MINI

Britain’s mighty atom, the original Mini Cooper, has a huge reputation out of all proportion to its size. The Mini was created by the fertile mind of Alec Issigonis and modified by John Cooper to become known as the Mini Cooper in 1961. Giant killing in motorsport, particularly in the Monte Carlo Rally, built the enduring Mini Cooper legend. Original production ended in the early 1970s but  was resumed in the early 1990s. 1994 once again saw Paddy Hopkirk campaigning a Mini Cooper in the Monte! Mini Cooper: The Real Thing! by Johnny Tipler ISBN: 9781845847524 Print equivalent ISBN: 9781874105227 EBOOK AVAILABLE NOW! $23.99 / £18.99 – prices may vary between vendors Features … The story of Britain’s mighty atom the original Mini Cooper Production history & evolution Building the Cooper Profiles of Sir Alec Issigonis and Paddy Hopkirk Details […]

MINI USA announced pricing today on its all-new 2016 MINI Clubman with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $24,100 for the Cooper model. The most spacious and versatile MINI every built, the new MINI Clubman is the first MINI to enter the compact premium segment. It is both longer and wider than previous MINI models and offers premium quality and craftsmanship in every detail for under $25,000. The Cooper S variant will start at $27,650.  All prices exclude the $850 Destination & Handling fee. “The premium quality and value of the new MINI Clubman will set the standard for the premium compact segment going forward,” said Patrick McKenna, Department Head, Product Planning & Events, MINI USA. “MINI defined the premium small car segment with the relaunch of the Hardtop back in 2002 and the new Clubman will help us redefine […]

MINI is continuing to expand its model range with the world premiere of the new MINI Clubman at the International Motor Show Frankfurt 2015. The MINI Clubman marks the brand’s first entry into the premium compact segment and will be on display at the show from 17th – 26th September. Combining increased interior space and versatility with the latest generation of technical advances and a high level of standard equipment, the MINI Clubman is set to make a big impact on what is a highly competitive segment. The new MINI Clubman: traditional concept, unique qualities, high specification. With its four doors, the characteristic split doors at the rear, five seats and a large and versatile interior, the new MINI Clubman brings the classic shooting brake to the premium compact segment of the 21st century. The most recent model is also […]

Tests conducted by the University of Portsmouth reveal that driving a powerful car can provoke a more dramatic physical response than enjoying a rollercoaster ride or jumping out of a plane. Working with MINI’s new John Cooper Works Hatch, launched this summer, scientists from the University of Portsmouth’s Sport and Exercise Science department ran a series of physical, psychological and physiological tests to measure the effect the car had on a selection of drivers and stunt driver, of Rush and Mission Impossible 5 fame, Niki Faulkner.

Another MINI ON THE MACK is in the history books! Although the world record attempt at the largest parade of MINIs fell short, the biennial MINI owners rally organized by MINI of Grand Rapids and MINI USA did manage to set the new record for the largest gathering of MINIs in the U.S. The event attracted 1,319 MINIs of all shapes, colors and sizes for the rally across the 26,372 feet long, 500 feet high span of Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge – missing the world record by only 132 MINIs. This was the second attempt at the world record for the largest parade of MINIs. In 2013, the brand had 848.5 vehicles attend the event. The current Guinness Record was set in 2009 in the UK by the London & Surrey Mini Owners Club, which brought together 1,450 MINI cars to […]

It’s one year away but start planning now! MINI USA today officially announced the dates for the popular cross-country owners’ rally, MINI TAKES THE STATES (MTTS). MTTS 2016 will kick off on Saturday, July 9, 2016, and finish on Saturday, July 23, 2016. The route will be announced at a later date. In 2014, MINI owners and MINI USA team members motored into Boston’s Back Bay after completing a 5,142-mile journey from San Francisco that covered 15 cities and 18 states in 14 days. A portion of that year’s event registration fees were donated to Best Friends Animal Society, the charity partner for the rally. A charity partner for the 2016 event will be announced at a later date. “MINI TAKES THE STATES 2014 was such an amazing experience that we couldn’t wait to announce the dates for 2016,” said […]

MINI is broadening its appeal with the arrival of the new MINI Countryman Cooper D ALL4 Business model, developed specifically for the fleet market. The launch of the new business edition Countryman means corporate customers will now have the option of a model which includes the brand’s all-wheel drive system, MINI ALL4, for the very first time. The ALL4 all-wheel drive system provides excellent traction and quickly reacts to all changes in road conditions, while still providing MINI’s famed driving experience. MINI Navigation System is fitted as standard along with the Multifunction steering wheel which includes cruise control. Parking sensors, automatic headlights and wipers are also included to make driving long distances easier and more enjoyable. The additional standard equipment has been specifically chosen for fleet customers and represents a saving over the cost of standalone options while driving up […]

As the latest addition to the MINI family, the new Clubman, unveiled today, has grown up in both size and maturity compared to its predecessor launched in 2007. Completely redesigned and engineered from the ground up, the new MINI Clubman features premium quality and craftsmanship in every detail, creating a sleek and sophisticated interpretation of the brand’s iconic style. In fact, for the first time since the Clubman name was introduced in 1969, the new MINI Clubman has been developed as a separate model from the iconic MINI Cooper Hardtop, taking the legendary MINI sporting feel into a larger class of vehicle. The new MINI Clubman continues in the tradition of renowned British estate cars, offering a rare combination of passenger comfort and elegant styling while being fun to drive.

We am just going to leave this here without comment, although we guess that is comment enough. To drive a MINI is to make a statement. To wear MINI is now equally so. On the occasion of the 88th Pitti Uomo, MINI got together with six talented young Italians and the heads behind the Pitti Uomo gentleman’s fashion fair to design the first MINI Capsule Collection. The upshots are six premium accessories that combine Italian craftsmanship with creative and innovative details – inspired by the new MINI Clubman. Tradition meets cutting edge. They’re young, they love unconventionality and they are masters of their art: in a symbiotic partnership the creative personalities behind the brands SuperDuper, TYG Spectacles, Alberto Premi and Pijama, along with perfumer Paola Bottai and the Proraso team with illustrator Pietro Nicolaucich, joined forces with MINI to design […]

Mini Meet West 2015 in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Abbotsford ‘The City in the Country’ is located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Vancouver and in the heart of the Fraser Valley. Mini Meet West is an annual gathering of Mini enthusiasts and owners of both the Classic and New MINI. Participants come from all over Canada, the USA, Mexico and as far away as Europe. Last year’s event included approximately 180 registrants & participants. With MMW2015 being held in the city of Abbotsford, June 29 through July 2, 2015, the hosts are expecting to attract over 200 registrants this year.   This event is open to all Minis, classic and modern. Check out the webpage at www.minimeetwest.com

According to Car Magazine, BMW is planning to take Mini back to its small-car roots – with a Mini Minor. This is great news for fans of the historic British baby, which has grown podgy under German ownership, and shows that the shrunken Mini Rocketman concept car wasn’t in vain. But it’s also an intriguing industrial development: BMW is planning to co-develop the baby Mini with Toyota. Product planners in Germany acknowledge that the Mini has grown tubby in recent years, stretching to 4005mm in five-door hatchback form. Hence the desire to surf the downsizing trend with a new smaller model, scheduled to stretch just 3450mm long. For reference, that’s the same footprint as the new Smart Forfour. The Mini Minor is likely to come to market in late 2018 or early 2019, CAR can reveal. ‘It’s still early days […]

The Mini. The giant killer. The original automotive bottle rocket. Our video this week tells the story, especially of the Cooper S. “The Mini Story: The Original, the Cooper, the Legacy” is a 20 minute look into the history of this fantastic little car. This original Mini, of course, was designed for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Motor_CorporationBMC by Sir Alec Issigonis. It was manufactured at the Longbridge and Cowley plants in England, the Victoria Park / Zetland British Motor Corporation (Australia) factory in Sydney, Australia, and later also in Spain (Authi), Belgium, Chile, Italy (Innocenti), Malta, Portugal, South Africa, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. The Mini Mark I had three major UK updates – the Mark II, the Clubman and the Mark III. Within these was a series of variations, including an estate car, a pick-up truck, a van and the Mini Moke – a […]

There is no way to talk about British cars without talking about the Mini, and who would want to? For our Video of the Week this time we turn to a History of the Mini from the “Great Cars” series. The short film covers the history of Sir Alec Issigonis’s design from beginning to end and even goes so far as to venture into new MINI territory. This is a wonderful video in that it not only captures the mood of the 1950s in which the Mini was developed, but also the 1960s when the diminutive car came into its own. The video continues to follow the development, or lack thereof, all the way through the 70s and 80s up to the very end. You can see how the Mini affected everything from racing to culture to fashion and was in […]

Yes, you read that headline correctly. Augmented reality glasses to wear while you are driving. In an article for Autocar, Darren Moss is reporting that Mini has revealed its augmented reality glasses concept at the Shanghai motor show. The glasses, which are currently in the working prototype stage, can project vehicle and navigation instructions in front of drivers and render parts of the car – including the A-pillar and doors -‘invisible’ in order to improve visibility. Other functions include a ‘first and last mile’ system, which guides wearers either from their starting point to the car, or from the car to their final destination on foot. Destination settings can also be programmed while outside the car. Functions usually handled by a head-up display, such as navigation, speed and traffic data, can be viewed in front of the driver. Phone messages […]

This very special edition made its world debut at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show – combining all the rugged practicality of the MINI Countryman with the sophistication and refinement of one of London’s most distinguished addresses. Available from July 2015, it comes in four engine variants with optional MINI ALL4 all-wheel drive. MINI Countryman Overview Bold with an athletic flair, the MINI Countryman was the first MINI with four doors, a large tailgate, five seats and optional all-wheel drive. It took on the role of an irresistible front-line force from the very start – both in the conquest of additional target groups and off-road driving. The MINI Countryman has enabled the brand to establish a secure standing in the premium compact segment. It brings unmistakable MINI design, premium quality, versatile interior and trademark MINI driving fun together with off-road capabilities […]

With all this talk of the Geneva Motor Show and all the focus on nice new shiny, not to mention expensive, cars, some of us may be feeling a little left out. What if you can’t afford to get on the waiting list for one of the new Morgans? Or what if you desire the Bentley EXP 10 Speed Six but just live a few too many miles away from the dealership to make those regularly scheduled oil changes convenient. Well then, do we have a solution for you. Not only will our proposed solution net you a car you can afford, but it is recyclable and can even be made from recycled materials itself. Of course, there is the problem of there being no engine and no way to actually use the car for any practical purpose, but at least […]

Classic Minis United is going back to Cherokee, NC for the base of their 3 day driving adventure. This 56th of their gatherings will be held April 15 through 18, 2015. Cherokee is located at the south entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and at the beginning of the Blue Ridge Parkway. As with all of CMU’s events, they like to drive, and that’s what they’ll be doing. The club will have drives each of the three days with plenty of stops and things to see. In addition to all the usual Mini and automotive stuff, “The Mini Hippie Film Festival” will be shown during the Hippie party Friday night! Even if you can’t make it to the event, you have a chance to show off your short film and win some cash. The film festival is sponsored […]

A bit surprising considering the competition maybe, but Autocar magazine readers voted the classic Mini ahead of McLaren F1, Jaguar E-type and the Range Rover. And there is nary an MG, Triumph or Austin Healey to be found on the list. The poll also named Norfolk-based Lotus as the most popular British manufacturer, with seven of its models making the 100 best British cars list. Autocar brand editor Chas Hallett said: “It comes as little surprise that the original Mini has topped the list of all-time British greats. “It’s such an iconic vehicle and represents a lot more than the British car industry; the Mini is associated with Great Britain around the world and, in many ways, it was ahead of its time.” He went on: “Everyone loved and still loves an original Mini. It ensured a fabulous drive every time, […]