Mighty Mini Club of Sri Lanka organised a Sunday drive to celebrate International Mini Mioke Day (IMMD) on the 26th of September 2010.
Miniologist ‘dhamindas’ on YouTube reports:
“We have a good turnout with over 20 Mini Mokes participating in the event.”
And here’s a quick little vid of some of the Mokes on a run through the city.. I’ve never seen so many mokes at once! Woot! (Available in HD as well)
Agyness Deyn unveils MINI Scooter E Concept in London for Global Premiere.
London, UK. Iconic British brand MINI unveils its exciting MINI Scooter E Concept today in London. This new design study represents the MINI design team’s unparalleled expertise in recognising the challenges for mobility in major urban areas, and meeting these challenges with the development of stylish, innovative and sustainable future-focused vehicle concepts. The MINI Scooter E Concept comes almost ten years to the day since the new MINI was first shown at the Paris Motor Show.
Agyness Deyn, model and icon of British fashion and design culture is in the Capital to help debut the MINI Scooter E Concept. She will celebrate the global premiere at a private London location this evening featuring an exclusive DJ set by electropop artist, Little Boots.
There are a total of three interpretations of the MINI Scooter E Concept conceived by Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design: two of which will be shown at the Paris Motor Show next week, while the third concept, inspired by the swinging sixties, the hey day of classic Mini is being shown exclusively in London.
Three MINI Scooter E Concepts.
It’s not just a two-wheeler in MINI Design – this scooter meets the needs of the young urban generation: Spontaneous, flexible, CO2-free mobility. Using a Smartphone as the ignition key, the concept integrates infotainment, communication and navigation systems. The MINI Scooter E Concept is powered by an electric motor which can be recharged at any conventional power socket using an on-board charging cable.
Says Adrian van Hooydonk:
“The MINI Scooter E Concept represents an electric vision of the future as urban mobility takes a new direction by MINI. We are delighted to debut during the London Design Festival and pay homage to our British heritage while also marking a new era for MINI. The MINI Scooter E Concept is true to our brand values of distinctive design, intelligent functionality and customisation and builds further on these characteristics by combining driving pleasure with sustainable technology into the first two-wheel concept of its kind for MINI.”
The new scooter design concept is based on current production vehicles but pushes the creative boundaries. Just as the compact design of the classic MINI, born out of the 1950s oil crisis, symbolised a new reality for modern city driving, the MINI Scooter E Concept is designed for the changing landscape in environmental and urban road traffic conditions, to offer a stylish and emission-free alternative for urban mobility. Set to appeal to a young, ecologically-conscious driver, the MINI Scooter E Concept offers a completely new perspective on the distinctive MINI driving experience while being immediately recognisable as a MINI.
No stranger to two-wheel riding herself, Agness Deyn says of the new MINI Scooter E Concept:
“Living a city life, it is important to get around quickly. I was thrilled to hear that MINI is developing an environmentally-friendly scooter, their reputation in cool design is well-known – I can’t wait to try driving one!”
Unmistakably MINI: an authentic reinterpretation of unique details in three design versions.
Distinctive features include the circular central instrument cluster, the iconic speedometer, the visually prominent indicator lamps in the style of the classic Mini and the chrome trims on the bodywork. In addition the colours and materials all serve as identifiers, making the MINI Scooter E Concept recognisably a MINI at first sight.
The design concepts differ in the number of passengers they carry. The first MINI Scooter E Concept is a two-seater variant developed for ‘the fun of driving for two’. It mirrors the colour scheme of the current MINI E hatch prototype, 40 of which are currently on trial on UK roads – with body paintwork in matt charcoal, a yellow seat and yellow-painted mirror caps – and emphasizes the particularly intense aspect of zero-emission driving.
The second concept is a single-seater and the sportiest of the new concepts. Almost purist in design, this model nods to the British heritage of the brand. Features include a classic combination of an upholstered seat in dark brown leather, paintwork in British Racing Green and silver mirror caps reminiscent of iconic racing cars.
The third and more design-progressive model – being shown exclusively in London – takes inspiration from the popular culture of the 1960s, a decade synonymous with the classic Mini, drawing on the distinctive graphics of the Mod era in particular. The white body colour on this two-seater variant is decorated with numerous applications and stickers, with the left hand mirror cap featuring a MINI logo and the right hand one featuring the red, white and blue cockade of the Royal Air Force. The piece de resistance is a perforated leather seat through which the Union Jack shines.
The Specials:
Smartphone as key, display and central control element.
A snap-in adaptor for a Smartphone allows the driver to use their mobile device as a route finder, music player or as a phone via a wireless Bluetooth interface from the MINI ‘cockpit’. As soon as the rider docks his mobile phone and switches it on, the vehicle is ready to go. A navigation app enables drivers to know where other MINI Scooter E Concept drivers are on the map, similar to social networking systems, to encourage interaction between the MINI Scooter E community. Technology currently in development will mean headlights on the scooters automatically open when they meet on the road.
All you need is a power socket.
The MINI Scooter E Concept is driven by a built-in rear wheel electric motor which is powered by a compact lithium-ion battery. The battery can be plugged into any standard AC power outlet. A display screen clearly indicates to the driver the amount of battery life available: the MINI Scooter E Concept can be charged via a retractable lead in the rear of the Scooter.
MINI Centre Rail – the unique solution with specific accessories .
The study also incorporates an innovative version of the MINI Centre Rail first presented earlier this year in the new MINI Countryman. The unique clip-on mechanism offers a range of options for transporting items that may required before, during or after the journey, for example a helmet, umbrellas, sunglasses and thermos flasks.
With all the fun, sporty design principles and agile handling typical of MINI, the MINI Scooter E Concept is easy to operate and perfect for the challenging traffic conditions of the city. It is a sustainable and fun way to enjoy the MINI driving experience and epitomises urban mobility at its best.
Editor’s note: Interesting, while Smart has a E Scooter ready for production, so does MINI have one in the works as a concept.. The Smart E Scooter goes 40kph maximum, I wonder how fast the MINI E Scooter goes?
Back by popular demand is MINI Thunder II. This event will be held on the 3-day Presidents Day Weekend. The track day will be Sunday Feb 20, 2011, leaving Saturday and Monday as travel days for those coming a long distance. Last year we had entrants from Southern California, Oregon, and Washington. We are currentlt setting up a registration website, but already have an event website going. Please check http://www.minithunderhill.com/Home.cfm for details and updates.
We will have three groups, Advanced, Intermediate, and Beginners. We expect to have 5+ 20 minute sessions, plus instruction, classroom, demo and parade laps. Entree for single drivers will be $199 for the day and include an event T-Shirt, breakfast, lunch, and sodas/waters during the day. If you made it to last years event, we figure you will return and if you missed it, shame on you, but you can make this one. For those that wish to share a Mini, the cost is $275 but you will have to run in separate groups.
The event will include a Saturday night BBQ dinner and “Casino Night” at Thunderhill Raceway Park. You will get a chance to meet some of the instructors and other drivers, learn the track, and socialize, before getting a good nights sleep. There will be camping available at the track and they do have electrical hookups, bathrooms, showers, and BBQ pits. Most will probably stay in WIllows which is a short 7 miles way. They have several hotels to chose from.
You will need a certified helmet that meets the requirements of SA 2000 or SA 2005. The SA is for automotive and SM is for motorcycles. SM helmets are not allowed. You will be able to rent a helmet from the track for $30 for the day.
You will need to fill out the entry form and waiver, plus fill out the Safety Tech Sheet (attached) for your Mini.
Track Day will begin with the track opening at 7:00AM, we will have time for drivers to grab breakfast, rent helmets if necessary, attend a mandatory “all hands” meeting, with first Minis on track at 8:30AM. This is also a good time to empty out your car or ALL loose items, check your fluid levels, tire pressures and torque your wheels.
There will be complete personnel including tow trucks, turn workers, flaggers, grid-control, communications, ambulance and safety equipment.
Here are some links for further information and videos from last years MINI Thunder:
Facebook link to Minithunderhill website page.
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=events#!/event.php?eid=320123864188
Video links to Mini Thunder hill webpage.
KRCR TV7 News
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH0ZENPLTkU
Dennis Racine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsNSp3N8ORU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1NXXD28kVU
Niello Mini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTy-u7LiUOE&feature=youtube_gdata
Some new eye candy from MINI.. I can just see people from the REME club doing this somewhere hehe..
Next to fabulous design, music is one of our key passions here on MINI Space. From MINI Sounds Webradio to live concert reports and exclusive ticket giveaways — or our current “Sight & Sounds” design competition — we love listening to and sharing the songs that move us.
Next month, MINI and German manufacturer of designer audio products sonoro will be unveiling a “MINI rocks sonoro” limited edition of the “elements W” internet radio: a specially engineered product that presents an enticing new way to experience music, old and new.
The chic, understated cube travels with you and can be nestled just about anywhere – from a MINI dashboard to a kitchen countertop or the desk in your office. Its space-efficient size and sleek silhouette, combined with the boundless possibilities of 18,000 Web radio stations always at your fingertips, is a shining example of what the MINI commitment to “Creative Use of Space” is all about.
With the holiday season fast approaching, we’re thinking that this soon-to-be collectors’ item could make an ideal Christmas gift. Aesthetes and MINI fans alike will appreciate the subtle details of MINI style in its design: its distinctive wood casing is finished in the brand new Eclipse Grey metallic exterior lacquer from MINI, complete with original MINI sport stripes.
Features like an external iPod docking station and radio frequency remote control, along with a powerful, robust sound produced by a 3-inch full range speaker with an internal digital equalizer and bass reflex tube also make it an ideal choice for the discriminating audiophile on your list. And of course, what music-lover wouldn’t be delighted with a virtually endless, fully portable treasure trove of auditory entertainment – complete with the option of browsing by genre or country – and instant preset access to the four MINI Sounds Webradio stations?
You can get your hands on the “MINI rocks sonoro” beginning September 3rd, 2010, when the glossy gadget will be unveiled to the public at the Maison & Objet trade show for furniture and interior design in Paris. We’ll be traveling to Paris to bring you live coverage and photos straight from the exhibition, so stay tuned!
by MINI Space Team
