DimON

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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With Team MINI’s WRC season about to kick off in Italy, MINI Motorsport brings us perspective from the drivers. Dani and Kris are definitely anxious to get going. Some WRC teams have four races under their belts, but the MINI Team has been spending this time working out the kinks in a brand new race program. They’re definitely feeling ready. “Now we want to show how good we are,” says Dani. This first race in Sardinia will be no leisurely Sunday drive. The course’s 18 stages will push the team at every bend. “Sardinia is a tricky rally because sand debris often makes the track slippery,” says Kris. He’d know. Meeke finished fourth in the IRC race on this course in 2010. He went on to add that “Sardinia is like a durability test for the car.” Looks like Sardinia will be a tough test of both man and machine, as any good rally should be. Dani drove the course in 2009 and had this to say, “You have to be perfectly prepared …the surface changes with each car. Once the sand is gone, you find yourself driving on hard, bumpy ground, and you must adapt your driving style accordingly.” Challenges acknowledged, Dani is optimistic, adding that “Sardinia will be a highlight.” We’re looking forward to it. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Big sales news this afternoon from MINI USA. April sales were the best ever for MINI USA, with monthly sales up 67.7% and year-to-date sales up 49.4% over last year. Top sellers were the Hardtop — with 2,343 Cooper and Cooper S hatchbacks — and the Countryman, with 1,709 cars sold in April. A trend in sales decline for both the Convertible and the Clubman continued in April as well, with the Clubman down 2.9% and Convertible sales down 15.8%. More info after the break. [Official release] MINI USA reported sales of 6,446 automobiles making it the best sales month ever in the U.S. April 2011 sales are an increase of 67.7% over the 3,843 sold in April, 2010. “The refreshed and expanded MINI model lineup has been driving demand since the first of the year and now rising gas prices mean even more people are open to small,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President – MINI USA. “The U.S. is MINI’s largest market and the addition of the new Countryman offering four doors and All Wheel Drive is a real game-changer, further increasing our appeal.” Year-to-date, MINI sales in the U.S. are up 49.4% on volume of 18,787 compared to 12,571 in the first four months of 2010. April 2011 April 2010 % YTD 2011 YTD 2010 % BMW brand 18,801 17,268 8.9 71,417 63,591 12.3 BMW passenger cars 13,642 14,142 -3.5 51,817 49,916 3.8 BMW light trucks (SAVs) 5,159 3,126 65.0 19,600 13,675 43.3 MINI brand 6,446 3,843 67.7 18,787 12,571 49.4 TOTAL Group 25,247 21,111 19.6 90,204 76,162 18.4 </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

In four months MINI will release a five seat car in the US. Yes MINI will be debuting the five seat MINI Countryman in the US for the 2012 model year. What does this mean and why has it taken so long? As we’ve reported previously US crash standards didn’t allow for the three seat bench due to the width of the Countryman. However after some lobbying by BMW, the NHTSA changed those standards earlier this year and is allowing MINI to sell the 5 seat configuration for 2012. Yes that means MINI has gone from a two door four passenger vehicle to a four door five seater. But let’s get past MINI getting slightly bigger and focus on what this adds to the Countryman. (Full gallery after the break) A middle seat means child seats in an ideal position. It means easy access to the back and a better set-up for pet owners as well. In short it means more versatility and that’s something many Americans tend to like in their cross-overs. There’s no word on what, if anything, it will cost. Either way look for the bench seat to an option starting with US September production on the Countryman. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше