MINI lovers are now able to see the cars being built online  t the new MINI manufacturing module within the website - www.mini.co.uk. To recognise the launch of this groundbreaking online facility, there will be a live webchat with Dr Diess, Managing Director Plant Oxford, on Wednesday 11th December at 4.30pm.

The module’s breadth of information is unique within the industry and includes interviews with staff, interactive games and a 12-minute time-lapse video that shows the whole build process from start to finish.

Trevor Houghton-Berry, general manager for MINI, said, ” The MINI manufacturing module further expands our relationship with MINI owners. New MINI owners can get acquainted with their car before it arrives and continue to keep informed of what’s going on at MINI’s home.”

There are six sections of the Oxford module: Location, Precision, Care, Uniqueness, Individuality and Teamwork. Each section offers an insight into specific areas of the production process.
For example, the Individuality section reveals that with the number of varying standard specifications and over 50 interchangeable options, only 10 new MINIs could be identical after the one millionth leaves the production line. Precision introduces ‘Perceptron’ cameras, a laser measuring system that checks the bodyshell of the MINI to ensure its dimensions are accurate and has a tolerance of up to 0.05 mm (about half of the width of a human hair).

Web surfers can submit their questions now for the webchat by logging onto www.mini.co.uk and clicking on MINI video live chat. Dr Diess, together with other senior management from Assembly, Paint shop and Research, will be available to reply from 4.30pm-5.30pm.

Interactive technology offline

MINI Messenger is a new traffic warning device, jointly developed with Trafficmaster, that constantly monitors traffic flow within a 20-mile radius of the car.
Once installed, users receive a lifetime subscription to the service.

Using information collated from 7,500 sensors across the UK, the Messenger button on the dashboard lights up when congestion is detected and drivers are alerted to traffic problems by spoken warnings through the sound system. The traffic report confirms the current position of the vehicle, where the congestion is and in what direction as well as the expected delay time. The system works through the standard sound system and costs £400.00 as an option, and £360.00 as an accessory excluding fitting.