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Via @Jen_Just_Jen on Twitter, here we get a small behind the scenes peek at how the first WRC Countryman came to be. I never get tired of that engine noise, do you? </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

In what’s being described around the internet as an “implosion”, Penske Automotive has announced its intention to relinquish Smart distribution rights in America to Mercedes Benz. Given the abysmal US sales and the reality of what a Smart car really is, we can’t say we’re shocked the whole house of cards finally came tumbling down. However, the story from Penske is that this was actually Merc’s idea. In a nutshell, Benz selling the Smart in-house is a shortcut to meeting the upcoming 2016 CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards. This is not unlike Aston Martin restyling the Toyota IQ to bump its terrible MPG fleet average up to something the feds won’t ding them for. Included in the restructuring is the likely closure of 21 Smart-only dealerships (dealers who do not also sell Mercedes Benz vehicles) and probably Smart’s Michigan headquarters. Additionally, Smart will forego its planned four door model, based on the Nissan Micra, in favor of a FourTwo+2 currently in development. Mercedes-Benz USA President Ernst Lieb had this to say: “We are very excited about working toward integration of Smart into the MBUSA organization and look forward to working with our dealer partners to exceed customer expectations for this unique vehicle.” Benz seems to think they can better handle the sales and marketing of the Smart, which is probably true. They’ve got plenty of cash to spend on marketing and advertising. In the end though, I can’t help but wonder if Benz really cares about the success of Smart itself, or if they will simply maintain the brand like a pet for the sake of better fleet MPG numbers. And if you really want to know why Smart USA is dead, read our review from a few years ago. [source: WorldCarFans.com.] </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Nathaniel joins us for news from Motoringfile.com again. If you missed the Marcus Syring interview, you can hear it again here. And, if you are a fan of the AMC Eagle, leave a comment below! For part 2, we dissect the Super Bowl commercial and talk about the resulting aftermath of comments. This is definitely a show you don’t want to miss! Download | WRR @ iTunes | 28MB | 1:01:16 </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

In a interview with AutoGuide Jim McDowell dispelled two MINI myths about the US market. First there will not be a larger MINI than the current Countryman for the foreseeable future. Second there will not be a smaller MINI than the current R56 hatchback. But what of the MINI City car concept we know will be debuting in Geneva in the coming days? Based on these comments we would assume that MINI USA currently has no plans to offer it in the US. Where MINI does have plans are making use of the “very flexible” R60 platform for more crossover variants. MF readers will know that that comment likely pertains to the upcoming Paceman crossover coupe and the next generation Clubman. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

A little birdie informed us this early this morning and now MINI United official Facebook site has confirmed it. MINI United will not be taking place this summer as originally planned. Instead MINI is planning on moving the event to the summer of 2012. The location will remain France but no details have been given. I think I speak for all MF readers everywhere in saying… bummer. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

An old maxim states ‘necessity is the mother of invention.’ This statement sums up the MINI aftermarket succinctly. Once the first-generation cars were unleashed on an unsuspecting automotive industry, an enthusiast following appeared shortly thereafter. Once owners were given a chance to use their cars for longer periods of time, small niggling issues popped up here and there. One such issue was the driving force behind the development of InvisiLens: glare on the MINI’s gauges. Richard Woo bought his MINI in 2005 and quickly noticed that the gauge lenses would often reflect light in unforeseen ways. Richard says that he “hadn’t experienced this in any other car….most other cars have a functional design to help prevent ambient light from interfering with gauge readability. Their gauges are inset into the dash and shielded by a visor, and the lens in front of the instrument panel is tilted downward.” So, with an engineer’s eye for solving problems, Richard went to work on coming up with a better material for the MINI’s tach and speedo lenses. “After a long search, I found a possible candidate in a premium plastic that is anti-reflective on both sides. Optically, it outperforms glass. The material is expensive but the small size of the lenses makes it affordable, and I purchased samples for experimentation. I wasn’t sure whether I could find a way to actually mount it in the gauges. I fabricated some lenses with power hand tools in my garage.” This solution eliminated both glare and the haze that the stock MINI lenses have out of the box. He made one set for himself and put the idea away for a while. In 2009, his brain turned to the issue of mass-production. Because of the way that much of production is sent overseas, it can be hard for a boutique product like Invisilens to get off the ground without a sizable investment. Richard discovered that laser cutting the lens material was the best solution for cutting out the lens material. Enter TechShop, an extremely unique business. They call themselves a “membership-based workshop” and offer classes and tools of the caliber only industrial-grade businesses usually have access to. Leaving his garage behind, Richard was able to leverage the laser cutter at his local TechShop to streamline a right-sized production run. A neat detail Richard added to the design is an engraving which is not visible once the lens is installed. So, what is the final product like? Excellent. Installation takes about 45 minutes and requires fairly standard hand tools. The tach pod has to be removed from the car in order to be disassembled and the trim ring and lens of the speedo must be taken off to install that piece. Although I should be clear I benefitted from the assistance of Matt “Dr. Obnxs” Richter, founder of FES Auto. Disassembling the gauges and removing the stock lenses revealed just how scratched my lenses were. The light surface swirling and scratches made the clear plastic cloudy. Also, it became clear why a stick-on film wouldn’t be sufficient to cut the glare– both lenses are slightly concave. Adhesive vinyl would be a nightmare to apply. The real magic comes into play when the lenses are on your car. In high-contrast driving situations such as in a forest, glare is eliminated entirely. True to its name, the InvisiLens disappears in the nighttime and the driver is left with the crisp typeface of the lit gauges behind the moving needles. InvisiLens is offered by FES Auto, the same company that sells the Ian Cull Auto-Up Circuit and their own patent-pending configurable shift light. The price starts at $60 for the first-gen cars (R50/53) and $140 for R56 cars (The tach lens will fit the newer facelifted 2011 models but the speedo lens, I’m told, is incompatible for the time being). It’s a mod that you’ll take advantage of every day and come to miss if you drive another MINI without InvisiLens. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

MU 2011 переносится на 2012 год. Это не шутка. http://www.facebook.com/MINIunited In 2009 you rocked 50 Years of MINI in Silverstone – it was awesome – and really raised the bar. We are preparing MINI United at a whole new level, and need more prep time to go BIG. Thanks for your understanding! Stay United. It all goes down in France, 2012.

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MINI is off to a great start in 2011 with a big jump in January sales. Led by 3,505 delivered Countryman, MINI is seeing positive growth around the world. [Official Release] Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing: “We made a successful start to the new year. We were able to make substantial gains in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa – as we reap the benefits of our young and attractive model range. The BMW Group has once again set itself ambitious goals for 2011 – record sales of more than 1.5 million vehicles and new highs for all three brands. We want to reinforce our global position as the leading supplier of premium automobiles.” Robertson added: “We expect growth rates to remain strong over the next few months, although the pace will slow a little in the second half of the year, due to baseline effects.” Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 30% in January to reach 90,841 automobiles (prev. yr. 69,861). Deliveries of the BMW X1 rose to 7,067 (prev. yr. 4,092 / +72.7%) units, while the BMW 3 Series reported 23,489 sales (prev. yr. 22,501 / +4.4%). With an increase of 118.4% to 24,109 units, sales of the BMW 5 Series doubled from the same month last year (prev. yr. 11,037). BMW 5 Series GT volumes climbed 131.3%, with 2,160 vehicles delivered to customers (prev. yr. 934). The new BMW X3 met with exceptionally strong demand and was purchased by 5,982 (prev. yr. 3,072 / +94.7%) customers in January. The MINI brand also continued on its growth track in January and, at 14,126 units, sold 15.8% more vehicles year-on-year (12,202). The main growth driver was the new MINI Countryman, with 3,505 deliveries. Rolls-Royce remained the clear market leader in the ultra-luxury segment last month. A total of 210 (prev. yr. 87) Phantom and Ghost models were sold worldwide in January – an increase of 141.4%. The signs indicated growth for BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce in virtually all European markets, the Americas, Africa and Asia, in the month under review. In Europe, the company sold 19.3% more vehicles in total than in January 2010 (49,029 / prev. yr. 41,096). New vehicle registrations for BMW Group vehicles in Germany rose 30.9% to 18,223 units (prev. yr. 13,924). The BMW brand increased sales here by 31.5% (16,054 / prev. yr. 12,210) and, with a market share of 7.6%, led the premium segment. In the U.K, BMW Group deliveries were 44.9% (9,394 / prev. yr. 6,482) higher in the month under review; in France, the increase was 38.6% (3,022 / prev. yr. 2,180). The BMW Group also reported healthy growth in the U.S. Sales here climbed to 18,656 units – an increase of 21.1%. Once again, China also showed dynamic growth. In January, 20,308 Chinese customers purchased a new BMW or MINI (prev. yr. 11,919 / +70.4%). Growth also received a strong boost from key emerging markets, among others, with consistent double-digit sales growth: Russia (+30.7% to 1,476 units), South Korea (+52.9% to 1,850), Brazil (+111.1% to 859) and India (+46.6% to 500). With a substantial increase in year-on-year sales of 23.6%, BMW Motorrad also made a successful start to the new year. A total of 4,714 (prev. yr. 3,814) BMW motorcycles were delivered to customers worldwide in January 2011, continuing the steady sales growth of the previous year. BMW Motorrad recorded sales growth of 12.3 % for the full year 2010, against the overall market trend, and expanded its market share in all relevant motorcycle markets. This year, further impetus for growth will come from the revised Boxer roadster model, the R 1200 R / R 1200 R Classic; BMW Motorrad’s new entry-level model, the BMW G 650 GS; and, above all, from its new top models with 6-cylinder engine, the K 1600 GT and the K 1600 GTL. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

This just in. A pre-production prototype MINI Coupé was spied in partial camouflage. It appears that just as we’ve reported previously here on MotoringFile, the production car won’t vary much at all from the Coupé concept we’ve seen before. The backwards baseball cap roof is more or less intact, as is the squared off rear end. What we’re also seeing in these photos is our first look at the automatic pop-up rear spoiler. With this car surfacing, I imagine it won’t be long at all before we see the whole car in the flesh. More photos after the break. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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I’m not even sure what to say here, folks, to be honest with you. Last night Gabe and I pulled more than 25 comments from the MINI Super Bowl commercial post before just closing comments all together. I’ve seen some sniping and name calling on MotoringFile before (and been on the receiving end of it), but I’ve never seen anything quite like what I read through last night. So, I have a few things to say this morning. First, an apology for not moderating that thread more closely. It got out of hand and Gabe and I didn’t have our eye on it until it got so bad that people were actually writing in on the Contact page. You would think that on a site full of MINI fans, we wouldn’t have to moderate every single comment moment by moment, but it looks like sometimes that’s the case. Either way, I pulled more nasty comments last night on this one post than the whole time I’ve been Editor here at MotoringFile and I really wish I would have gotten to them sooner. Second, let’s clarify once and for all what is and isn’t acceptable in the comments. We want to see more of this: Please have an opinion about MINI stuff Please disagree with me and Gabe Please disagree with each other Like things Dislike things Be passionate Be ornery Be skeptical Be enthusiastic enthusiasts Defend the automatic transmission Love your clutch Hate the very idea of the Countryman Passionately endorse your R56 Cooper All of these things aren’t just acceptable, they’re encouraged. I didn’t delete any comments just because the commenter didn’t like the ad. Hell, I didn’t like it either. However, we don’t want any of this: Trolling (leaving comments with the sole purpose of pushing people’s buttons) Thread hijacking (the R53 is great, but that has nothing to do with this post about the Countryman) Name calling Ad hominem — This is the big one. Disagree with ideas and even specific people all you like, but let’s stop attacking the author his or herself just because we disagree with them. Defamation — This includes race, orientation, geography, automatic transmission preferences, politics, pizza preferences, etc. We’re all on the same team here, folks. We’re better than this. We’re MINI enthusiasts. This is not YouTube. This isn’t a free-for-all message board. This is MotoringFile. This site is one of the reasons I bought a MINI in the first place and I’m thrilled to be a part of it now in the Editor role. MF wouldn’t be what it is without our readers and yes, our commenters. What I read in the comments for that post is nothing new, but it certainly hit a new low. We’re better than this. Let’s make that the last time people are nasty to each other on MotoringFile. Let’s be kind to each other, even when we don’t agree. Let’s remember that we’re not truly anonymous. Let’s remember that we’re all fans, we’re all people and we all deserve respect. Let’s love our cars and this brand. Let’s motor. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

News from MotoringFile like we do. Nathaniel fills in for Gabe this week to help us sort out news of the week. We clear out some Ask Chad questions and bring a new sponsor in that we think you will like; GearHeadApps.com. They are reviewing iPhone apps that appeal to gear heads! We did talk about alternative fueled vehicles quite a bit, especially the electric MINIs and possibility of a plug-in hybrid coming. And, watch for White Roof Radio to be streaming in MINI Connected very soon (we hope)! Finally, if you want to hear the discussion about automatic vs. manual, check out the latest BimmerCast. Download | WRR @ iTunes | 30.3MB | 1:06:13 </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

We’re seeing a trend lately of not just more custom MINIs, but MINIs in full vinyl wraps instead of custom paint. The latest is this offering from vinyl shop CoverEFX. Taking its cues from Louis Vuitton, the gold and leather trimmed JCW hatch isn’t just about achieving a particular look. Two performance packages are available, bumping the engine output to 232 hp and 249 hp respectively. While the car’s style certainly isn’t my bag, I think we can all appreciate horsepower. No word yet on whether it travels through time. More photos after the break. [source: WorldCarFans] </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

The full 60 second version can be viewed after the jump. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

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Media post has a quick write-up on what to expect with MINI’s first superbowl ad. Perhaps unsurprisingly it’s the conclusion to the monster truck spot that’s been all over the web and MotoringFile for the past few months. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Thanks to everyone who sent this in. The 2002 launch of the MINI in the USA brought us some of the most interesting and unexpected advertising the automotive world has seen before or since. Without the budget for big TV ad buys, CP+B focused on a blitz of print, outdoor and environmental advertising. One of the more noteworthy examples was this stunt involving a Cooper on the roof of a Ford Excursion in NYC: This not-so-subtle commentary on America’s obsession with SUVs was pretty bold, but it also said something deeper. Placing the smallest car you could buy on the roof of the largest SUV available made an audacious statement about what driving fun really was. Sure, that SUV may haul a lot of gear, but that MINI sure looks like a good time on four wheels. Eight years later, MINI has an SUV of its own. This move has caused no small amount of controversy here on MotoringFile. For a brand that introduced itself to America under the mantra of “The SUV backlash starts now”, producing a crossover seems to some like a betrayal of the brand’s personality. Personally, I don’t see it this way, and MINI’s latest environmental advertising stunt involving a Countryman and a classic Mini perfectly demonstrates my thoughts on the subject. In my opinion, the genius of MINI’s original SUV stunt was about demonstrating how to do more with less. It was as much about how needlessly large American vehicles had become as it was about how cleverly small the MINI hatch really is. MINI doesn’t build a small car for the sake of being small, but rather because if you’re very, very clever you can do a lot with a very small car. You can go fast. You can go pretty far on a gallon of gas. You can turn really sharp. Your car can look really cool and be genuinely nice in its details. You can haul a surprisingly useful load in a pretty small boot. Personally, I don’t think this is a formula for a single car. I think this is a philosophy MINI could apply to any segment. I think you could have a MINI passenger airliner that fit this philosophy of small but smart. I think the Countryman is actually the ultimate backlash against the SUV — against the notion that I need a huge, lumbering, inefficient vehicle to haul people and gear. Where the R50 fit snugly on the roof of that Ford Excursion, look at how the classic Mini overflows the top of the Countryman. Beyond the tongue-in-cheek, self referencing nature of this stunt, I think it makes a big statement about what you can do with a small car and that’s what MINI is all about. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Historically we haven’t minced words when it comes to the factory “MINI aero-kit”. We’ve never been fond of the look. And apparently we weren’t alone. Even if MINI didn’t see the negative comments on it over the years on MF they have now seen the numbers. Yes sales have been much less than anticipated and MINI has made a change. Starting with March production the “MINI Aero-kit” (as it was confusingly known) will be replaced at the factory by the JCW Aero-kit. What does this mean for those looking to buy a MINI? For starters the JCW Aero-kit should get less expensive. Currently the “MINI aerokit” can be had for $1250 via the factory. The JCW aerokit lists for $1961 before painting and installation. It also means a better looking MINI. But I guess that’s obvious right? There’s no word on how (if it all) this will change the JCW model as we know it. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Nay-sayers against electric vehicles are convinced that cold weather will sap the batteries of all their usefulness. New Jersey resident Tom Moloughney and his MINI E have something to say about that. Tom has logged almost 50,000 miles in his MINI E, commuting around 2500 miles a month. That includes plenty of cold slogs to the office. Tom’s motoring log shows only about a 5% loss in battery power due to frigid weather, not the 50% The Washington Posts‘ Charles Lane recently speculated for EVs. That, in a prototype vehicle without any supplementary battery warming tech. The future for EVs looks bright, even in the great white north. [source: Engadget] </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Official Release: The annually presented GOOD DESIGN Award for 2010 went to a full quartet of vehicles and concepts: the BMW 5 Series Sedan, the MINI Countryman, the BMW S 1000 RR and the BMW Concept 6. This most prestigious of international honours yet again recognised the exceptional standard of BMW Group Design. The prizewinners’ products will be exhibited as part of the annual GOOD DESIGN SHOW to be held in June 2011 at the Chicago Athenaeum. The world’s oldest and most distinguished design award was called into being in Chicago in 1950 by the architects Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames and Edgar Kaufmann Jr., and is presented to this day by the Chicago Athenaeum and the European Centre for Architecture, Art Design and Urban Studies. For six decades now, this coveted prize is conferred on designers and manufacturers for particularly innovative and visionary products, concepts and ideas that reach beyond the bounds of ordinary product design. Not the least of its aims is to raise public awareness of contemporary design and related sustainability issues. The selection of award winners is based on the criteria of function and aesthetic as originally laid down by Saarinen and Eames, and is complemented by an environmental stipulation for sustainable design, in keeping with the times. In 2010, an independent jury of design experts and architects made their selection from a record number of submissions from 37 different nations, and picked out more than 500 product and graphic designs to receive the GOOD DESIGN Award. The MINI Countryman is the most expansive interpretation of the MINI design language. As the first MINI to feature four doors and measure more than four metres in length, the MINI Countryman’s typical MINI design leaves no doubt as to its kinship with the brand. Within the product family, the newcomer stands out with its striking exterior that features faintly pentagonal headlights, a new-style “helmet” roof and three-dimensional, vertically aligned rear lights. The interior design likewise accentuates the practicality and robust character of the MINI Countryman. The design of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan eloquently translates the vehicle’s attributes into an authentic formal language. Exuding sheer presence and stylish elegance, the Sedan’s design expresses its premium quality and outstanding ride comfort, while its sporty handling is reflected in the dynamic lines of its body and an overall look suggesting athleticism. The superlative aesthetics of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan are further embodied in its perfectly balanced proportions and precisely finished details. The highly dynamic design of the BMW S 1000 RR displays its racing bike heritage in a frank and authentic manner. Its flat and sportive front-end design features the hallmark asymmetrical BMW headlight arrangement that reiterates the look of the endurance racers (24-hour events). The BMW Concept 6 design study persuaded the jury with its highly contrasting composition: while the lower half of the motorcycle reveals its mechanical underpinnings, the sensually tactile surfaces invite some close interaction with the driver. The two levels are fused by an organically designed air flow system. The unique quality of BMW Group Design has been repeatedly recognised in the past by the GOOD DESIGN Award. In 2008, for example, the award went to the BMW 3 Series Convertible, the BMW 1 Series Coupé and the MINI Cooper S Clubman, as well as four BMW motorcycles. 2007 saw the new BMW X5, the BMW 3 Series Coupé, the new MINI and a further three BMW motorcycles win the GOOD DESIGN Award. And it isn’t the first time the BMW 5 Series Sedan has been crowned: its outstanding design won over the jury of the internationally renowned red dot awards in 2010, secured the coveted iF Product Design Award in 2011, and – with the 2011 Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany – captured the country’s most prestigious prize for exceptional product design. </img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше