This feed contains the latest All feed items for the MINI manufacturer. http://www.motortorque.com/ Copyright 2013 MotorTorque All Rights Reserved. Mon, 03 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss Automotive Website Framework Engine (2.9.1208.1803) Mini is extending the availability of its All4 range by introducing all-wheel-drive models to its Countryman and Paceman line-ups. The new All4 availability means there are now ten all-wheel drive models available in the Mini range. With all-wheel-drive availability the new Mini models will come with the obvious advantage of better traction and stability on the road, especially when it comes to adverse weather conditions like snow. Each of the new All4 models comes fitted with a six-speed manual transmission as standard, although there is a six-speed automatic available as an option. The new Mini Cooper Countryman All4 and Mini Cooper Paceman All4 both come equipped with a 1.6-litre petrol engine that produces 122bhp. The Countryman All4 can reach the 62mph mark in 11.9 seconds, whereas the Paceman All4 model makes the sprint in 11.8 seconds. These times are ever so slightly reduced if specified with the automatic gearbox. Prices for the two-wheel drive Mini Cooper Countryman and Mini Cooper Paceman start from £18,065 and £18,975 respectively. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/mini-extends-four-wheel-drive-model-range-22417.aspx Richard Bush Mon, 03 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT If you have bought a MINI or are interested in buying a MINI model then this new online service could be music to your ears. The integration of the streaming service provided by music-on-demand specialist Deezer as part of MINI Connected allows Apple iPhone owners to create their ultimate driving playlist from Deezer's 25 million strong track list. The Deezer app is available free of charge from the Apple app store and has been modified to make it "MINI Connected ready" and convenient to use inside any MINI with the MINI Connected option. To use the Deezer app on-board then the car must be fitted with the Radio MINI Visual Boost or the MINI navigation system to be able to use the service. In addition, the customer must have booked the option MINI Connected. Online connection via iPhone then provides access to a virtually unlimited audio program from the web during travel. This new service supplements others already available, such as the MINI Connected web radio function, apps for AUPEO!, Stitcher, Facebook, Twitter and foursquare, Google Search and Send to car, the ability to receive RSS newsfeeds and to use iPhone calendar functions. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/25-million-in-car-car-tracks-available-on-mini-connected-22369.aspx Simon McBride Wed, 29 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT With a new, sporty design, lowered suspension and an exciting reinterpretation of a familiar interior, Mini presents its all-new Paceman model. The Mini Paceman is styled as a coupe interpretation of the well-loved Countryman model. Five versions of the Paceman will be available from launch, including the Mini Cooper S Paceman, which manages to race through the 0-62mph sprint in just 7.5 seconds. The Mini Paceman will become the seventh unique member of the British automotive marquee, following on from the Hatch, Clubman, Convertible, Countryman, Coupe and Roadster vehicles. The all-new Paceman is jam-packed with the character and design cues that tie the motor to the rest of the Mini range, with the three-door vehicle's unique exterior styling what immediately catches our attention. Featuring a contemporary and expressive body shape, Mini has created the Paceman to appeal to the new breed of design-conscious customers - with dynamic curved surfaces providing the promise of sporting performance, yet the overall form of the car has an elegant simplicity. Customers of the Mini Paceman will be provided with the choice of four powerful, four cylinder engines: two petrol and two diesels. All models of the Paceman come with a six speed manual gearbox or an optional six speed automatic with Steptronic function - for manual control. In terms of the petrol engines available, the Mini Cooper Paceman features a 1.6 litre, 122bhp unit, which offers fuel economy of 47.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 140g/km. The Mini Cooper S Paceman version utilises the same engine, albeit with a tuned performance, enabling the engine to deliver 184bhp. In addition, the car will manage 46.3mpg and emit 143g/km of CO2. For those who prefer diesel, however, the Mini Cooper D Paceman uses a 1.6 litre, 112bhp turbocharged engine, providing potential owners with a frugal 64.2mpg, as well as producing a lower 115g/km of CO2. The flagship diesel, the Mini Cooper SD Paceman, is equipped with a larger 2.0 litre, 143bhp engine, capable of providing 61.4mpg fuel economy whilst emitting 122g/km of CO2. Recently released, the all-new Mini Paceman is available to purchase with an on-the-road price of £18,970. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/the-all-new-mini-paceman-21724.aspx Glenn Doyle Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT With British roots and European character, the Mini Plant in Oxford prepares for an extraordinary anniversary, as cars have been produced in Oxford for 100 years now and the history of the plant itself is closely intertwined with the one-off British small car. The very first, inaugural classic Mini rolled off the Oxford plant's production line on May 8th, 1959, with another 602,816 vehicles following in the years up to 1968. During this period, the Oxford factory also built 'Completely Knocked Down' vehicle sets, which were to be assembled in other locations. A Mini convoy will travel to eight former classic Mini production locations across Europe. The tour, to be undertaken by five current Mini models, will bring back to mind the cross-border nature of Mini production. Fans of Mini motors can follow the progress of the tour by visiting the specially launched website: www.since1913.co.uk, where a tracking function will show the convoy's current location as it continues its European adventure. In addition, detailed updates on the convoy's journey and stops along the way can be found on the Mini Facebook page, www.facebook.com/mini, as well as an online community forum: www.minispace.com. The final destination on the tour will be Oxford, the home of the brand, both past and present, where one hundred years of car production will be celebrated on March 28th. The tour of Mini's former production locations covers more than 6,500 miles and includes stops in Novo Mesto (Slovenia), the Italian city of Milan, a former production plant in Malta, the Portuguese town of Vendas Novas, Pamplona in Spain, Seneffe in Belgium, Amersfoort in Holland and the Irish capital Dublin. Today, Mini production is concentrated in far fewer locations, whilst all UK operations are undertaken within the Mini production triangle: the press shop in Swindon, the Hams Hall engine factory in Birmingham and the aforementioned assembly plant in Oxford. Five models out of the current seven-strong Mini range roll off the line in Oxford, but Mini production still contains a European twist. For example, the Mini Countryman and Paceman models are built by Mini partner Magna Steyr, in Graz, Austria, but include a number of components marked 'Made in Great Britain.' http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/mini-celebrates-100-years-of-automotive-production-21641.aspx Glenn Doyle Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT Parisian Guerlain Chicherit is probably best known for being a professional skier and four-time freeriding world champion. But he recently donned the mask of a daredevil in a stunning PR campaign for Mini, where he performed the world's first backflip in a car. Well... he didn't do the backflip in the car, that'd just be silly. Chicherit, instead, got behind the wheel of a modified John Cooper Works model and powered it up a static ramp, executing a backflip in mid-air and landing the car safely in the snow. Chicherit, who also makes a living as a championship-winning rally driver, combined his in-car experiences with his passion for snowboarding to complete the incredible stunt filmed at the winter sports resort of Tignes in France. The stunt was performed in snowy conditions to add an extra element of danger. Though backflips have been attempted by other drivers, Chicherit's was the first stunt with a perfect landing. He also performed the move 'unassisted', which means he didn't use a special ramp with moving elements to influence the car's rotational movement on take-off. The ramp was a standard static construction similar to a quaterpipe on a freestyle course. Chicherit came through the stunt unscathed, and lives to drive another day. Written by John Meadowcroft. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry-ofJHatGs http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/awesome-mini-backflip-stunt-performed-in-tignes-21358.aspx John Meadowcroft Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Mini is considering creating a sub-brand to represent its John Cooper Works (JCW) models. "It is definitely something we are looking at and we have already started to carry out a few studies," confirmed Mini product and planning manager Dave Tuckett recently. Parent company BMW has a similar M division for its performance models, and it appears that a JCW division will likely appear sometime in the future. Three per cent of Mini sales are JCW models, but Mini has highlighted that figure is growing at a rapid rate, and has a halo effect on the rest of the range. There are currently seven models in the JCW range, with another to follow at some point in 2013. The latest model is a JCW version of the Mini Countryman, powered by a new 215bhp version of Mini's 1.6-litre turbocharged engine. The new Countryman is the first four-wheel-drive JCW ever produced, and is available from £28,595 with the bodywork and exterior enhancements package. Other models in the JCW line-up include a racier version of the Mini hatch known as the GP. The JCW GP is also powered by the manufacturer's 1.6-litre turbocharged engine. The GP comes with a number of extensive modifications, including the removal of the rear bench seat. The car, which is available from £28,790, also has motorsport-derived suspension, brakes and aerodynamics, an electronic differential lock and a special GP mode. Only 2,000 GP models will be produced with the vast majority being delivered to key sales areas including the UK, Germany and North America. BMW acquired the rights to the John Cooper Works brand in 2007. The company was founded in 2000 by racing car maker John Cooper, the tuner responsible for the Mini Cooper. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/mini-considers-high-performance-division-21218.aspx Ant Bradshaw Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Mini has a global reputation for being a little bit different. But its latest off-the-wall scheme has left thousands of American motorists scratching their heads as they received cans of Spam and duct tape through the post. The American branch of Mini was left red-faced last week after an email blunder sent hundreds of messages to motorists on its mailing list. The spam faux pas didn't sit too well with the majority. So, to apologise, staff at Mini have written a personal apology and sent it to those affected alongside a batch of chocolate roses, a can of Spam and... er... a roll of duct tape. We haven't got a clue what the duct tape's supposed to represent, but chocolate roses wrapped inside a 'WE'RE SORRY' box is a very nice touch. The note itself reads: "Dear …, Last week you received some emails from us. Hundreds of emails, in some cases. While we love staying in touch, this was unintentional. A server went haywire and the technical glitch has been fixed, but we wanted to make up for any hassle we might have caused. Nothing says "I'm sorry" quite like flowers and chocolate, so we've combined the two and enclosed a chocolate rose. But if you're allergic to flowers (or chocolate), we hope this duct tape will help fix things up. Or, if you're ever feeling annoyed again, you can de-stress using this particularly squeezable can of spam. Again, our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience. Motor on, The MINI Team" The images which were posted on popular photo-sharing service imgur by a recipient also show a note that says "We'd love to reconnect. If you'd like to link-up with us again, just visit miniusa.com/sorry." Our opinion? Classy customer service from one of the world's favourite motoring brands. Written by John Meadowcroft. http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/mini-posts-cans-of-spam-in-apology-for-email-blunder-21210.aspx John Meadowcroft Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT Mini is looking to take London by storm with its range of capital-based special editions. The latest model, the Mini Clubman Bond Street, follows on from the Mini Camden, Bayswater and Baker Street models. The strictly limited edition will only be available for a short time and will appear later in 2013. The car will be available from £20,275 OTR when released. The Bond Street edition, named after London's famous high-class shopping district, will debut at Geneva in March. The car will still feature the Clubman's features, with the changes mostly cosmetic. Engines available - two petrol and two diesel - include the Mini Cooper (122hp), Mini Cooper S (184hp), Mini Cooper D (112hp) and Mini Cooper SD (143hp) versions, all available with six-speed manual and automatic options. Mini is going for an upmarket theme with its Bold Street Clubman, featuring exclusive interior and exterior cues including an exterior Midnight Black Metallic finish and Deep Champagne surfaces on the inside. The Bond Street will have a contrasting roof, exterior mirror caps, bonnet stripes and its lower-section C-pillars finished in Cool Champagne. The car also features light-alloy wheels: a twin spoke 17-inch design in black, highlighted in Cool Champagne around the edge. A 'Bond Street' script also features on the side indicator surrounds. The high-class trim extends to the interior, which features lounge leather sports seat finished in Carbon Black and complemented by contrast piping and stitching. The Bond Street's instrument panel is also covered in Black leather, with Mini finishing off the cabin with a Chrome Line interior package. Standard features include front fog lights, climate control, an on-board computer, Bluetooth and USB functionality, rain sensor and automatic headlamp activation, a sport leather steering wheel and much more besides. Written by John Meadowcroft. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aCfnx3wRis http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/mini-goes-to-london-with-new-special-editions-21056.aspx John Meadowcroft Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Plans have been revealed to move some of Mini's current production models from the Oxford UK plant to shores abroad, although the brand's owners BMW insists Britain will always be home for Mini. The car production plant in Cowley, Oxford has been under BMW's operation since May 2001. The site also currently holds an annual capacity of 260,000 cars At present the UK-based site builds the majority of the Mini brand's model range, including the Hatchback, Convertible, Clubman, Coupe and the Roadster. Elsewhere BMW also assemble the Mini Countryman at the Magna Steyr production plant in Austria, and this site will also be used to build the Mini Paceman due for launch later in 2013. Now the brand's owners have indicated that the recent growth in the product line-up is stretching the Oxford plant to its full capacity, leaving no more room for expenditure as a result. That was the message from Harald Kruger, a BMW board member in charge of both the Mini and Rolls-Royce marques. He was speaking at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show this week where he revealed that production of some of Mini's current models built at Oxford will be moved over to a contract assembler called Nedcar based in Holland. Kruger added that it has not yet been decided which exact Mini models will be taken out of Oxford and moved abroad. He emphasised the importance of the move however, explaining: "It gives us the necessary flexibility to increase or decrease production and move model lines around if necessary. It also makes more sense than investing in all new facilities around the world". He added: "Production capacity is something we have to monitor all the time because of the success of cars globally but Oxford will always be the home of Mini". Across 2012, the Mini brand sold 51,324 new cars in the UK market, marking an increase by 1,186 units compared to the year before. Britain only proved to be Mini's second biggest market in 2012 however, as in the same year the brand sold an estimated 66,000 cars in the United States. These top two markets were followed closely by Germany where 37,000 units were sold and China where 23,000 units sold last year. The Chinese market itself is currently proving to be a rapidly growing market for the Mini brand. Written by Stephen Goldasz http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/mini-to-move-some-production-outside-the-uk-20974.aspx Stephen Goldasz Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT Mini has revealed a new hot coupe for their 2013 range, a John Cooper Works specification of the upcoming three-door Paceman. The new model has been revealed prior to its public debut appearance at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show on 14 January. The car is expected to go on sale at the same time as the rest of the Paceman range which launches to UK customers mid-March 2013. The Mini John Cooper Works Paceman will start at £29,535, making it £7,080 more expensive than the Mini JCW Hatchback and over £10,000 more than the starting price of the standard Paceman. Buyers of the Paceman JCW get access to a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine which produces 215bhp, easily trumping the 184bhp diesel offered with the standard Paceman's range-topping Cooper SD. The more powerful engine is operated on an all-wheel drive powertrain and it can be connected to either a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed automatic. With either setup the Paceman JCW will cover the 0-62mph sprint in 6.9 seconds and the top speed is 140mph on the manual mode, or 139mph when using the automatic gearbox. In comparison the hot coupe is a tenth of a second quicker in the 0-62mph sprint as the John Cooper Works version of the Mini Countryman crossover SUV, which also has a 140mph top speed. The Paceman JCW also matches the same fuel economy and CO2 emission figures as the Countryman JCW, meaning the coupe returns 38.2mpg and emits 172g/km. As with other Mini John Cooper Works models, the updated Paceman gets a sportier and more aggressive looking style to go with its more potent engine. New features include sports suspension and a new bodykit for extra aerodynamic performance. The kit adds deeper bumpers and wider side skirts, as well as 18" alloy wheels as standard with 19" versions also available optionally. Features in the cabin of the Paceman JCW are generally sporty, as it includes four sport seats, a sports steering wheel and a Sport button which adds extra weight to the power steering and enhances the car's sport exhaust sound note. Written by Stephen Goldasz http://www.motortorque.com/car-news/mini-paceman-john-cooper-works-first-look-20709.aspx Stephen Goldasz Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT