MINI appoints Dan Pulleyn to head up CHERISHED scheme

Comments Off

MINI UK is responding to increased demand for its used cars by appointing a dedicated Used Car Development Manager. Dan Pulleyn is the man charged with building recognition of the MINI CHERISHED brand and helping more UK motorists get behind the wheel of pre-loved MINIs.

Since October 2001, MINI CHERISHED has made owning a MINI more viable for those wanting the style and driver experience offered by all MINIs, but at a more competitive price. The CHERISHED programme offers significant benefits to customers, including minimum 12 month warranty and emergency service cover, as well as the renowned MINI TLC servicing package.
Click here to read more.. »

BMW Press Release October 31st 2007

San Francisco Sunrise Tour 07

Comments Off

Dennis, Shawn, Doug, Chris and Renee brave the foggy San Francisco morning to drive around the city’s landmarks in their classic Minis!
We start off at Treasure Island, go through Chinatown, Lombard Street, Broadway Tunnel, Coit Tower, Legion of Honor, Fort Point, Fort Mason, Cliff House, and inflict the sounds of StarLord’s squeeky brakes everywhere!

Dennis drops his exhaust on Lombard, but Doug comes to the rescue with a hose clamp and some tools. Wow what an adventure :)

Podcast October 27th 2007

15th Annual Cal Autumn Classic A Big Success!

2 Comments »

The 15th Annual California Autumn Classic took place this past weekend in San Juan Bautista, Ca. Here is a short video of the event that I put together:

Clubs, Events October 24th 2007

MINIS TOP STRATEGIC VISION’S 2007 TOTAL VALUE INDEX SIX YEARS RUNNING – ALSO EARNS HIGHEST SCORE OF ANY BRAND IN SURVEY

Comments Off

MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper Convertible Received Highest Overall Score in Respective Categories Since Models Were Launched
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – October 23th, 2007… For the sixth consecutive year, MINI has earned top honors in Strategic Vision’s 2007 Total Value Index TM (TVI). For 2007, the MINI brand achieved the highest ranking of all brands surveyed with an overall TVI score of 817. The MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper Convertible also achieved the highest TVI score in their respective segments – an honor both models have received every year since they were launched.

Not only did the MINI brand achieve the highest TVI score overall, but Strategic Vision also recognized MINI as a class leader in the $24,500 – $30,000 range. In their respective segments the MINI Cooper, with a TVI score of 824, was awarded top honors in the “Small Specialty Car Under $28,000″ six years running, while the MINI Cooper Convertible, with a TVI score of 802, topped its category of “Convertible under $30,000″ three years running. These scores compare to an industry average TVI score of 737.

“We are extremely pleased with the results of this survey,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President, MINI USA. “MINI instills a strong sense of passion in our customers and the results of this survey underscore the value we provide throughout the complete ownership experience – a consistent achievement we have maintained since we launched in the US.”

Strategic Vision, the San Diego-based research firm, surveyed more than 57,000 buyers who bought 2007 models from October 2006 through March 2007. Buyers were asked an extensive array of questions about their complete ownership experience including buying, owning and driving their new 2007 model-year vehicles.

The index measures buyers’ views of whether they received value from their car purchase and is calculated by correlating all economic issues against the quality of the ownership experience. The study measure immediate economics (value for the money, affordability, price/deal offered, warranty, technical innovation and standard equipment level) and expected economics (durability, resale value, mileage, economical to own and reliability).

“What you get for your money,” said Dr. Darrel Edwards, Strategic Vision CEO, “is vital in the value equation. A cheap price for a vehicle that doesn’t stir the buyer’s values and emotions will never be more than a cheap vehicle. One with strong perceived quality that scores well on the value factors will make a buyer feel like a real winner who made a smart choice.”

BMW Press Release October 23rd 2007

MINI voted “Most Popular Car in Europe” and gets AutoScout24′s coveted CAROLINA IAA

Comments Off

Munich. The BMW Group picked up as many as four awards at the CAROLINA Internet Auto Award 2007 by AutoScout24, Europe’s largest automobile portal.

The Internet Auto Award is the biggest public internet award of the automotive trade in Europe, with some 350,000 people voting. The editorial team of AutoScout24 chose the “Best Innovation”. All winners received the CAROLINA, an extravagantly styled metal trophy.

MINI: the compact, sporty car not only won the small car category by a comfortable margin, it was also awarded the title “Most Popular Car in Europe”. More details here:

http://www.internetautoaward.de

BMW also won in the special category “Best Innovation” With its EfficientDynamics program, BMW’s package of measures to optimise fuel consumption which is sold in models ranging from the BMW 1 Series to the BMW X5. The measures include High Precision Injection in the modern petrol direct injection engines, Brake Energy Regeneration, automatic air intake flaps, Auto Start/Stop Function and intelligent lightweight construction.

With these measures, 40% of new cars made by the BMW Group have an exhaust emissions level below 140 grams CO2 / km, from MINI to BMW and Rolls-Royce.

In other awards, the BMW Concept X6 was judged “Best New IAA Feature”; the majority of those questioned at the IAA were enthusiastic about the idea of a Sport Activity Vehicle in coupé form.

Announcements October 19th 2007

Slap some sense back into a counterfit MINI buyer

Comments Off

Screenshot from CCC siteAh yes, the creative minds at MINI have come up with yet another fun toy for your  evil twin to have its way with. Wrought with British-humour style (or perhaps three stoogies style) slapstick.. well, look for yourself.. this text comes from the email you can send to a friend:

“The Counter Counterfeit Commission would like your help in slapping some sense into a MINI Counterfeit victim … Thank you for doing your part. The CCC”

Have you seen this? It’s an interactive flash video animation, when it loads your cursor becomes a hand. This guy stands in front of a car which vaguely resembles a MINI (because it has a contrasting roof color, mirrors, bonnet stripes, and driving lights)

http://www.counterfeitmini.com/tough_love.php

I’m not usually one for gratuitous comic violence but hey. It’s funny! You can vary the range and force of the slap as well make the poor guy wince by getting close to (but not actually..) slapping him.

For those that haven’t seen the Counterfeit MINI  site before, you can view the main site of this “organization” by clicking here.

Announcements October 18th 2007

Visionaire issue #53, the “Sound” MINI Edition!

Comments Off

Munich/New York, October 17 2007
[BMW press release, loosely translated from German]

Coming in December 2007, to Visionaire and MINI fans alike, as well your usual smattering of art collectors, will all look forward to The Visionaire Issue 53 SOUND, a limited edition MINI-themed creation.

The 100 minute compliation, limited to 4000 numbered copies will be selling at $ 250 a peice.

The Visionaire SOUND Edition is made up of five 30 cm wide vinyl photodiscs containing unreleased audio experiments, songs, spoken word and other material, contained in a curved case, along with a customized MINI Clubman “Vinyl Killer”: a miniature battery-operated vehicle equipped with a needle and loudspeakers. With the help of the small plate along the track, the moving MINI Clubman model plays the records, acting as a portable record player with an integrated sound system. The edition also includes two CDs with all the titles and a booklet with credits and manuals.

Click here to read more.. »

Announcements October 17th 2007

REME invades Valley of the Moon Festival Parade

1 Comment »

Rob (Califzeph) brings us a new video showcasing the Redwood Empire Mini Enthusiasts, as they join the Valley of the Moon Festival Parade in Sonoma, California

Events October 15th 2007

“Track Time” at Niello Mini! Motor-Tober marches on!

1 Comment »

Today we went out to Niello Mini in Sacramento for the first weekend of Motor-Tober. Todays event was RC car racing. Next weekend there will be more RC car racing and then on October 27th will be the Halloween Bash!

Here is a report from our day:

Events, Sponsors October 15th 2007

Magical Mystery Mini Tour ’08 Web Site Debuts

Comments Off

The Redwood Empire Mini Enthusiasts have opened up a web site, in support of next year’s big Mini event that will take place in San Francisco September 5th through 7th.

The URL is: www.MagicalMysteryMiniTour.com

The site is still in development, but version 1.0 has some interesting information, plus a promotional video. More “stuff” will be added as the event evolves.

Announcements, Clubs, Events October 13th 2007