A matte black Ferrari Enzo or Rolls-Royce Phantom is cool because the owner confidence (balls) to take a flashy ride with an expensive paint job, and go for the flat black look. So it is a little less impressive on a $31,500 John Cooper Works Mini Cooper Clubman.
For a car that is being showcased at the ultra-luxury Dutch Millionaire Fair in Amsterdam this Mini is a little lacking. The Clubman only really features a new matte black paint job, 18-inch wheels (17’ are standard), and a interior color not currently available from the factory (Hot Chocolate). The engine is the standard 1.6-liter 208 hp unit from the factory JCW Clubman.
Yes this car is a kinda fun, and the matte black definitely will make this different from the other Mini’s out there, but we expect something more creative from a company who has been a lot cooler in the past.
The Mini convertible is now playing catchup to the hard top. The second generation has been available as a fixed roof and wagonish Culbman since 2007, and so now its time to complete the line. So the most noticeable elements on the 2009 Mini Cooper Cabrio when it appears at the Detroit auto show will be the updated bodylines and interior panels that match the rest of the family.
The updated convertible top can be lowered at speeds up to 20 mph, and the large rear roll bar that slithered across the back headrests has now been replaced with a pop-up unit. Like the soft-top on the previous model, there is still a large sunroof that can be created when the top is stopped half-way through the convertible process.
If you’ve driven the coupe, there’s nothing too special underneath the skin of the convertible. It features the same 1.6-liter units from the coupe, making 118 hp and 175 with a turbocharger.
Orders for the drop-top Mini are being taken now, and deliveries should begin by the end of March. Pricing for the 2009 Mini Cooper Cabrio should start at $24,550 for the regular version, and $27,450 for the turbocharged Cooper S model.
Press release after the jump.
> More
Mini USA announced there will be a fleet of some 500 all-electric vehicles for private use in daily traffic. Called MINI E, the new electric vehicle it will be powered by a 204 hp electric motor fed by a high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion battery, transferring its power to the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox nearly without a sound and entirely free of emissions.
Specially engineered for automobile use, the battery technology will have a range of more than 240 kilometers, or 150 miles.
The MINI E’s electric drive train produces a peak torque of 220 Newton meters, delivering seamless acceleration to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 152 km/h (95 mph).
Press release after the jump.
> More
.
For Mini’s 50th anniversary, artist Alan Aldridge has created a speciality Mini Cooper in the same spirit of his famous 1965 design. It is now on display at the Design Museum in London.
The Mini Aldridge Special is adorned with an array of images, shapes and patterns, each reflecting either a male or female theme, just as the 1965 car did. The design theme is split between each side of the car, the driver side being largely set on a blue background and masculine in appearance, with passenger near side artistry backed on pink.
Press release after the jump.
> More
Rumors about a Crossover from Mini circulated for quite a long time. Today, the company wanted to prove they are as serious as possible about this and revealed first preview of the future model with the unveiling of the Crossover Concept. Official debut will be made at the Paris Auto Show.
The Mini Crossover Concept is a new model variant for the first time measuring more than thirteen feet in length, with four drive wheels, four full doors and four single seats. This car will not only help Mini into new markets because it is a larger car, but it injects a little toughness into the company’s cute image.
This is new territory for Mini. The Cooper and Clubman models were modern interpretations of classic Mini designs. The original Mini was never built in an SUV form. The closest original Mini variation to this crossover was the Moke, which was a stripped out Mini intended for military use.
Press release after the jump.
> More
.
Mini revealed today the first image of the Life Ball 2008, a special edition build in cooperation with the British company Agent Provocateur, a cult lingerie company founded by Serena Rees and her husband, Vivianne Westwood’s son, Joseph Corre.
First Mini-Life Ball cooperation was made eight years ago. The mini Life Ball Special edition will be built in only one unit that will be auctioned on ebay from 5 to 15 June. The model will make its official debut on May 17 at the biggest charity event organized by Life Ball.
"I love the highly erotic yet stylish pin-up look of Agent Provocateur!", says Life Ball initiator Gery Keszler. The Agent Provocateur MINI will feature a black paint and pink ’police’ paint scheme, reflective rear window, prison bars in the side door windows, fishnet stocking roof decal and a black leather interior with ’stimulating’ details.
Mini will unveil at the Geneva Motor Show the John Cooper Works Cooper and Clubman. The MINI John Cooper Works will be available in Germany at a price of 27,700 Euros, the price of the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman will be 29,500 Euros.
The heart beating under the bonnet of each of the two new extreme sports cars is that of a racer. The 1.6 litre 4-cylinder engine with Twin Scroll turbocharger and petrol direct injection delivers 155 kW/211 bhp (207 hp US) and develops its maximum torque of 260 Newton-metres (192 lb-ft US) between 1,850 and 5,600 rpm – by means of overboost the torque can actually be increased to 280 Nm. (207 lb-ft US). The power unit is based on the engine of the John Cooper Works CHALLENGE, which will see its premiere at the MINI CHALLENGE 2008. It accelerates the MINI John Cooper Works in 6.5 seconds from 0–100 km/h, the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman manages the spurt in just 0.3 seconds more.
The maximum torque of 260 Nm ( 192 lb-ft US) is available even at an engine speed of 1,850 rpm and up to a level of 5,600 rpm. During acceleration, torque is raised to 280 Nm (207 lb-ft US) by means of a brief increase in boost pressure between 2,000 and 5,300 rpm. This overboost function gives the MINI John Cooper Works and the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman an even more powerful response. The engine reaches its maximum output of 155 kW/211 bhp (207 hp US) at 6,000 rpm. The spontaneous response is also reflected in the car’s acceleration figures. The MINI John Cooper Works takes 6.5 seconds to accelerate from 0–100 km/h, the time required by the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman is 6.8 seconds. Both have a maximum speed of 238 km/h.
Press release after the jump.
> More
.
The MINI Clubman JCW will be seen in the 2008 Mini Challenge Championship as a safety car featuring an uprated 1.6 liter turbocharged engine,a body kit and tweaked suspension. The Clubman JCW will go on sale at the end of next year at a price of £25.000.
> More
Confusion surrounding alternative fuels and related technologies is leading new car buyers to miss a trick. A recent YouGov Plc survey commissioned by MINI found that diesel-powered cars are thought to be way behind Hybrid models for cleanliness. Yet the 104g/km C02 emitted by the sporty MINI Cooper D is a figure that equals, and in many cases beats other cars using alternative technologies - including hybrids.
In a poll designed to gauge public understanding of CO2-related issues in the car purchase process, just three per cent of the 2,018-strong sample believed that a diesel-fuelled vehicle could be considered a low source of carbon emissions. Yet the new MINI Cooper D’s 104 g/km is identical to the hybrid-powered
Toyota Prius and lower than the 109 g/km achieved by the Honda Civic Hybrid
> More
The new MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE will be making its first appearance at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, where the public will be able to gain a first impression of the new racing car which will be delivered to the participating teams in good time before the start of the next MINI CHALLENGE in spring 2008
> More
Picture Gallery
1 comment
RSS -
Webmaster free news |