID number – along with their printed photo – with which to register on Facebook. The winner will be announced in June 2011 and can enjoy his or her specially selected, favourite MINI model “for real” – complete with colourful exterior mirrors. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Our friends over at Edmonds.com have done a rather interesting comparison of fuel economy in 19 sports cars available in 2011. Monthly fuel costs ranged from $330/month for the Corvette ZR1/BMW M3 on one end, and $165/month for the MINI Cooper. But the fuel-sipping Cooper wasn’t the only MINI at the top of the Edmonds list. The Cooper, Cooper Convertible, Cooper S and Cooper S JCW took the top four spots. Looking at the numbers, on fuel alone a MINI is about half the operating cost of an M3. Sure, the M3 has a lot more horsepower and panache, but with gas creeping toward $5/gallon there’s a lot to be said for thrifty thrills. Check out their full analysis here. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Мысль интересная, сверяем планы. Дам знать.

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Во скока?

Yet another MINI Countryman review today, this time from FoxNews.com. Overall, writer Gary Gastelu likes MINI’s new crossover offering, and we’ll give a tip of the hat for acknowledging that it’s MINI, not Mini. But the most fun part of his review is a little race he sets up to see if the R60 really lives up to MINI’s “go-kart handling” mantra. Click over for the video and full review. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Juke bashing, MoTD recap and we are looking for a judgement on cross-platform waving. Yep, the boys are back! Besides all of that, we also have a big pile of news from MotoringFile like we like to do. As a reminder, AMVIV is next week. Both Todd and I will be there and we have some cool stuff planned. You should be there too! Just be sure you click that link to get yourself registered ASAP. Download | WRR @ iTunes </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Let’s face it. More of us live in cities than ever. According to Cars.com’s Kelsey Mayes, one in every 6.4 Americans live in one of the country’s largest 50 cities as of 2009. So for many people, owning a car fit for the city is a must. So Cars.com has compiled their list of top ten list of urban cars, and guess who’s on top? The MINI Cooper refuses to release its grip on the title of Ultimate Urban Car. Yes, it’s short — just over 12 feet long — and it turns a fairly tight circle and offers rear parking sensors. But being the ultimate urban car isn’t just about parking. The Cooper’s wee size and nimble handling make it good for scooting around delivery vehicles or slowpokes, especially if you opt for the turbocharged S trim level. All Coopers have excellent brakes, too, so you’re well-protected against the indiscretions of others, such as cellphone-obsessed pedestrians who don’t know street from sidewalk. Consider the convertible if you live in a warm climate, but if you’re in a wintry city, think twice about the S trim level, which rides too firmly for pothole-ridden streets. While we dispute their suspension diagnosis (Sport Suspension is optional on the Cooper S, just as it is on the Cooper), we can’t argue with their summary. For zipping ’round town with spirit and thrift, it’s hard to do better that a MINI. See the full list over at Cars.com. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Saturday we gave you a glimpse at all that went on behind the scenes with MINI’s first factory supported rally in over 40 years. Now with the Rally Sardinia over, we have even more to show you of the car, the team and the drives. (watch part 2 after the break) </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

The good news continues for MINI sales. While US sales are particularly strong, the rest of the world isn’t far behind. Sales climbed to 23,839 vehicles (prev. yr. 17,719) – an increase of 34.5% over the same period last year. In China (1,400/ +89.2%), South Korea (300/ +130.8%) and Russia (165/ +283.7%) sales growth was in the three-digit percentage range. The number of MINI models through April this year rose to 84,698 (prev. yr. 67,251/ +25.9%) vehicles. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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With the MINI JCW WRC team making it’s debut in Sardinia this weekend (and currently in 6th place) we wanted to give you a behind the scenes look at what actually goes into a rally. The team, the pit set-up and even the food. Here’s a look at how it’s all done. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Watch the full episode. See more MotorWeek. PBS’s MotorWeek is celebrating 30 yawning years on the air and here we have their mostly summary review of the Countryman. Overall, they like it, but like most MW summaries, you don’t come away with much more than stats. So if you’d like a good rehash of the R60′s dimensions and statistics, look no further. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Fortune’s Alex Taylor III brings us this review of the MINI Countryman. He begins with a history lesson about the Honda Accord, which grew almost three feet in length from its original dimensions. So why this gnashing of teeth over the 2011 MINI Cooper Countryman, which has grown two more doors and a mere 15 inches from the original MINI Cooper? The Countryman is still immediately identifiable as a MINI, with its flat roof, friendly face, and extroverted paint job. There is nothing else like it on the road. Although the Countryman has some crossover characteristics like a rear hatch and all-wheel-drive, the ground clearance is minimal, and the cargo space is laughable — all traditional MINI traits. There’s a lot about the car he likes, but like most mainstream car reviewers, he’s unimpressed by the interior and can’t not mention those infamous J.D. Power dependability results. Check out his full write up over at Fortune. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Two reviews from CNET today. One in video form (above) from Brian Cooley, and the other in long form written editorial from Wayne Cunningham. Neither were particularly charmed by the R60′s interior or character, but both gave the larger MINI sibling credit for great handling. Their digs are nothing new to MF readers, but if you’d like to hear more from Mr. Cooley, you can read his full review here. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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