DimON

On the eve of the US debut of the Countryman (at the NYC Auto Show in a few weeks) the WSJ took a look back and a look ahead at the MINI brand and it’s surprising success in the US market. It’s a fascinating take on the MINI story by a relative outsider to the [...]</img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Last month MINI announced updates to the entire MINI line-up with more power and more efficiency. We reported the details earlier this year but to recap, here are the numbers with the new engines.MINI One: 96 hp (Up 2 hp)MINI Cooper: 120 hp (up 2 hp)MINI Cooper S: 179 hp (up 7 hp)MINI [...]</img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

Last week we told you about MINI’s 2011 refresh and what to expect. While we’ve seen photos of the Cooper S variants we have (until now) not see anything Cooper related. However that came to an end this week as spy photographer associated with Читать дальше

BMW has a hit on their hands with the MINI. But they also have a problem; how to sell more small premium cars. Research is showing that the small premium car category has huge growth potential and that only having one brand offering such a car may be a mistake. BMW’s solution? To based a small front wheel or all wheel drive BMW off of the next generation MINI platform. Last week on BimmerFile we noted that during BMW Chairman Norbert Reithofe’s speech he made it clear that BMW and MINI were extending their brands into the small car segment. But what did that exactly mean? Was he talking about the shared platform between the MINI and a new small BMW or BMW’s new range of “megacity” cars sub-braned as iSetta? Autocar had a chance to ask the man that very question. Being careful to separate the new price-leading front-wheel-drive model from BMW’s upcoming city car – a totally different project as part of its Mega City Vehicle electric car initiative – Reithofer added, “For these new vehicles [the new BMW and Mini] we are developing a common architecture for both front and four-wheel drive.” While exact details remain shrouded in secrecy, Autocar can confirm the new entry-level BMW has been conceived to run the same front-wheel-drive underpinnings as the next-generation Mini Cooper. Autocar predicts this new BMW will be built along side the MINI in Oxford. However our sources tell us this is impossible given the current cost of expanding the plant even further. Instead it’s likely that the new small BMW will be built alongside a small slice of the next generation MINI production at a current BMW plant in Germany. It’s worth noting that our sources tell us that all MINIs produced in Germany will be destined for the European market as a way to insulate the British currency issues BMW currently faces. Regardless of where the car is built, a front wheel drive MINI-based BMW will be a reality. According to Dr. Reithofe the premium small car segment is growing too fast to ignore. And with BMW already having a world-class small car platform to draw from, it’s obvious why the decision makes business sense. Look for the car to debut around the same time as the next generation MINI in 2013 and be sold predominantly in Europe. It will not be available in the US market. Now the question that we’re dying to ask MotoringFile readers: Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. Читать дальше

Очень жду информации о качестве звука и сроке жизни батарейки. Удобно в ухе носить?

Да, мне тоже очень нравится, но в основном это или европейцы или, что хуже, американцы.

Акция «+1» для сознательных водителей! Пробки – наша ежедневная головная боль! Аварии, стресс, опоздания на работу. Такого понятия как "час пик" для автомобилистов больше не существует. Пробки возникают в самых неожиданных местах. Город стоит с утра до вечера, и кажется, что это тупик. Муниципальные власти пытаются строить развязки, милиция регулировать движение, а законодатели ограничивать доступ на дороги. Но пробки все равно остаются. SHTURMANN предлагает решение этой проблемы! Один из самых эффективных способов борьбы с пробками – снизить число автомобилей на дорогах, увеличив количество пассажиров в одной машине. Начните менять мир с себя! SHTURMANN приглашает всех сознательных водителей преодолеть пробки вместе. Возьмите друга, знакомого, родственника, коллегу, тех кому по пути на работу или домой. Пусть в вашей машине будет еще +1 пассажир. Акция "+1" - это первый шаг к более комфортной, свободной и цивилизованной жизни Российских автомобилистов. Наша цель: улучшить жизнь автомобилистов, снизив нагрузки на транспортные системы города. Преимущества: · Свобода. Дороги становятся свободнее, уменьшается вероятность пробок. · Экономия. Использование одной машины вместо нескольких сберегает расходы на топливо, ремонт и парковку. · Спокойствие. Пассажирам удаётся избежать стресса и нагрузок. · Экология. Уменьшаются выбросы вредных газов. · Общение. Совместные поездки способствуют общению и помогают быть ближе с друзьями и родственниками. Наклейки появятся у меня в ближайшее время. Участники получают возможность выиграть разные призы. Подробности ещё и тут http://www.shturmann.com/plus1.aspx

У мамы пока нет интернета, поэтому поздравления переданы, с удовольствием приняты. Цитата:"Кайфую, лайфую!" Ждите на завтраке.

Всем привет. У Мамы юбилей в Августе. Но юбилейная машина с номером 050 (спасибо Боче) есть уже сейчас. Поздравлю маму и тут тоже. Мамуля - хороших тебе километров и кучу здоровья. Ждём на завтраке.

MINI Sales continue to look good for 2010. Worldwide sales are up 16% and BMW expects big things with the launch of the Countryman later this year in Europe (and early next in the US). Official Release: Sales of the MINI brand also continued to perform well. Last month, 13,443 MINI cars, 16.0% more than in February 2009 (11,584), were delivered to customers worldwide. 25,645 MINI vehicles were sold in the year to the end of February. That represents an increase of 18.2% (prev. yr. 21,704). Ian Robertson: “Over the next few years the MINI product family will grow from three to six members. The MINI family’s fourth model, the new MINI Countryman, will arrive in showrooms in September and will play an important part in the premium brand’s long-term growth.” Читать дальше

BMW has gone the length of officially disputing the notion that the upcoming launch of the ActiveE will be smaller than the MINI E field study. Why do you ask? Because the idea is to offer at least the same number in hopes that many of those MINI E customers would move over to the Active E. Would you trade your MINI E for a BMW 1 Series based ActiveE with a more advanced liquid heating and cooling? Let us know in the comment section. Official Release: Recent published reports have incorrectly stated that the size of the fleet of BMW ActiveEs that will be deployed during the BMW Group’s second-phase field trial in the US will be limited to 200 vehicles. While the exact size of the fleet has yet to be confirmed, it will be at least as large as the MINI E fleet which is currently in operation. There are 450 MINI Es on the road in the US right now. They are being driven by a dedicated group of individuals and select fleet users. “I would hate for anyone to get the impression that we are backing away from our commitment to EV development or the Megacity Vehicle project. Let me reassure you that nothing could be further from the truth,” said Rich Steinberg, Manager – Electric Vehicle Operations and Strategy. “With one of the largest fleet of electric vehicles in operation today, we are learning a great deal. Those lessons have already been applied in our development work. One example is the liquid heating and cooling capability for the batteries in the upcoming BMW ActiveE. This will help to optimize operating range in conditions of extreme hot and cold climates. Others include the four-seat capacity of the BMW ActiveE and it seven cubic-feet of trunk space. More than anything we have been impressed with the dedication and enthusiasm that MINI E drivers have brought to this project.” In preparation for the upcoming BMW ActiveE field trial, which will begin in 2011, the BMW Group announced at the North American International Auto Show in January that it will offer one-year lease extensions to current MINI E lessees. Читать дальше

Например http://cars.auto.ru/cars/used/sale/5252052.html http://cars.auto.ru/cars/used/sale/5287470.html

MINI has been a surprisingly big success for BMW. It started with the improbable R50 being designed and engineered during a time of intense turmoil at Rover and then BMW. It continued with a new engine and vastly updated and improved chassis with the R56. But those changes pale in comparison to what we expect to see with the 3rd generation MINI due in the fall of 2012 as a 2013 model in Europe and potentially a few month later in other markets (i.e. the US). In this article (the first in a two part series) we’re going to take a look at the chassis development and high level design ideas behind the new MINI. Next week we’ll dive into drivetrain, interior and electronics changes. Chassis Development The R50 chassis was designed primarily by a team at Rover in the UK in the mid to late 90’s. The R56, while thoroughly updated, carried over much of the basic architecture of that original design. But for 2012 BMW has big plans to bring the MINI more into the BMW family of products. At a high-level this means that BMW will be creating a common platform for models that span the BMW, MINI and potentially even the iSetta sub-brand that BMW intends to bring to market for urban areas. These products will be created using a common architecture that will spawn both front and all-wheel drive products. What does that mean for the MINI? MINI’s R56 and R57 replacement will be based on the same platform that will spawn new small car variants for the BMW and potentially iSetta brand. The rumored “0″ series (which could be the iSetta) is likely to be based heavily on the 2012 MINI for example. Is this good for MINI? Unquestionably BMW needs to create more efficiencies within their brands in order to for further investment to make sense. What this gives MINI is the ability to update the core platform that underpins most of their product offerings. Presumably this allows for BMW to spend more on MINI than they otherwise would. Does this mean a lighter stronger structure? Certainly those would be the type of things that we’d expect from a more modern platform. Interestingly this new platform that will spawn the next MINI will be used throughout the BMW Group in a number of ways. Specifically it’ll be capable of not only front wheel drive and all wheel drive due to the flexibility of it’s architecture. To be blunt we don’t know what this means for MINI but we do know that it should be (theoretically) easier to leverage components from one product to another if they share the same basic architecture and drivetrains. Design We don’t know any details but we’ve heard some vague information about what to expect for 2012. However one thing we have heard is that the next generation MINI will be staying the same size as the R50 and R56 and roughly the same weight (if not getting slightly lighter). Now lets talk about changes. The design will continue to evolve especially in the front. One rumor we’ve heard is that the xenon headlights will incorporate some type of LED daytime running light technology similar to what is seen in BMW or Audi products. Also look for a larger and slightly more aggressive front grille both above and below the bumper on the MCS. Also on the Cooper S will be integrated into the bumper will be cooling ducts for brakes (likely introduced in the R56 refresh later this year). LED lights should also make their way to the taillights. Finally sources are telling us that general shape is expected to be classic MINI yet more “dynamic” looking as compared to the current model. Check back next week for a full look at the next generation MINI electronics, interior design and powerplants and some surprising changes in one key number Читать дальше

Today we’re introducing you to a new contributor to MF, Gregory La Vardera. Greg has the benefit of owning one of the first R56 in the US and thus will be one of the first owners to have a 2nd generation car out of warranty. So to celebrate this, he’s put together a list of warrantee work issues that R56 owners may have encountered since purchasing. The idea is to start the list and let it grow organically within the comment section via other owner’s experiences. From there we’ll take this and create our forthcoming R56 Buyers Guide (a la the R50/R53 Buyers Guide we released a few years ago) The nature of manufacturing means that what one person sees, others are likely to see as well. I thought if we shared our experiences here and in the comments it could turn up some items that others might have missed, and ensure that owners have a chance to get them tended to under warrantee. My own Cooper S was delivered at the end of February 2007, the first S my dealer handed over. Over the past 3 years I’ve received outstanding service from my dealer who fixed anything I asked them to. So in that spirit here is a list of service work I’ve encountered in the past 3 years. Note: I will expand the list with relevant items from everybody’s comments (marked From Comments). On Delivery I had no major surprises when I picked up my car. These items are so minor they are almost not worth mentioning, but at the outside chance someone else has overlooked them its worth listing: Tow Hook Cover: The tow hook cover on the front bumper was loose on delivery. It did not seem like it was going to fall out, but there was play and you could move it visibly. I am not sure what they did about this but it was quickly resolved. Filler Cap under hood Rubbing: A small black cap in the front left corner of the engine compartment, forward of the yellow dipstick cap, was rubbing on the underside of the hood and went through the color layer. It was resolved by loosening the clamp that kept it in place and moving it down a fraction of an inch. Service even touched up the paint. Interior Drivers Side Rubber Floor Mats: The rubber mats that came with my car quickly lost the velcro glued to the underside of the mats. The problem was simple – the velcro was stronger than the glue. The dealer put a new mat in and the velcro has stayed in place. Front Seat Cover: I noticed at about 2 yrs that my passenger side cloth seat cover was starting to fray at one of the seams. This was very slight – a small patch of threads coming out of the seam. I raised it with Service figuring I just wanted it on the record when/if it split open wide, but they wanted to replace it immediately. Review the seams in your upholstery and make sure that nothing is opening up or fraying. Cracked Seat Hinge Cover: This is the plastic cover that goes over the hinge where the seat tilts. This was likely broken when the seat cover was replaced, but it raises a general concern – when any work that involves trim is done you have to go over the work and check that everything is still whole. Its easy to break a piece of trim taking things apart and putting back together. I was tipped off about this when I found a plastic tab on the floor mat. It sat in the coin cup for 3 months before I figured out where it came from and realized the trim had broken. Dealer swapped it with no questions asked. Rear Seat Cover/Baby Seat Hold-Downs: This was an unusual item and could easily be overlooked. At about 2yrs I noticed that I could see some of the rear seat pad showing through around the Baby Seat Hold Down fittings. On closer look it was clear that the cover was not torn. It was just that the fabric had sort of “settled in” and the edge of the fabric was no longer hidden behind the rim of the Hold Down fitting. The back seat had not been used that much so it was not worn nor torn, and it did not really look as if it had stretched. Service looked at it with me, and they agreed something was wrong. We opened up one of the 2009 cars in the showroom found that Mini had changed the design of the Hold Downs. The rim around the fitting had been make larger, the better to cover the opening in the fabric. Clearly a small design improvement had been put into production at some point. Service looked into trading out the fittings but in the end the entire seat cushion was swapped out. Check your hold downs – if the hole in the fabric is exposed revealing the foam pad then consider raising it with your service manager. Chrome plating on interior trim: This was also unusual. The chrome trim ring at the top of my shift knob began to chip off at around 2.5 years. It was on the front of the knob facing the dash and I never would have seen it except that the edges of the plating were sharp as razor blades and I could feel it when I was shifting. My dealer was a champ and replaced it without question – the knob came with a whole new shift boot as well. So check that your chrome trim is not flaking off anywhere. Exterior From comments – Sunroof Malfunction: Several people have reported that they have had malfunctions with their sun roofs. Although I doubt you would have missed this there is chance that somebody coming out of warrantee now had not used theirs all winter. So fire up your sunroof and make sure all is well before your last service. From comments – Warped Hood Scoop: This has become a pretty well known problem. Turbo heat warping the resin hood scoop. MCS owners look at your scoop closely before your last service and make sure its not in need of replacement. From comments – Cracked Fog Lights: A few comments mention that they had stress cracks, or condensation within their fog light lenses. Down on your hands and knees and have a look before you bring your car in. Drive Train From comments – 3rd to 2nd downshift: A few people have made the same complaint about their standard transmission making a “groan” sound on downshift from 3rd to 2nd. If that story sounds familiar realize that all is not normal there and make sure you put it on your dealer’s honey-do list before your last service. Service Bulletins Should not be limited by your warrantee period: Start up noise: I first noted this sound in my journal on 6Mar, a week after I picked up my car. It was 16deg that day. I kept notes and made observations until I could reliably predict when the sound would occur. BMW issued the bulletin, the work was done, and its not returned. Exhaust pipe tips: This generated quite a bit of discussion on MF. I opted to not have this done when my car cycled in for other maintenance. Watch your shins. Maintenance routine items to align with your last warrantee service: Wiper blades: Even simple things like this are included in your maintenance, so don’t suffer streaking wiper blades, and make sure to leave your last service with fresh ones. Tire Rotation: My run-flats are used up and I’ll finally get to replace them this spring. My tires wore pretty evenly and so I think they were only rotated once. Make sure to have it checked and swapped if front or back is wearing faster. Oil Change: the OBC was calling for oil changes at about 18,000 mile intervals for me. Crazy, I know. I paid for a few changes in there and added a few quarts between changes along the way too. I tried to keep it to 7k. If yours are stretching out long watch your oil level between service, and see if you can’t time it to have one last change under warrantee. Brakes: I happened to go through my brakes in 29k miles, just within my last weeks. I left with new pads and rotors. It might be worth checking with your dealer to see what the OBC reports as left in your brakes. If you are a few months out and brakes nearly worn, then favoring the brakes over the clutch for the last few months of warrantee may help you squeeze a brake change into your service. Читать дальше

+1 к Глазку.

Тахо на руле, спидо в центре - стандартная комплектация R53. Тахо и спидо на руле, в центре доп приборы - дополнительная опция - Chrono package, устанавливалась только на заводе на R53, имеет дополнительные датчики. Устанавливаться отдельно не может, но есть умелец среди нас, который, после долгой борьбы, сумел снять Chrono и вернуть приборы в стандартный вид, ну или почти стандартный.

A few days back we told you about MINI’s viral campaign in Geneva for the 2010 Motor Show. Today we bring you the real making of the video (as opposed to the faux making of) that shows you how MINI actually did put the words (and questionable ones to English speakers) “MINIWOOD” on the side of a hill overlooking Geneva. Читать дальше

Прошу всех иметь в виду, что будут организованое собирание колонн из М и П

Неепознаное фуфло.

Here are the numbers many of us have been waiting for. Lets start with the most important number to the MINI community; weight. Using the DIN standard the Countryman S weighs in at 2,882 pounds. Using the slightly more conservative EU standard (with average vehicle specification and fuel load – similar the US DOT standard) the number goes up to 3,047. For reference with that same EU standard the stock Cooper S hatchback is 2,651 pounds. The Countryman Cooper squeaks in under the 1.5 ton mark at 2,937 lbs. So MINI’s first four door crossover isn’t quite as heavy as some had feared. In fact on paper it’s one of the lightest four door crossovers in the world. But will it still handle like a MINI? Only time (and some extended drives) will tell. Stay tuned for that. In the meantime you can see the full rundown on stats below. (After the jump) MINI Cooper S, Countryman (auto in brackets) Length / width / height (unladen) mm: 4,108 / 1,789 / 1,561
- Wheelbase in mm: 2595 Turning circle in m: 11.6 Fuel tank capacity in liters: about 47 EU Curb weight in pounds: 3,047 (3,091) DIN load in pounds: 1034 Allowable Towing capacity: braked (12%) / unbraked 1650 / 1100 (pounds)
- Trunk capacity l: 350 / 442 / 1,170 Coefficient of drag: 0.36 MINI One & MINI Cooper Countryman (auto in brackets) 
 Length / width / height (unladen) mm: 4,097 / 1,789 / 1,561 
- Wheelbase in mm: 2595 
 Turning circle in m: 11.6 
 Fuel tank capacity in liters: about 47 
 Curb weight according to EU in pounds: 2,937 (3,003) 
 DIN load in kg: 1034 

- Allowable Towing capacity: braked (12%) / unbraked 1650 / 1100 (pounds) 
 Trunk capacity l: 350 / 442 / 1,170 
- Coefficient of drag: 0.37 Courtsey of MINI via Bigblogg Читать дальше

Couldn’t make it to Geneva? Due to some last second scheduling issues neither could we. But luckily we have a few friends in the industry there to help us out. So with that said (plus a tip of the cap to Horatiu for the photos) we present you the MINI Countryman at the 2010 Geneva [...]</img></img> </img> </img> </img> </img> </img> Читать дальше

What can we say. They’re in Geneva. They drive a Countryman. They like shenanigans. But lets back up. MINI created a guerilla marketing campaign in Geneva as they have the past few years. This year they projected the word MINIWOOD (double the size of the Hollywood sign) on the side of the hill above Geneva. The video above is a little behind the scenes of the process. (official release after the jump) Here’s the official press release: MINI brings Hollywood to Geneva. The launch of the new star of the MINI family – the MINI Countryman – at the 80th Salon International de l’Auto provides reason enough for an unconventional marketing campaign: The city built on Lake Geneva is being renamed “MINIWOOD” by way of a huge projected image, creating a rival to the Hollywood dream factory in Los Angeles. The gigantic projection of the “MINIWOOD” sign onto Mont Salève on French soil is one of the largest projections of its kind. The projected image is 30 metres high and 192 metres wide. In the evening light it is visible for miles around to Geneva residents as well as the many visitors to the Motor Show. This unconventional campaign involves powerful technology: High-performance projectors with 348,000 Ansi lumen illuminate an area of over 5,760 square metres with an output of more than 28,000 watt. The projection will be complemented by a short video in typical MINI style. This “viral” will show how the projection is realised and will be widely distributed in the Internet. Film posters entitled “MINI Countryman – GETAWAY” will publicise the guerrilla action and hence the world debut of the fourth member of the MINI family, raising public awareness and highlighting the MINI presence in Geneva. The “Making of” video will also be posted on MINI’s official YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/MINI, and MINI Countryman’s Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/MINI.Countryman. MINIWOOD would not be complete without the celebrated “Walk of Fame”. So, as Motor Show visitors walk from the airport to the Palexpo, for example, they are guided by “MINIWOOD stars”. Walkways through busy areas of downtown Geneva have also been adorned with stars to strengthen MINI’s presence in the city centre. MINIWOOD is brought to life through “red carpet parking”: In true Hollywood style, a MINI Countryman is parked and displayed on a red carpet on the streets of Geneva. A sign right next to the newest MINI star bears the slogan “I BECAME FAMOUS IN MINIWOOD – MINI COUNTRYMAN. GETAWAY.” Thanks to a wide variety of communications activities in connection with the 80th International Motor Show in Geneva, the MINI Countryman is set to be the toast of the town. The MINIWOOD concept is the brand’s latest guerrilla action and confirms once again that MINI makes an unconventional statement. “Guerrilla marketing plays an especially important part in MINI communications. That is why the launch of the new MINI Countryman will also be accompanied by characteristically unconventional and eye-catching marketing campaigns that are deliberately designed to appeal to the brand’s modern target groups,” explains Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, head of MINI Brand Communication. Читать дальше

MINI Sales are up (barely) for February year over year. The big winner? The MINI Convertible was up over 700% thanks to the new model (and the fact that there technically wasn’t a convertible model last February. Down? Everything else. Читать дальше

Главное не робеть. Никто подбегать с криками WOW не будет. Приходишь, и если есть желание, знакомишься и общаешься.

А я родился в этот год. Ну да ладно, по поводу олимпиады есть много мыслей. Пока, как сказал выше, буду молчать. Но один факт остаётся - спонсор Сочей = VW Group. Я очень рад твоему энтузиаму, но 4 года - это слишком далеко. Надо ещё пережить 2012.