MINI
32 articles in this category
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MINI, the British brand presents the future model generations new design, one that is based on technological innovations, sustainability, brand typical driving pleasure as it reinvents itself for an all-electric future. PF0008994.mp4 This electrified go-kart feel with an immersive digital experience and a strong focus on a minimal environmental footprint is what the Concept Aceman is all about. This
MINI has released their new concept premium small car, leather free, chrome free, is it the future of premium autos?
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It's no secret that Mini's fortunes have not been good lately. In the first half of this year, Mini has only moved 17,583 cars of its five model lineup in the U.S. Parent company BMW needs to do something. Last month, Mini unveiled the all-electric version of the Mini-Cooper with a range between 146 and 167 miles. Now, a report out from Automobile Magazine says that Mini has canceled the internal combustion engine versions for the entire model range in the next generation of cars. Startin
...could follow the path of SMART, for better or worse...
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MINI is introducing an all-electric version of the Mini-Cooper SE. The go-kart like feeling of the MINI is preserved with the battery mounted low in the vehicle floor for a lower center of gravity. Doing so means that there is no reduction in cargo volume. The battery range in the European cycle is approximately 235 KM to 270 KM (146 miles to 167 miles), however official EPA range estimates have not yet been established. Power is delivered by a 181 hp / 199 lb-ft of torque electric motor
...plenty of power, but lower range...
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At the Nürburgring this weekend, Mini-Cooper will be showing a lightly disguised prototype of the new John Cooper Works GP, a limited production car coming next year. Mini says that only 3,000 units will be produced. The model features a 300 horsepower twin-turbo 4-cylinder engine, specialized suspension, weight reduced construction, and specialized aerodynamics. The prior version of this car was able to run the 'Ring at 8 minutes 23 seconds. The engineers will conduct test runs of the protot
...Prototype previews the new Mini John Cooper Works GP with a test run...
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Mini has been struggling in the U.S. for the past few as more consumers shun small cars. The brand which expected annual sales to total 100,000 vehicles by 2017, peaked at about 66,500 models in 2013 according to Automotive News. Sales through the first ten months of the years have totaled 37,359. This isn't good news for the 127 standalone Mini dealers in the U.S. as it makes it tough for owners to justify the investment. In 2016, 45 percent of Mini dealers reported being unprofitable. A year l
But not every Mini dealer has a BMW dealer
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About three to four years ago, Mini set out an ambitious goal of selling an annual volume of 100,000 vehicles in the U.S. But this goal would never come to fruition. Sales of Mini models have been in decline for the past few years partly due to buyers going towards light trucks and crossovers. BMW executives have since stepped back from this goal is considering whether or not to make Mini vehicles electric-only in the U.S. For dealers, the mixed messages has them concerned. Jason Willis, me
All we are looking for is some clarity
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BMW has announced today that it has signed a “letter of intent” with Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor on producing electric-versions of the Mini in China. The German automaker in a statement said the next steps will be agreeing on the details of a possible joint venture and clarifying various aspects such as a location for production. The two have been in talks for almost the past two years - Great Wall confirmed the talks back in October. It is expected that the electric Mini will b
Will also be built in Great Britain
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It is no secret that the MINI Paceman wasn't a great seller and that production will be ending this year. But it seems there is a successor under consideration, a spiritual one. Auto Express spoke with BMW Group design chief Adrian van Hooydonk who revealed that the company is looking at an adding another variant of the Countryman with a coupe-like roofline. “Part of the issue was the three doors. We have looked into a lot of things, but all of our [BMW] SUV coupes are five-door vehicl
The Paceman could live on in spirit with a new model
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MINI is getting ready to introduce its first hybrid vehicle with the upcoming second-generation Countryman crossover. In a statement released yesterday, MINI said the model would use an internal-combustion engine to power the front wheels and an electric motor to power the rear wheels. This also gives the model an all-wheel drive setup. Many believe the Countryman Hybrid would use the powertrain found in the 225xe Active Tourer - a 1.5L turbocharged three-cylinder and an electric motor deliverin
MINI announces their first hybrid vehicle
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The MINI sedan has been floating around the rumor universe since 2012 with various outlets saying it's coming with the prime markets being the China and the U.S. - sedans are more popular than hatchbacks in these markets. Autocar is the latest one to report this and says it's could be coming with the third-generation MINI lineup. According to sources, the sedan is in the cards as the fifth model in the updated MINI lineup. It will use the new Clubman as a base and feature a range of three an
MINI sedan anyone?
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Let us present what is possibly the biggest oxymoron in the automotive world. Today, MINI has announced the 2016 Clubman. MINI says the new Clubman is "longer and wider than any other MINI". They aren't kidding. The new Clubman is about 10.9 inches longer than the standard Hardtop, 2.9 inches wider, and rides on a wheelbase that is 4 inches longer. The added size allows MINI fit actual rear doors. The spilt opening tailgate remains, offering a cargo space of 17.5 cubic feet with the rear seats u
Meet the Largest MINI Yet, The 2016 MINI Clubman
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The past week has been abuzz with a report from Britain's Car Magazine stating that the MINI Superleggera Vision concept - shown last year - would go into production in 2018 as a replacement for the slow selling Roadster model. However, MINI's top executive put the kibosh on that report somewhat. Peter Schwarzenbauer, head of MINI told Automotive News Europe that the concept is still under discussion. “I cannot confirm that it has been approved yet,” said Schwarzenbauer. Schwarzenbauer has be
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For awhile, we've been reporting on MINI's plans to expand their lineup to possibly ten models. But now, the company is reversing that decision. Bloomberg reports that MINI's parent company, BMW has decided that MINI has too many models and is cutting it down from eight to five models. Peter Schwarzenbauer, MINI's brand chief says the automaker will focus on “superhero” vehicles such as the three-door hardtop. “Like a superhero, each of these cars has its own personality and unique capabiliti
MINI's Plans for Expansion..? Yeah, about that...
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The EPA has been on a bit of a tear with revising fuel economy numbers on a number of vehicles since the whole Hyundai/Kia fuel economy fiasco. Ford had to revised their numbers on a couple of their vehicles, and recently Mercedes-Benz had to do same with the new C-Class. Now MINI is the latest automaker to change their numbers. Announced this week, MINI will be changing the fuel economy numbers on four different models. This comes as the result of an audit done by the EPA, and joint re-testing
MINI The Latest Automaker To Get Their Numbers Revised
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If you have been paying attention to MINI sales for the past few months, then you've noticed that sales have been slipping. This despite the new Cooper Hardtop coming to dealers. So what is going on? Jalopnik thinks its due to supply. A quick search on Cars.com shows that the nationwide supply of Cooper Hardtops is just under 1,100. MINI explained the reason for the small supply is due to pending fuel economy certification. "Sales have dropped because our supply has been so limited. MY 2015 MI
Poor MINI Sales? Blame the EPA the Company Says
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Do you happen to be one of those people who look at the new MINI Cooper and think: You know what this vehicle needs? Two extra doors. Well if you happen to be, then this announcement from MINI should be of interest. The brand announced last night the 2015 MINI Hardtop 4 door which offers added versatility to the MINI family. The four-door model is about 6.3-inches longer overall and rides on a wheelbase that is 4.3-inches longer than standard Cooper Hardtop. This allowed MINI to fit full-size r
Haven't You Wanted A Four-Door Cooper?
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With every new generation of MINI, the lineup has grown and grown. In the first-generation, there was three models. Now, the lineup consists of seven models. However, a BMW board member wants to see MINI cut back the number of models it has. Peter Schwarzenbauer, BMW board member for Mini and Rolls-Royce tells Autocar that he would like to see brand to pare down the lineup as he believes the rapid expansion is hurting the brand. He said BMW had to be “sensitive about the number of variants and
A BMW Board Member Says There's Too Many MINIs
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 14, 2013 When the first-generation of the new MINI was introduced back in the early 2000's, it was very simple. There was a three-door hatchback, a convertible, and a long-wheelbase wagon. Come to the second-generation and the family grew. Alongside the three models of the first-generation, MINI added a three-door and five-door crossover, two-seater coupe, and roadster. Now with the third-generation MINI waiting in the wings, there is th
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 29, 2013 We're just a couple months away from MINI showing off the next-generation Cooper at MINI's factory in Oxford, Great Britain. To keep us interested, MINI has revealed the powertrain lineup and chassis for the Cooper. The standard Cooper will get a new 1.5L turbocharged three-cylinder with 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque (170 pound-feet for a few seconds with MINI's overboost function). The Cooper S gets a new 2.0L
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 17, 2013 MINI had a unique entrant in the small cargo van area. Taking their Clubman wagon,MINI removed the backseat and blacked out the windows to create the Clubvan. MINI said the model would go on sale in the U.S. sometime this year. The Clubvan did go on sale and then left. Wait, what? According to MINI USA Communications Manager Nathalie Bauters said the MINI Clubvan was sold in the U.S. for short time. Sales totaled 50 Clubvans. So w
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By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com April 4, 2013 Jim McDowell, vice president of Mini USA told Edmunds that Mini's lineup could be experiencing a shake-up. "When we start to replace models, I think you will see that we won't replace every model exactly," McDowell said. Currently, Mini has seven models on sale: Cooper Hardtop, Convertible, Coupe, Roadster, Clubman, Paceman, and Countryman. Two of those models, the Countryman and Cooper Hardtop make up account for about 75 per
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By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 16, 2013 We known for a time that the Mini lineup would be growing to ten models, but we weren't quite sure how that would happen. Well Car and Driver had the chance to talk with Mini U.S. product planning manager Patrick McKenna about the possibilities. Model eight is the new Mini Clubvan, while nine and ten will not be a new body style. Instead, nine and ten will be a front-wheel-drive hybrid and a second-generation electric Mini,
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 14, 2012 Almost two years since the introduction of the Paceman concept at the Detroit Auto Show, Mini is showing the production version at the Paris Motor Show this month. The Paceman is essentially a Countryman, minus two doors and some design changes. The roofline is more rakish, the rear fenders are more muscular, and the back is completely different and features a new set of taillights. Inside, the Paceman is a four-seater only.
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 6, 2012 Back in March, we reported that the MINI Paceman concept shown at the Detroit Auto Show would be wearing the Countryman Coupe nameplate. Well, cross that off as MINI's senior vice president, Dr. Kay Segler said this week the Paceman will be the new name. "The Mini Paceman is the world’s first sports activity coupe in the premium compact segment. It combines a clear appetite for extravagance and infectious driving fun in a style tha
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 22, 2012 From the well that's an odd vehicle to test on the Nürburgring; new spy photos emerged of the now officially named Mini Countryman Coupe doing some laps on the ring. The Countryman Coupe differs from the standard Countryman with a sloping roof, rising beltline, and a redesigned rear end with a set of new taillights. The Countryman Coupe will sit on the Countryman's platform, however the coupe will be slightly longer and lower. E
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com May 30, 2012 The MINI Cooper in the U.S. has gotten one consistent complaint since its launch in 2002; its too small and and not very practical. MINI however has a plan to rectify this complaint. According to Motoring File, the brand is working a five-door variant, codenamed F55, to appear sometime after the revamped three-door model bows in early 2013. The five-door is aimed at the U.S. and European markets. The five-door will have the bac
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 23, 2012 At the Geneva Motor Show in March, Mini showed off a cargo van concept based on their Clubman called the Clubvan. The Clubvan drops the back seats and windows, and in their place comes in a flat load floor, steel grill to separate cargo and the front seats, and other items you expect in a cargo van. Car & Driver has learned that the Clubvan will go into production and come to the U.S. later this year as a 2013 model. The p
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 14, 2012 Back in August, we reported that Mini approved the Paceman concept shown at Detroit Auto Show. Now, we have learned a new name will be appearing. Car & Driver reports the new car will wear the Countryman Coupe nameplate when it comes out next year. The reason is due to the design of the Countryman Coupe being about 95% the same as the regular Countryman. Source: Car & Driver
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 18, 2012 One automaker you wouldn't quite expect to go into the commerical vehicle market is Mini. And yet their showing at next month's Geneva Motor Show will just be that. Called the Clubvan concept, the car is a Clubman minus the rear seats. Mini puts in its place a flat, carpeted load floor, which stretches from the split rear doors to an aluminum bulkhead just behind the front seats. The regular windows are taken out and replac
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 16, 2012 Last year, we reported on Mini growing their lineup to ten vehicles within the next few years. Mini currently has six vehicles on sale; the hardtop, convertible, Clubman, Countryman, coupe, and now arriving Roadster. A seventh model, a production version of the Paceman concept will be shown sometime in 2013. Now, Automotive News has learned about three new Minis that could reach the goal of ten. First up is a Mini station w
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 27, 2012 Mini Boss Kay Segler has revealed some interesting information to Car & Driver this week. First, Segler talked about Mini’s John Cooper Works possibly becoming something like BMW’s M performance brand. This idea comes with good and bad news - if it was implemented, that would mean JCW models would be positioned as stand-alone models, which means more power to differentiate them. Unfortunately, Selger said that AWD was cu
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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 24, 2012 The Mini Rocketman, a concept shown at last year's Geneva Motor Show, showed what a smaller Mini could look like. Over the past couple of months, rumors have swirling about Mini developing a production model of the Rocketman. However, a new report from Car says the project has been shown the door. The reason as to why is due to exorbitant costs to develop a production model to meet regulations; specifically, handling, stabil
