MINI2

BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën have signed a letter of intent to assess a new extension of their cooperation on petrol engines.

BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën have agreed to extend their successful cooperation in the field of petrol four-cylinder engines. They will jointly conduct a feasibility study concerning a new family of engines, with advanced technology features aimed at delivering excellent power and torque characteristics combined with reduced fuel consumption and CO2-emissions. If the study confirms the expected technological, industrial and financial benefits the two companies intend to enter into a joint development project.

PSA Peugeot Citroën and BMW Group have already a cooperation agreement concerning the development and production of a family of 1.6 - litre turbocharged petrol engines, encompassing two technologies: fully variable valve drive and direct injection, with power ranking from 55 kW (75 hp) to 128 kW (175 hp). The engines sport the newly launched MINI as well as Peugeot and Citroën vehicles.

Information: MINI Press

MINI will be unveiling a new addition to its Convertible range at the 2007 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), when it presents the Sidewalk model for the first time on January 6 in Detroit.

MINI Convertibles have always combined great handling characteristics with the thrill of open-top motoring, but when the Sidewalk hits MINI dealers from April 2007, MINI fans will have the opportunity to get their hands on a fresh model boasting a raft of luxurious design enhancements.

Andy Hearn, General Manager for MINI UK, said: “The MINI One Seven, Cooper Park Lane and Cooper S Checkmate editions of the MINI hatch have been hugely popular, with nearly 8,000 models sold in the UK in just 12 months. We are confident that Sidewalk will offer the same exclusivity and maximum value for Convertible customers. Undoubtedly it will reinforce MINI’s unique position as a premium small car.”

Continue reading MINI Convertible takes a walk on the style side

MINI2 Members have a unique chance to put their questions about the second generation MINI to the MINI design team in Munich

MINI2 has arranged an exclusive questions and answer session with the design team of the new MINI, lead by Gert Hildebrand in Munich. MINI have kindly agreed to field up to ten common or interesting questions from MINI2 members, which we will select from those posted in our forums, and attempt to answer them, complete with illustrations!

So if you’re wondering how or why design decisions were made for the new second generation MINI, then now is your chance to get your questions answered directly by the people who penned the car! To put across your questions please visit our forums here.

MINI2 recently had a Mellow Yellow MINI Cooper S for review, during that period we put together the following video.

In case anyone who followed our “Week with the MINI Cooper S” thread were wondering how the car got so grubby, the following video compilation shot locally and on some our favourite roads for MINI driving will hopefully answer a few questions. And yes, the new exhaust does pop, burble and growl very nicely thank you!

Continue reading Exclusive Mellow Yellow MINI Cooper S Video

MINI have kindly provided us with a MINI Cooper S to live with for a week. 29th November: Day 7, It’s been fun….

Delivery Miles: 2483
Miles on collection: 2856
Miles covered Today: 13

Total miles covered: 373
Average MPG (according to trip computer): 29.5 mpg (imperial)
Average Speed (according to trip computer): 29.6 mph
Pictures: MINI2 Galleries
Forum discussion: Here

The last day of being with the Mellow Yellow S was sadly undermined by other MINI related activity, so on the day itself there’s very little to report. I say sadly, but don’t really mean that, because the “other MINI related activity” was the collection from Wollaston MINI of our new Laser Blue MINI Cooper S!

Continue reading MINI2 - At Home with the MINI Cooper S - Day 7

MINI have kindly provided us with a MINI Cooper S to live with for a week. 28th November: Day 5 & 6, getting familiar.

Delivery Miles: 2483
Miles today & yesterday: 108
Total miles covered: 360
Average MPG (according to trip computer): 29.5 mpg (imperial)
Average Speed (according to trip computer): 29.6 mph
Pictures: MINI2 Galleries

Forum discussion: Here

Due to a complete lack of activity on Monday, there was really nothing to report. But Tuesday was a day of driving and filming, covering many of my familiar roads in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire I spent most of my time filming the car from lots of different angles, hours worth, hopefully ending with enough footage to put a little sequence together for the website by the end of the week. It seemed someone was working against me today, as every road I went on, no matter how small and remote, somebody, be it in a car, walking their dock, or riding their push bike would come along and linger in shot while I waited for them to clear off! Never mind, I’m sure I’ve got something useable!

Continue reading MINI2 - At Home with the MINI Cooper S - Day 5 & 6

MINI have kindly provided us with a MINI Cooper S to live with for a week. 26th November: Day 4. Sunday, a day of rest.

Delivery Miles: 2483
Miles today: 42
Total miles covered: 252
Average MPG (according to trip computer): 30.1 mpg (imperial)
Average Speed (according to trip computer): 31.7 mph
Pictures: None today!

Forum discussion: Here

Not much to report from Sunday’s driving. We had a quiet day today really. I can add that the rear seat access is so much improved, I know I’ve already mentioned that, but taking our three year old’s car seat in and out of the back of the new MINI is so much easier than the old model, as is getting in to fasten his buckles and the like. And the wider rear seat bases make a difference too, making fitting in the seat even easier than before. Who says you cant have a MINI as a family car?

Continue reading MINI2 - At Home with the MINI Cooper S - Day 4

MINI have kindly provided us with a MINI Cooper S to live with for a week. 25th November: Day 3. Loving the lanes, or is it?

Delivery Miles: 2483
Miles today: 97
Total miles covered: 210
Average MPG (according to trip computer): 29.9 mpg (imperial)
Average Speed (according to trip computer): 30.9 mph
Pictures: Photos from the day
Forum discussion: Here

Some interesting developments occurred during day 3 of our MINI Cooper S experience. The weather was terrible, raining hard for half the day, and then overcast for much of the rest of the day, the sky’s only clearing just before sunset. So our plans for videos and photo shoots were pretty much scuppered from the outset. We did try and shoot some film, but it was a disaster, so that’s gone straight into the out take bin!

Continue reading MINI2 - At Home with the MINI Cooper S - Day 3

MINI have kindly provided us with a MINI Cooper S to live with for a week. 24th November: Day2, Getting Familiar

Delivery Miles: 2483
Miles today: 72
Total miles covered: 113
Average MPG (according to trip computer): 29.6 mpg (imperial)
Average Speed (according to trip computer): 29.8 mph
Pictures: Photos from the day
Forum discussion: Here

Day two of living with the new MINI Cooper S, and the advantages of having a car to live with in order to be able to offer a more valuable and considered opinion are starting to show. Living with the new MINI as our family car, compared to our current 2006 MINI Cooper S is already starting to be a little more revealing.

Continue reading MINI2 - At Home with the MINI Cooper S - Day 2

MINI have kindly provided us with a MINI Cooper S to live with for a week. 23rd November: Arrival Day.

Starting Miles: 2483
Miles today: 41
Average MPG (according to trip computer): 28.8 mpg (imperial)
Average Speed (according to trip computer): 29.2 mph
Pictures: Photos from the day
Forum discussion: Here

Today the MINI Cooper S arrived, in all it’s yellow and black spledour. The car pulled up about 10:30am, and as I spend most of the daylight hours looking after our 3 year old Son, he was also here to see the car when it arrived. Initial impressions from him were it’s better than my Chili Red 2006 MINI Cooper S. Why? Because it had yellow door handles!

Continue reading MINI2 - At Home with the MINI Cooper S - Day 1