Motor Authority - blog Tag: MINI Cooper

Borrowing a page out of parent company BMW's playbook, MINI's "Wash Me" art car video shows off the latest batch of art cars from the MINI lineup. BMW has long been known for its art cars, and the latest push, complete with a book based around these art cars, is to give MINI that same sort of history.

By using the MINI as a canvas, 10 different artists present 10 different takes on what an art car should be--and what a radically custom MINI paint job can look like.

Playing on the theme of casual art drawn in dirty cars, the "Wash Me" video shows how a single car can express many different themes, depending on the personality of the artist....

Borrowing a page out of parent company BMW's playbook, MINI's "Wash Me" art car video shows off the latest batch of art cars from the MINI lineup. BMW has long been known for its art cars, and the latest push, complete with a book based around these art cars, is to give MINI that same sort of history. By using the MINI as a canvas, 10 different artists present 10 different takes on what an art car should be--and what a radically custom MINI paint job can look like. Playing on the theme of casual art drawn in dirty cars, the "Wash Me" video shows how a single car can express many different themes, depending on the personality of the artist. If the car, or the art, catches your eye, you can get the book at your local outlet now. [MINISpace] Read More

We already know the MINI Coupe Concept will be coming to the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show as a potential production vehicle if the reception proves favorable enough, but this is the first video offering us a look into the car's design and features, inside and out. Guiding the tour is the head of MINI's design team.

As expected, styling inside the MINI Coupe Concept is pure MINI, right down to the giant, centrally-mounted speedometer and tachometer gauges. The bright spot in many an enthusiast's eye is no doubt the proud-standing manual shifter, a must-have feature to wring the most out of the peppy little turbocharged 1.6-liter engine.

Another...

We already know the MINI Coupe Concept will be coming to the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show as a potential production vehicle if the reception proves favorable enough, but this is the first video offering us a look into the car's design and features, inside and out. Guiding the tour is the head of MINI's design team. As expected, styling inside the MINI Coupe Concept is pure MINI, right down to the giant, centrally-mounted speedometer and tachometer gauges. The bright spot in many an enthusiast's eye is no doubt the proud-standing manual shifter, a must-have feature to wring the most out of the peppy little turbocharged 1.6-liter engine. Another benefit of the video is to give us a range of angles and shots of the roof, which has so far proven highly controversial, based on reader response. Though it continues to look somewhat awkward from some angles, the combination of rear spoiler and curved window surround do look more natural in a pure profile shot, and from behind and below as well, hinting that the shape may simply be one that is more easily appreciated in person than in photographs. Perhaps the coolest tidbit to extract from this video is the reasoning behind the color scheme: the blue and gold matches Cooper-Climax driver and 1959 Formula 1 Driver's Championship winner Jack Brabham's trademark blue overalls and gold helmet. Read More

The 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show is now just about two weeks away, and Mini in particular is ramping up to do the show in style. On Wednesday, the company revealed its new Coupe concept, and today a sketch of the Roadster that's expected to join it on the German show stage has leaked.

The Roadster has been expected for some time now, and the latest image, sourced via InsideLine, reveals that its appearance is remarkably close to the rendering we brought you back in June, which you can also see below.

August 26 was the actual 50th anniversary of the Mini brand, and to celebrate the occasion, Mini revealed its upcoming two-seater coupe concept,...

The 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show is now just about two weeks away, and Mini in particular is ramping up to do the show in style. On Wednesday, the company revealed its new Coupe concept, and today a sketch of the Roadster that's expected to join it on the German show stage has leaked. The Roadster has been expected for some time now, and the latest image, sourced via InsideLine, reveals that its appearance is remarkably close to the rendering we brought you back in June, which you can also see below. August 26 was the actual 50th anniversary of the Mini brand, and to celebrate the occasion, Mini revealed its upcoming two-seater coupe concept, to be officially unveiled at Frankfurt. The coupe is based on the same 211-horsepower turbocharged mechanical underpinnings as the John Cooper Works Mini for an added dash of sportiness, and while the roadster's running gear hasn't been disclosed, it's likely to get similar treatment. Neither the Coupe nor the Roadster have yet been officially announced for production - that will come at Frankfurt at the earliest - but the news accompanying the leaked sketch today indicates both cars will see global sale in 2011. Read More

Sometimes an idea comes along and it's so simple it makes you wonder why no one thought of it before. Other times the idea is so obvious you wonder why anyone would need to think it. We're not sure which category the Mini Roadside Assistance App falls into, but it's the first of its kind.

If it seems like it'd be at least as easy to store the roadside assistance number in your contacts list, you're ahead of the game. The app does offer some extra functionality, however, possibly saving you precious minutes in an emergency situation.

The app, available free to Mini owners, not only dials the roadside assistance line, but also transmits key...

Sometimes an idea comes along and it's so simple it makes you wonder why no one thought of it before. Other times the idea is so obvious you wonder why anyone would need to think it. We're not sure which category the Mini Roadside Assistance App falls into, but it's the first of its kind. If it seems like it'd be at least as easy to store the roadside assistance number in your contacts list, you're ahead of the game. The app does offer some extra functionality, however, possibly saving you precious minutes in an emergency situation. The app, available free to Mini owners, not only dials the roadside assistance line, but also transmits key data including details about the vehicle and its exact GPS-provided location. That can help Mini get exactly the right assistance to you as quickly as possible. “MINI owners appreciate technological innovation and will welcome the additional peace of mind that comes from having fast, easy access to the free roadside services provided during their warranty period,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President MINI USA. All owners need to do is download it to their phones and follow the on-screen setup instructions, which includes inputting the vehicle's VIN number and the owner's details. Then, when assistance is needed, the user just launches the app and presses the 'call' button. Admittedly, while this is the first use of a GPS-enabled phone application for these purposes, similar functionality can be found in many in-car systems, including GM's OnStar and Lexus's Enform. For more details on how the app works, check out the video below. Read More

Just weeks after celebrating Mini’s 50th birthday, another milestone was reached today as the 1.5 millionth car rolled off the Oxford production line, since the launch of the new generation Mini back in 2001. BMW CEO Ian Robertson as well as British politician Ian Lucas were on hand to see the 1.5th millionth model roll off the line, the particular car being a Chili Red Mini Clubman that’s destined to go to a customer in the UK.

Since production of the new generation model started in 2001, Mini has become a global phenomenon, winning awards all over the world and is now sold in more than 80 countries, with its most recent... Just weeks after celebrating Mini’s 50th birthday, another milestone was reached today as the 1.5 millionth car rolled off the Oxford production line, since the launch of the new generation Mini back in 2001. BMW CEO Ian Robertson as well as British politician Ian Lucas were on hand to see the 1.5th millionth model roll off the line, the particular car being a Chili Red Mini Clubman that’s destined to go to a customer in the UK. Since production of the new generation model started in 2001, Mini has become a global phenomenon, winning awards all over the world and is now sold in more than 80 countries, with its most recent launch in Brazil. Furthermore, in the 41 years between 1959 and 2000 5.3 million classic Minis were built, so the total when combined with new generation Mini volume is 6.8 million cars. Mini’s parent company BMW has invested more than £380 million ($614 million) in its Oxford plant since 2001 and a further £100 million ($161 million) in the Hams Hall and Swindon plants, which make up the Mini production triangle in the UK. The operation employs more than 7,000 people and its activities account for an impressive 1% of the UK’s entire GDP. Read More

What was previously just a rumor and then confirmed in late May has now become official: the Mini John Cooper Works (JCW) World Championship 50 special edition. The car was unveiled at its 50th anniversary celebrations a few weeks ago, revealing a new special-edition Mini to mark the event as well as the achievements of John Cooper in the Formula 1 World Championships back in 1959 and 1960.

The limited-run vehicle will be sold exclusively in British Racing Green, or Connaught Green, as it's known to Mini – just like the original race cars - and is based around the same core as the JCW edition currently on sale. Incidentally, it was... What was previously just a rumor and then confirmed in late May has now become official: the Mini John Cooper Works (JCW) World Championship 50 special edition. The car was unveiled at its 50th anniversary celebrations a few weeks ago, revealing a new special-edition Mini to mark the event as well as the achievements of John Cooper in the Formula 1 World Championships back in 1959 and 1960. The limited-run vehicle will be sold exclusively in British Racing Green, or Connaught Green, as it's known to Mini – just like the original race cars - and is based around the same core as the JCW edition currently on sale. Incidentally, it was Sir Jack Brabham that won back-to-back titles at the wheel of the JCW Coopers, taking eleven race wins during these two seasons. The latest car is called the ‘World Championship 50’ and it was just one of three special edition models unveiled at the Mini United 2009 event in Silverstone over the anniversary weekend in May. The other cars were the Beatles ‘Magical Mystery Tour' Cooper S and the Mayfair and Camden editions. As for the World Championship 50, no performance mods have been installed, which means the familiar 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder from the regular JCW model with 208hp (155kW) and 192lb-ft (260Nm) of torque remains nestled under the hood. Standard features include Alcantara trim on the steering wheel, carbon fiber hood scoop, rear diffuser, mirror caps and tailgate handle, white racing stripes, leather trim with black and red piping, Bluetooth connectivity, a Harman Kardon stereo system, 17in alloy wheels, and bi-xenon headlights. Just 250 of the cars will be built, making this one of the most limited Mini editions yet.Beatles ‘Magical Mystery Tour' Cooper SMini Camden and Mayfair 50th Anniversary special editionsMini JCW World Championship 50 Read More