MINI2

According to reports, the MINI colour palette is to be updated this summer (July to be precise) following customer feedback that the current range is just ‘too blue’ and a little on the bland side.

As is usually the case, some existing colours are being forfeited in order to make way for the three new colours that will be available across the MINI range. The new colours will be: Kumquat Orange, which replaces Nightfire Red, Sweet Lime (replacing the previously ever present, but rather dull, British Racing Green) and Pink Grapefruit, which arrives in place of Sparkling Silver.

BMW head of colour and vibrancy Dr. Töricht said:

MINI should be a vibrant brand, and we recognise, based on customer feedback, that maybe we had become a little dull and unadventurous with our colour palette. These three new “Citrus” colours will add something different, something fruity and fun to the MINI that perhaps has been lacking until now, we are sure they will be a great hit.
We appreciate that replacing traditional British Racing Green with our exciting new Lime Green may leave a bitter taste in the mouths of some of our British customers, but we’d rather have sour than dour, and we’re sure that they’ll appreciate that being a German brand having British Racing Green among the colour options was a little uncomfortable.

In other news, BMW have released a press statement about their new protection system for Alloy wheels. We trust this clever technology will eventually appear on the MINI range too:

BMW’s Canine Repellent Alloy Protection

The latest innovation to stop foul play on the street

BMW has announced the first details of the new Canine Repellent Alloy Protection system. Designed to stop dogs fouling against the sparkling alloys of new BMW cars, the innovative Canine Repellent Alloy Protection system (C.R.A.P.) is the latest offering in the BMW EfficientDynamics programme.

Using the EfficientDynamics Brake Energy Regeneration system, energy that would normally have been lost during engine over-run and during braking is harnessed as Rim Impulse Power (R.I.P.) and stored for future use. Whenever a dog tries to relieve itself on the wheel of a suitably-equipped BMW, a small and relatively painless electric shock is immediately administered to the animal, thus deterring it from future fouling.

Dr Hans Zoff, Head of Automotive Security from BMW AG, said; “Research shows that most BMW customers like to keep their cars clean and dog fouling is a constant irritant. Not only does the Canine Repellent Alloy Protection system support this aim, but it does so using energy created through the EfficientDynamics programme. Beauty through engineering perfection – our philosophy in a wheel nut.”

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.

That’s according to a press release just put out by the BMW group, which as a whole had a successful 2007.

Sales of the MINI showed strong growth with the retail sales volume rising by 18.5% to 222,875 units (2006: 188,077 units), while BMW brand cars saw a relatively small (but still significant) 7.7%.

At the other end of the scale, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars achieved a four-figure annual sales volume for the first time ever, handing over 1,010 vehicles to customers during 2007.

On the eco angle, more than 450,000 BMW and MINI brand cars equipped with EfficientDynamics had been sold by the end of 2007 and by the end of the current year this figure is expected to rise to over 800,000 vehicles.

As with the original MINI, the second generation MINI will soon be due a nip and tuck, a mid life facelift and refresh. Rumours suggest that the facelift for the second generation car may be more dramatic than we saw first time around, and we’d like to know what you would like to happen.

The first MINI facelift took place after three years of release, in the summer of 2004. Changes were cosmetic as well as mechanical across the range, but to the untrained eye, very little changed. Most of the exterior and interior changes involved plastic or clip-on components. The bumpers, grilles, lights, and other ‘easy to change’ parts were updated to match the new look of the MINI Convertible.

Apparently with the second generation this pattern will continue, with the Convertible leading the way for hard top changes. However, we’ve heard that sheet metal changes, as well as the previous bolt ons, will be updated this time around, suggesting perhaps a more dramatic (while still in no way a full ‘generation change’) update will take place this time around.

We’d like to know, what cosmetic, and perhaps subtle mechanical changes would you make to the second generation MINI to make it appeal more to you as a MINI enthusiast?

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

Dates for MTTS 2008

Although nothing is official until announced by MINIUSA, rumor has it the return of MTTS will be the following dates and locations:

Miami, FL. June 13-15.

Boston, MA. June 20-22

          *MINIs on Top June 27-29

          *Mini Meet East July 3-6

Chicago, IL. July 11-13

Los Angeles, CA. July 18-20

It’s been an open secret for a while now that MTTS 2 was going to be four regional events, vice a wild cross country adventure like the first one in 2006. Ah, that was fun! The best way to experience MTTS in 2006 was to buy a GP, opt for early delivery in Monterey, then enjoy Mr Toad’s wild ride across the USA!

But this time, it may be even better, and here’s why: the dates chosen allow someone to start at the Miami kick off, take a leisurely drive along the Atlantic coast, maybe visiting Savannah to see the end of Sherman’s March. You could take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Virginia, a marvel of engineering. Stop in Atlantic City and win enough money for a tank of gas. Do a little shopping in NYC. Then before you know it, it’s time for the second part in Boston!

But to continue your MINI adventure, the weekend after Boston, it’s time for MINIs on Top! This is one of the largest MINI events in the US, I have attended it twice. Every year it’s bigger and better, and this year it’s bracketed by MTTS Boston and the following weekend is Mini Meet East! Although MME is aimed mainly at the classic Mini, they welcome MINIs too.

After gorging on MINI and Mini sights, then it’s on to the third station, Chicago! We don’t know what MINIUSA has planned, but it has to include hot dogs and pizza, and maybe a trip to Al Capone’s vault?

And now for the best part! Remember a song about a road that “winds from Chicago to LA, more than two thousand miles all the way, get your kicks …” YES! You can drive historic Route 66 to LA, the last stop of MTTS!

Now is that a cool way to spend your summer vacation or what?

 Thanks to Barry of MC2 magazine for being a gossip and to Ian Cull for the MoT and MME information.

• Engine modifications deliver 211hp and 0-62 in 6.5 seconds
• Engine, brakes, suspension settings and transmission adapted from MINI CHALLENGE race car
• Dynamic Traction Control makes MINI debut
• Full range of John Cooper Works body styling products available
• On-the-road prices expected to be £20,500 for the JCW Hatch and Clubman at £21,700
• New speedo design to accommodate the higher maximum speed

Production of John Cooper Works-tuned cars is all set to resume at MINI’s Plant Oxford after the launch of the second-generation MINI Cooper S Hatch and new MINI Cooper S Clubman. From July 2008, customers will be able to order factory-built MINIs that produce 211hp and complete a 0-62mph sprint in 6.5 seconds.

Motor sport has heavily influenced the engineering and development of these new MINIs that feature a larger twin-scroll turbocharger and direct petrol injection with common rail. The four-cylinder engine has had the same modifications as the MINI CHALLENGE race car, along with re-engineered brakes, suspension and strengthened gearing. Each upgrade combines to give the car a remarkable output of 132hp per litre combined with 40mpg.

Expected prices on-the-road are £20,500 for the MINI John Cooper Works and £21,700 for the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman. The cars will be unveiled for the first time to the public at the International Geneva Motor Show in March.

Engine

The engine specially developed for the MINI CHALLENGE race car is fitted to the MINI John Cooper Works cars. The basic unit is the 1.6 litre power plant supplied in the standard MINI Cooper S, but modifications have been made to the air filter, air mass meter, exhaust system and catalyst. Air supply to the modified larger turbocharger is increased through fitment of a larger air intake pipe, which in turn creates a quicker induction phase.

The Works engines from Hams Hall also come with reinforced, specially polished pistons, as well as a strengthened cylinder head for optimised stability and a modified cylinder gasket. The intake valves and valve seat rings have also been upgraded with stronger and more resistant materials. This reduces the engine’s compression ratio.

The new Sports exhaust system is instantly recognisable through the large polished stainless steel twin tailpipes. Modification of the exhaust system has also helped to reduce counter-pressure at the point of exhaust gas recirculation. Ducts in the exhaust manifold and turbocharger are split between two cylinders each. Congestion is therefore minimised when air is inducted to the turbocharger and “turbo lag” is virtually eliminated.

The John Cooper Works MINIs are the first models in the range to fulfil all the requirements of the European EU5 emission standards that come into force in 2009.

The material used in machining the turbine has been upgraded specifically for the Works engine, with maximum charge pressure increased from 0.9 to 1.3 bar, in order to maintain the highest possible temperature for a longer period in the combustion chambers. This lengthening of the combustion process helps to achieve the higher torque curve of the Works car at 260Nm at just 1,850rpm. The Overboost function briefly extends this further to 280Nm. This suits the character of a John Cooper Works car perfectly as Overboost is experienced exclusively through increased torque, not on engine output.

Safety and Driving Dynamics

MINI has always had sophisticated driving stability systems as standard. These include ABS Brakes, EBD Electronic Brake Force Distribution, CBC Cornering Brake Control, EDL Electronic Differential Lock, as well as DSC Dynamic Stability Control and Hill Assist. For the first time, DTC Dynamic Traction Control is added to the list.

DTC allows controlled slip on the drive wheels. For example, on a slippery surface, the driver can pick up speed in a controlled manner with the front wheels spinning slightly. When reaching the upper limit, DSC will intervene as usual. But the driver can deactivate the DSC/DTC systems if he wishes by the touch of a button.

In the DSC-off mode, the standard Electronic Differential Lock can be activated and controls cornering at higher speeds. If one wheel loses grip, drive is transferred to the wheel with better grip promoting the car’s traction and pulling force.

Chassis

The Sports Suspension has been specifically tuned for the Works models. However, even greater chassis rigidity can be achieved by ordering through dealerships the John Cooper Works suspension that lowers the entire car by 10mm.

Extra-large disc brakes adorned with uprated red callipers are fitted to Works cars. In addition, inner-vented discs are positioned behind the front wheels. The front discs are 17” in diameter while the rear set measure 16”. The brake discs are approximately 22mm larger than on the standard Cooper S.

Interior

The options included as standard on the John Cooper Works include a leather sports steering wheel, air-conditioning, interior trim in glossy Piano Black and an Anthracite roof lining.

An upgraded sound system is also included in the JCW package and features 10 speakers and an eight-channel amplifier for increased aural pleasure. For the first time, the MINI speedo has been increased to 160mph on the dial to accommodate the higher maximum speed of the JCW.

The six-speed manual gearbox has been strengthened to handle the powerful new engine.

The standard Sports button, located in front of the gear stick, activates a bespoke engine control map which produces even more dynamic performance and sharper steering response.

Exterior

The Works MINIs come with exclusive 17” light-alloy wheels in JCW Cross-Spoke CHALLENGE design, shod with Run-flat tyres, and weigh less than 10 kilos each.

The Works models can be identified by the newly-designed John Cooper Works logo on the boot and grille and wheels, as well as on the door trim.

Here’s another bit of old(ish) news for you while waiting patiently for the John Cooper Works information to be released just a smidge after midnight UK time.

Again, it’s a BMW press release, so may be a little BMW centric, but does include a lot of positive information on the BMW group’s efficient dynamics programme and the effect it is having on the group’s CO2 emission ratings.

BMW reduced actual output of CO2 emissions last year at a faster rate than other manufacturers, highlighting the practical benefit of the company’s wide reaching EfficientDynamics strategy.

According to respected UK automotive magazine Autocar, BMW performed best, reducing CO2 output in 2007 by 24,879 tonnes, closely followed by MINI which reduced CO2 output by 23,617 tonnes.

Combined, BMW and MINI cut total CO2 emissions in the UK by over 48,000 tonnes, accounting for almost 50 per cent of the total reduction by the entire industry.

The magazine calculated the reduction of CO2 emissions of each manufacturer’s models between 2006 and 2007 and then multiplied that by the number of cars sold and an average usage of 16,000km to calculate total CO2 savings.
Average CO2 emissions for BMW vehicles in the UK dropped from 190.3 g/km to 177.6 g/k whilst MINI emissions fell from 178.2 g/km to 147.3 g/km.

According to the magazine,

some makers have a real challenge to cut CO2 by as much as BMW has.

At the heart of every BMW is our commitment to extracting maximum driving pleasure from a minimum of fuel, while reducing CO2 emissions

said Tom Noble, General Manager Marketing, BMW Group Australia.

BMW’s EfficientDynamics strategy has been lauded previously for its widespread contribution to reducing emissions.

Last year BMW was honoured with the ‘Green Award’ by UK-based CAR magazine in its annual Car of the Year awards.

Beating competition from other manufacturers including those with hybrid models, BMW received top honours for its EfficientDynamics programme because its ‘green measures are simple, widespread and hugely beneficial’.

What Car? Magazine has also commended BMW’s EfficientDynamics programme. The publication’s end of year roundup entitled ‘Green Heroes’ looked at 45 ‘planet saving cars’ you can buy today. Between BMW and MINI, the firm’s products were the best buy choice for six models and a recommended choice with four more models. By comparison no other premium manufacturer came close in terms of offering a wide range of economical, low emission vehicles.

EfficientDynamics has also helped BMW win other prestigious awards.

The first ever ‘Green Steering Wheel’ award for environmental excellence in the automotive industry was presented to BMW by Bild am Sonntag, Germany’s best-selling newspaper.