MINI2

BMW group have just released their latest sales stats, and they look good both for BMW (in particular the 1 and 5 series), but also of note are that sales of the MINI also continued to be very positive.

In the month just past, 21,463 MINIs were delivered to customers, 17.5% more than in April 2007 (18,264). For the year to April, 79,680 MINI were sold, which represents an increase of 22.1% (prev.yr.: 65,244).

Not bad going considering the economic slow down we keep hearing about, however the MINI brand may be gaining sales as people cut back from more expensive, and more thirsty brands to the smaller end of the market.

Here’s a piece of positive news for parent company BMW coming out of the UK.

Despite having its detractors in the press and public, especially in relation to the right hand side only suicide door which many interpreted as a snub to the UK market, the MINI Clubman accounted to one in five of all MINIs sold in the UK during the month of March 2008.

Not bad going for a vehicle which many view as even more of a niche product than the MINI itself was ever seen to be!

1st April 2008 the new MINI Cherished website will go live, improved and upgraded to help would be used MINI purchasers in their quest for the ideal ride.

According to a MINI press release, sales of used MINIs via the official MINI Cherished scheme have rocketed recently, and the revamped website is part of their response to ever increasing demand for used MINIs.

The stats speak for themselves, in February 2007 there were 518,018 searches for Cherished MINIs, February 2008 saw an increase of over 90% to 992,269 searches. Sales are also up over 25%, January 2007 saw 2178 Cherished MINIs leave dealer forecourts, and the same month in 2008 saw 2580 used MINIs purchased.

Thanks to the manufacturer-backed scheme, with every Cherished MINI coming with the following range of benefits:

• Minimum 12 months MINI Warranty
• Minimum 12 months MINI Emergency Service Cover across the UK and Continental Europe
• Minimum 12 month MOT and MOT Cover
• Full Service History
• Independent vehicle history and mileage checks
• Finance and Insurance available through MINI Financial Services

The MINI Cherished website address is www.minicherished.co.uk

Fleet News has become the latest media outlet to nominate MINI as a green winner. In the publication’s 20th Annual Awards ceremony, MINI was named Best Small Car 2008 thanks to the introduction of new fuel-saving technologies and amazingly strong residual values.

Cost-conscious, practical and desirable motoring topped the awards criteria. The Fleet News panel cited the new Clubman model as key to the appeal of MINI for business car drivers, with one judge claiming: “There is no other car in the sector that drivers would like to have more.”

MINI’s new range of Hatch and Clubman models shot to prominence in 2007 thanks to technologies based on BMW’s EfficientDynamics systems. With carbon emissions-based taxation a key factor in this week’s Budget announcement, many MINI owners could now actually find themselves in a stronger financial position.

Emitting just 104 and 109g/km C02 respectively, the MINI Cooper D Hatch and Clubman models will be exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty as of 01 April 2009 under the Budget ruling. This follows earlier news from Transport for London that from October 2008, cars emitting less than 120g/km C02 will be exempt from congestion charging.

Company car tax thresholds have also been revised and the Cooper D derivatives are again winners, thanks to the income tax rate cut and reduced 13 per cent taxation on diesel cars emitting less than 120g/km C02.

The Fleet News Environmental Award was claimed by BMW Group. This award recognises the fleet industry’s commitment to reducing its impact on the environment. EfficientDynamics developments, available across BMW and MINI products, positioned BMW Group as the clear winner in a hard-fought category.

22 BMW derivatives and 5 MINI models now emit less than 140g/km C02. From April 2009 every one of these sub-140g/km cars will fall in to VED band E or lower, meaning owners will then pay a maximum of £115 for their annual road fund licence.

MINI UK is to showcase the best in future movie-making talent by screening a series of original short films in British cinemas. The four-month campaign featuring films supplied by the global short film label, Future Shorts, begins in art house cinemas on 07 March 2008, and will spread to every major cinema chain across the UK later in April.

Screenings of the short films will take place prior to key feature length movies and more than 17.5 million people are expected to see one of the short film productions.

MINI worked with short film label specialist Future Shorts in the search for film-making talent. From a long list of up-and-coming directors and producers, three stood out and their work will be shown between March and June of 2008. ‘Procrastination’ by Levni Yilmaz, ‘Park Football’ by Grant Orchard and ‘Neighbour’ by Eric Lynne will all receive big screen debuts.

Ysabel Vazquez, National Communications Manager for MINI, said:

The launch campaign for the MINI Clubman was all about celebrating originality and as such we are delighted to be able to give a big screen platform to fresh, creative short film talent.

Future Shorts Director, Fabien Riggall said:

MINI has continuously broken new ground with its commitment to innovation and Future Shorts is delighted to be working with them on this project.

Video presentations of the MINI John Cooper Works and Clubman have been released by BMW/MINI.

We’re showing four of the videos below, courtesy of video hosting site YouTube, the first, main feature video shows the John Cooper Works MINI and John Cooper Works MINI Clubman playing on the track, and features and impressive soundtrack from the twin exhausts of the cars.

The following videos are more subdued, showing the design details, exterior and interior, of the two new models.

MINI John Cooper Works & Clubman

MINI John Cooper Works

MINI John Cooper Works Clubman

MINI John Cooper Works Clubman Interior

MINI Clubman has been on sale for less than a month and is proving a huge hit with the British public, contributing to a record November total of 4,104 new MINI registrations. In many UK dealerships MINI Clubman allocations were quickly snapped up, leaving the car sold out into 2008. Bumper sales meant MINI enjoyed its largest ever share of the UK market last month, at 2.59 per cent. November was the third record sales month for MINI in 2007.

Nearly 3,000 orders have been placed for a new MINI Clubman. A combination of unique style, performance and low cost of ownership has evidently hit home with UK customers.

Engines combining performance with fuel efficiency and low carbon emissions feature across the MINI Clubman line-up. Auto Start-Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration and a Gearshift Point Indicator are standard on all variants and help the MINI Cooper D Clubman achieve a low emissions figure of 109 g/km CO2.

That impressive figure will surely have resonated with buyers based in London. With Transport for London expected to announce changes in 2008 legislation rewarding cars with low CO2 emissions, a MINI Cooper D Clubman is likely to be exempt from the dreaded Congestion Charge. With MINI, grin-inducing driving will be a reality in Britain’s capital city.

Performance and efficiency figures are equally remarkable across the range. The popular MINI Cooper can return 51.4 mpg and emits just 132 g/km CO2. Its sporty brother, the MINI Cooper S, achieves 44.8 mpg and 150 g/km CO2.

The BMW Group’s MINI Plants at Oxford, Swindon and Hams Hall are now at full capacity in the mid-term. This UK Production Triangle is now aiming for record production of 260,000 MINIs in 2008.

To ensure flexibility and optimum performance at the home of MINI production in the UK, and to bring the forthcoming MINI SAV to market as quickly as possible, BMW Group has announced that production of the exciting new model will be undertaken by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria.

Official MINI Press release (slightly belated, apologies!)….. 

The 2008 MINI Clubman, an all-new addition to the MINI model line, has recently made its North American debut at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, bowing to the audience most unconventionally, with its rear-end first! With a little more room in the back and an innovative door configuration, the eagerly anticipated MINI Clubman defies convention in its concept and style. This all new addition to the MINI family will go on sale in the US February 16th, 2008 as both a Cooper and a Cooper S model. The MINI Cooper Clubman will be offerd with a MSRP of $20,600, while the MINI Cooper S Clubman will come with a MSRP of $24,100. Both prices include a $650 Destination charge.

The MINI Clubman paves the way into a totally-new market segment, offering new opportunities for the MINI brand and showcasing, yet again, MINI’s leadership in the premium small car segment. With its hallmark design elements, the MINI Clubman is clearly a MINI from every angle. Yet it is the MINI Clubman’s unique rear-end design and new proportions that distinguish it from other members of the MINI family and make it unlike anything else on the road today.

Compelling Design and Five Doors in a Brand-New Configuration.
MINI is well known for its combination of successful attributes - a truly unique design; agile driving characteristics; premium quality; a high level of safety; a wide range of customization options, and outstanding efficiency. Now the all-new MINI Clubman offers another compelling attribute - an additional 9.45 inches in body length and wheelbase extended by 3.15 inches that helps create more space in the rear legroom area. What makes the MINI Clubman truly unique is its innovative five door configuration with the conventional driver’s and front passenger’s door supplemented by an additional rear-hinged door on the right-hand side of the car and the two split-rear doors in the back.

The MINI Clubman extends an open welcome to rear-seat passengers with the “Clubdoor”, a rather ingenious door configuration on the right side of the vehicle. The Clubdoor swings open in the opposing direction relative to the main passenger door to dramatically increase the access to the rear seating area. Behind the front seats, the new MINI Clubman offers remarkable rear seating comfort and flexible use of space. Rear seat passengers now enjoy 3.15 inches more legroom compared to the MINI hardtop. Without an exterior handle, the Clubdoor is integrated unobtrusively into the body design of the MINI Clubman and for safety, can only be opened with the adjoining front door open. The MINI Clubman comes to the US in a four passenger configuration.

The split-rear doors at the back of the MINI Clubman are another unique design element of the MINI Clubman and open up to offer easy and convenient access for larger parcels and equipment such as sports gear. In addition to increased functionality, the split-rear doors represent a modern interpretation of an authentic detail seen on MINI’s classic forerunners. The rear doors are further highlighted with the C-pillars painted in a contrasting silver or black finish. Inside, the generous luggage compartment may be further extended with a flexible rear seat configuration, offering very easy and convenient loading options thanks to the two rear doors.

The MINI Clubman is the modern successor to the legendary classics Morris Mini Traveller, Austin Mini Countryman, and Mini Clubman Estate. However, the MINI Clubman retains all the functionality, handling and performance characteristics that one expects in a thoroughly modern MINI.

Enhanced Function With MINI Performance and Driving Characteristics.
MINI has developed the new MINI Clubman specifically for the active and passionate individualist wishing to consciously stand out. The MINI Clubman retains its sporting character, while offering new and flexible options in interior use and practical value. Despite its slightly longer proportions the MINI Clubman retains MINI’s typical “wheels at the four corners” stance and the car’s driving characteristics still offer the legendary go-kart feeling unique to MINI.

The MINI Clubman will be available in the U.S. with two different engines:
* Powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with twin-scroll turbocharger, direct gasoline injection and maximum output of 175 hp at an engine speed of 5,500 rpm, the MINI Cooper S Clubman offers the highest level of performance.
* The MINI Cooper Clubman, benefiting from its 1.6-liter four-cylinder developing 120 hp at 6,600 rpm and featuring fully variable valve management, offers impressive performance and economy.

More Than 40 Color Combinations for the Individualist
Motoring in a MINI is more than just getting from A to B - it is an expression of ones’ lifestyle - a genuine attitude towards life. In particular, it is the focus on the enjoyment and experience of driving combined with an appreciation of powerful, trendsetting design. The MINI Clubman offers the enthusiast even greater options in personalizing his or her style, with more than 40 combinations of the exterior paintwork alone. Add to that the full compliment of options and features and the possible combinations a MINI Clubman can be configured becomes almost limitless.

Credit goes to MINI2 forum member hein, who Yesterday posted up  these photographs of the MINI Challenge 2008 safety car, which just happens to be an exclusive MINI Clubman.  Is that the coolest safety car ever seen?  Beats a mundane Merc for sure!

MINI UK are inviting people in London to learn a new skill during their lunch hours. “The Other Lunch Break” (see what they’ve done there) campaign, which has been created by experiential agency Momentum and starts tomorrow, runs twice a week for five weeks in London.MINI says it wants to resurrect the lunchtime tradition of getting out of the office, citing a survey from YouGov that claims one in five UK workers no longer takes a lunch break.

Advertising manager Ysabel Vazquez said:

Mini is all about making even the most boring journey a little bit more enjoyable. The Other Lunch Break is designed to extend that idea into the seldom-taken daily ritual – the much-needed lunch break.

The first event is called “Think You Can Beat A Lie Detector?” and sees the UK’s only husband-and-wife polygraph testers challenge people to beat a lie-detector test. Other events include “Spy School”, “Meet the Parents… The Rehearsals” and “Bruce Lee for Beginners”.