[ezrally]

Two articles in the mag this week (9/23) on the S. The art director girl tried to avoid a deer and ended up crashing with a tree crushing the roof in. Good job!
MINI told them it was the first "incident" of one with the airbags going off and they rambled how safe it was.
Not sure if the article and pics are on Autweeks website or not.

[AlanB]

Got my latest edition of Autoweek to see a "totaled" MCS inside!!! Cheryl Blahnik, Assistant Art Director for Autoweek, files a one page story about her unfortunate accident (avoiding a deer!) in her brand new Mini Cooper S (Chili Red/White). She was unhurt, but the MCS took a beating! I feel I purchased the right car! I would like to see an SUV survive the drubbing her car took! Must read!
P.S. Also an MCS owner compares a long trip with kid and stuff in Mazda MPV and MCS!

[shannon]

Mini Tale: Mini Meets Tree
The deer lived, I broke a nail, but the tree is really hurting...


By CHERYL L. BLAHNIK


The Mini's engine is designed to slide under the footwell in heavy head-on collisions.
SITTING IN THE POLICE car’s back seat, I lifted my head and found my face bathed in red as lights flashed. An officer shined his flashlight on my face and told an EMT I was bleeding. He asked if I broke anything. I showed them my index finger and said, “a nail.” They couldn’t believe I was unharmed, especially in such a small car—the smallest car on sale in the United States.

The night had been going well: Left work with keys to a new Mini Cooper S and tickets to the Detroit Tigers game in my pocket. After the game (the Tigers won!) I set out for home. Weary of the highway I drive daily, I decided on a back road route. The roads are in good condition and include lots of twists and hills. I just wanted a change of pace.

The drive was great. There were no cars in sight and it was a clear, moonless night. I gunned the Mini S, anxious to see how the supercharged engine responded. I felt it surge and knew I was speeding, so I braked—I didn’t want to get a ticket. Cresting a hill at about 60 mph, a set of eyes—big, tall eyes—in the middle of the road stared at me. I didn’t have time to think but reacted on instinct; I swerved left, avoiding a deer and somehow missing a ditch. I managed to get back in the middle of the road but was losing control.






I turned the wheel left and right in a desperate effort to recover. I thought the Mini was going to roll. I’ve never been so scared in my life. To its credit the car remained upright, and I thank Mini engineers for outfitting it with every driver and safety aid under the sun: ABS, traction control, stability control and six airbags.

The latter was important because, even with all that help, I lost the battle with physics and ended up back in the right lane but heading into a ravine. The Mini ripped through the foliage and small trees that usually make this route so pleasing of a commute. I don’t remember the tree or the huge impact when I hit it. I knew I hit something, though: The front airbags deployed. I don’t remember hearing any sounds; none from the airbags, none from the impact. I didn’t even realize the tree split and fell on the Mini, crushing the roof.

Police and emergency crews were on the scene in minutes. After I was examined, the police officer pointed out the tree. Wow. Had it fallen differently, I may not have survived. I still can’t believe I came out of it uninjured.



Mini says this is the first known Cooper S airbag deployment in the United States. Thankfully, our assistant art director suffered only minor bumps and bruises.


The next day I took photos of the car and e-mailed them to work. The consensus was amazement. (Editor’s note: And relief, Cheryl. We didn’t want to have to replace our assistant art director.) The photos were then forwarded to Mini—this turned out to be the first U.S. airbag “incident” with a Cooper S; they were relieved for my safety, but also interested in how the car performed. During the e-mail exchange they quoted a company engineer: “The Mini gives its life to protect the life of the occupants.”

That’s by design, and it is testimony to the measures BMW engineers took, knowing that safety would be a chief concern among those buying such a tiny car. If the car hadn’t given its life, I would’ve suffered more than just a couple of burns (from the airbag) and bruises. I might have seen those flashing lights all the way to the hospital, if I’d seen them at all. —Mac Morrison contributed to this story

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[shannon]

there are pitcures for this go to www.autoweek.com

[Colorado "S"]

Direct links to the articles

Mini Tale: Mini Meets Tree







Mini (Van) Tale: Mini Meets Minivan

[oldcrow]

check the web site, the mashed mini is on the front page

www.autoweek.com

[rich]

Lucky girl... Good MINI

[msenkbeil]

What a weird article! Why not do a side-by-side with the new Beetle and a Ford Expedition while you're at it? I guess they needed something to fill up the space next to their crashed MINI headline.

[eBrit]

Quote:

“The Mini gives its life to protect the life of the occupants.”

What a great safety / design philosphy.,

eBrit

[Paul]

This topic has come again recently in a few places, so I'm just replying to bump this original thread to the top.