Tag Archives: jim mcdowell

New MINI Roadster Reveals Itself in Hollywood ‘Peepshow’


Woodcliff Lake, NJ – April 2, 2012… Enhancing its reputation as a fun-loving, cheeky, and often mischievous brand, MINI is revealing its new Roadster model in a racy, alluring way at a prime Los Angeles location.

Just a block away from the Kodak and Chinese Theatres, MINI promises ‘Live and Exotic Topless Thrills 24/7’ at the MINI Roadster Peepshow Spectacular. MINI has taken over a corner store on Hollywood Blvd and masked all the windows for a 25-day long series of fleeting, revealing shows where passers-by are encouraged to take a “peep”.

Each show will be triggered whenever a passing spectator presses one of the ‘peep’ buttons on the display, rolling back a window blind and unveiling the MINI Roadster as it rotates slowly on a turntable, complete with a disco ball above, music and smoke. Adding authentic atmosphere to the MINI Roadster Peepshow Spectacular, colored neon lighting has been placed throughout the Peepshow to illuminate the Roadster even more.

Passers-by in this pedestrian-friendly area will be lured to the Roadster Peepshow by storefront signage with racy messages such as: “Bada Bing, Bada Boom”, “Open 24 Hours” and the simple, tempting command to “Peep Here.”

“The new MINI Roadster is a devilishly fast, uncompromising two-seater soft-top with the soul of a sports car and the heart of a MINI,” comments Jim McDowell, Vice President MINI USA. “Our Peepshow reveal in this prime Los Angeles location sets the scene perfectly for our latest model which delivers more fun than one person can handle with its exhilarating ride and unlimited headroom.”

The MINI Roadster Peepshow Spectacular is surrounded by hot nightlife spots including MyHouse, Teddy’s, Tropicana Bar, Mood LA, East Lounge, Supper Club, Roxbury and Rolling Stone LA. For a free ‘peep’ at the new MINI Roadster, fans in the Los Angeles area should visit 7046 Hollywood Blvd @ N Sycamore Ave before April 22.

New Amphibious MINI Cooper Yachtsman to Launch in New York…Beside the Hudson River


Woodcliff Lake, NJ – April 1, 2012… MINI customers will be able to boldly go where no motorer has gone before when the all-new MINI Cooper Yachtsman makes its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show next week, right beside the Hudson River.

Designed to bring MINI ownership to people who regard the 70 percent of the earth’s surface covered by water as their home, the new MINI Cooper Yachtsman is a corner-carving crustacean that promises go-kart-like handling and a sensational combination of amphibious* and landphibious performance both on and off the water.

Certain to be as popular in New York harbor as it will be at the Jumeira Palm marina or Monte Carlo harbor, the MINI Cooper Yachtsman is fitted with a shark-resistant undercoating as standard, and can carve through water at speeds up to 61 knots, while promising an equally rewarding driving (but not diving…) experience – on-road or off-land.

“Our exciting MINI Cooper Yachtsman is the ultimate extension of the MINI brand, expanding our line-up to seven models in the USA and offering consumers even more ways to enjoy MINI ownership in a manner best-suited to their individual taste and location,” comments Jim McDowell, Vice President of MINI USA.

“The Yachtsman will become an instant status symbol, a car/boat combo that evokes ‘land/sea envy’ in equal measure. Originally endorsed by the British Royal Navy**, the Yachtsman brings a new level of versatility to MINI ownership. So, if you’re cruising along and someone yells ’Lake’ – no worries. Simply downshift, grab a life-vest, hit the water and let Yachtsman take care of the rest!” adds McDowell.

Showroom appeal of the MINI Cooper Yachtsman is matched by dockside allure as the 169.8 inch long craft sports Reef Blue metallic paintwork contrasting with silver alloy wheels and matching silver rudder. The exhaust snorkel is finished in body color and the extendable rooftop antenna comes with a ‘get-you-home’ 20-ft white sail (in case of emergency) which can be deployed for zero-emissions sailing.

With room to sleep two people, the cabin features waterproof rip-stop upholstery, seat cushions which double as flotation devices, and a Marine Chronometer for celestial navigation in the event of a sat-nav glitch. For junior ‘sailors’, the glove box holds MINI-branded water wings, a pirate flag and eye patch.

Standard equipment features a six-foot marlin rod with roller guides, an international trolling reel with 130-lb test line and (on the port side) the latest MINI safety technology – FLOAT (the Frantic Lever Operated Active Trim) adjuster. On the starboard side there is a spring-loaded herring chucker.

In line with MINI’s customizable nature, a full range of unique accessories for this latest addition to the MINI product line-up includes a Customizable Klaxon (choice of sea lion, porpoise, sperm whale, dolphin, seagull or mallard duck), and personalized Under-Hull Messaging – recommended factory fitted graphic options such as ‘Suck eggs, Kraken’ and ‘Mermaid Magnet’ are sure to be popular choices.

On sale from April 1st as a model year 2013 vehicle, the Yachtsman combines typical MINI driving and boating fun with the same discerning craftsmanship, select materials, styling and all-round ‘typical British understatement’ that are hallmarks of the world’s leading boat builders.

For propulsion, each MINI Cooper Yachtsman is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger, direct injection and variable valve control to generate 181 hp. Outdrive to the constant-pitch propeller is managed by a specially-fitted gearbox mounted mid-ship with six forward speeds. Although the new model weighs 4,600 lb (fully laden), the sprint from 0 to 60 mph is completed in 6.6 seconds (on land) and in 2.4 minutes (on water). Top speed (on land) is 141 mph.

Developed after extensive testing of punt prototypes on the River Isis (near MINI’s manufacturing facility in Oxford, England) and in the deep waters off Greenland (where The Kraken of legend lurks), the MINI Cooper Yachtsman is priced at US $236,000 and comes with a fully incomprehensible warranty that includes 3-year no-cost moorage, annual dry-docking and free barnacle removal, for the original captain.

You can see the MINI Cooper Yachtsman on the MINI Stand at the New York International Auto Show in the Jacob Javits Center from Wednesday April 4th.

Editors’ Notes
*The Yachtsman is not the first amphibious Mini. The book ‘MINI MISCELLANY – Fifty Years of facts, figures, stories and oddities featuring the world’s greatest little car’ carried this interesting tale…

“Bizarre as it may sound, a Mini entered the 1977 River Severn Raft Race. Longbridge engineers converted a standard Mini into an unsinkable four-paddle-wheel-drive amphibious vehicle which they christened ‘Aqua Min’. However, it was not the first Mini to swim. Nine years earlier, an amphibious Moke swam in the River Thames for the Sammy Davis Jr. film Salt and Pepper. Since the movie was a James Bond spoof, it was only right that the Moke should have machine guns fitted behind the headlights.”

**And subsequently unendorsed.

Yes it’s time for another MTTS – Mini Takes The States!

Go Forth. Go West. Go MINI. MINI TAKES THE STATES 2012 Confirmed To Kick Off July 4, 2012

The biggest official MINI road rally is scheduled to take place again this summer. The bi-annual MINI Takes the States (MTTS) rally will kick off on the east coast Wednesday, July 4th and will make the cross-country trek to the Pacific Ocean concluding on Sunday, July 15th.

“MTTS is perhaps the brand’s greatest demonstration of our commitment to the MINI community,” Jim McDowell, VP of MINI USA told Miniology, “During MTTS, MINI USA acts on its promise to deliver a motoring experience unlike any other brand, engaging owners and their families and ensuring they enjoy their MINI to the fullest extent possible.”

As MINI celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year in the US, thousands of MINI owners and enthusiasts will join the cross-country rally, or a leg of it, dotting the horizon with a gleaming caravan of MINIs.

Along the way, MINI USA will provide its loyal owners and enthusiasts with genuine, once-in-a-lifetime motoring experiences.

The 2010 event included a run on the Bonneville Salt Flats and laps on the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in addition to other engaging daily activities.

MTTS 2012 route details and adventures are still being finalized; full details will be provided in the coming weeks.

Some of the stuff you can bet Miniology will be covering:

- Sneak peeks and early test drives of all-new MINI vehicles and technologies.

- Interviews with MINI executives and owners for unique feature stories
Autocross experiences demonstrating MINI’s performance and handling.

- Immersion in the festive, cheeky MINI culture and the lifestyle the brand offers interaction with the charity partner chosen to receive net proceeds from the registration fee.

Participant registration begins in April, but owners and enthusiasts can sign up now to receive updates at www.miniusa.com/mtts.

MINI Cooper Hardtop to Enter B-Spec Race Series for 2012!

Heya MINI fans! Nope, it’s not another stuffy press release from Munich or Oxford. Finally, we got some news local to the USA!

MINI USA and MINI of Charleston to build and sell turn-key MINI race cars

MINI USA has partnered with MINI of Charleston (South Carolina) to announce that the MINI Cooper Hardtop will begin racing in the B-Spec series for the 2012 race season. B-Spec vehicles are production-based cars that are equalized on power and weight to make the racing as competitive as possible and all four of the major racing sanctioning bodies (SCCA, Grand Am, NASA and World Challenge) will host B-Spec races in 2012.

Jim McDowell, Vice President – MINI USA (who was interviewed by Miniology earlier) said, “B-Spec racing is a great fit for MINI because the car is developed with racing heritage in mind and the races are run with vehicles very similar to those already sitting in the driveway…Getting involved with B-Spec racing offers a fun and competitive race environment without requiring MINI drivers to make a large financial investment to make their car a serious competitor.”

Yeah, like we have always said, MINIs (even stock ones!) are track-ready right off the dealership floor. How many brands can say they offer that kind of performance right off the factory line?

MINI of Charleston, a Hendrick Automotive Group company, will build and sell turn-key MINI Hardtop racing vehicles by the start of the 2012 season. It will also offer class-legal conversion kits so the owner of any 2007 – 2012 MINI Cooper Hardtop can easily be ready to race in B-Spec. All safety equipment will meet or exceed requirements set forth by the sanctioning body.

During the LA Auto Show, the first MINI’s B-Spec prototype will be on display. This vehicle will be driven by Brad Davis, Executive General Manager of MINI of Charleston and team driver Robbie Davis.

MINI USA’s existing contingency program for all four racing series will be extended to sanctioned B-Spec race teams, with financial compensation for an eligible podium finish. For more information about MINI USA’s contingency program, please visit http://www.miniusa.com/#/miniRacing

Vinnie Kung, MINI USA Product Manager added, “MINI entering B-Spec racing is full of benefits. Drivers can enter the racing arena for a fairly low investment in a car developed from the ground up with performance and handling at its core. In addition, MINI USA’s contingency program is to compelling, it could even pay off the car itself in about a year.”

Final contingency payout information, as well as detailed pricing for the MINI Hardtop adapted by MINI of Charleston and the conversion kits, will be announced as the start of the 2012 season draws closer.

Now here are the vehicle specs:

2012 MINI Cooper Hardtop B-Spec Racer
HP: 121 @ 6,000, factory rated
TQ: 114 @ 4,250, factory rated
Steering: Electric power-assisted rack and pinion, 14.1:1 ratio
Weight: 2,535 pounds, 60.4%/39.6% F/R, factory rated
Length / Wheelbase / Height: 146.6”/ 97.1” / 55.4”
Suspension: KW V1 Coilover Struts and Shocks/ Vorshlag front camber plates
Brakes: Standard MINI Brake system with Carbotech Brake Pads and Way Motorworks Stainless Steel Braided hoses.
Safety Equipment: Kirk Racing Roll Cage with Kirkey Intermediate Road Racing Seat and Schroth Hybrid III Harnesses, Cage Nets and Window Net.
Wheel / Tire: 15 x 7 Kosei K1 aluminum alloy / Hoosier SM6 205-50-15
Performance-enhancing electronics standard on all MINIs:
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
• Four-wheel disc Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
• Cornering Brake Control (CBC)
• Brake Force Distribution (BFD)

[Source: BMW Group PressClub USA - Woodcliff Lake, NJ - November 16, 2011]

BMW picks new marketing agencies

Yeah, the original working title they wanted to use was “BMW North America announces agency selections for multicultural and diversity marketing.”

That of itself smells like a boat load of marketing fluff doesn’t it? We thought so too. Anyway, kidding over the verbiage aside, yesterday, in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, BMW announced Sanders\Wingo Advertising in Austin, TX has been appointed to support all the diversity marketing activities for MINI USA.

Jim McDowell, VP of MINI USA (remember, our gal interviewed him a short time ago?) said, “MINI’s customer base is becoming increasingly diverse as our vehicle lineup expands, and Sanders/Wingo Advertising clearly understands the multicultural audiences that are key for us. As we continue to grow the brand, Sanders/Wingo’s impressive capabilities in the areas of strategic planning and market research within multicultural segments will be crucial for increasing awareness of MINI’s distinctive design, go-kart handling and extremely high level of customization.”

We’re sure the marketing folks gave him a few pointers on what to say, because really, as cool as marketing people are, nobody really talks that way in normal conversation, and we should know.. we spout a lot of marketing fluff ourselves for our podcasts. Nonetheless, that’s a very cool and MINI spirit sort of thing to do, concentrate some efforts towards multicultural diversity, which, as you know, Minis have been all over that since the first car rolled off the production line in 1959.

Yay, multiculturalism and diversity! We look forward to seeing some of the new stuff coming from this agency and will report more whenever we get juicy tidbits (or more marketing fluff) to share with all our miniologists — that means you ;)

Kiss Recreates ‘Detroit Rock City’ at Mini Stand

Smoke spurted, the curtain lifted and in rock star fashion Kiss took the stage Thursday morning at the New York auto show. The band wore full makeup, stilted heels and shiny spandex and posed next to four Mini Cooper Countrymans, customized according to each member’s face makeup pattern and persona — the Demon, the Spaceman, the Catman and the Starchild. The signed cars and other Kiss memorabilia will be auctioned for Unicef.

The KISS members on stage at the NY Auto Show.

Gene Simmons, the bassist and vocalist, stuck out his infamous tongue and raised his arms, while the guitarist Tommy Thayer and the drummer Eric Singer lunged for the photo opportunity. The fourth Kiss member, Paul Stanley, was unable to attend because of a family emergency, Mr. Simmons said. Mini USA President Jim McDowell wore Kiss-inspired makeup and introduced the band. In their tall heels, they towered over Mr. McDowell. “I seem a little short,” he said.

McDowell mugs it up with Gene Simmons.

Jim McDowell, Mini USA chief, with Gene Simmons of Kiss.
“You don’t seem short,” Mr. Simmons said in response.” You are short.”

The band gathered in the basement of the Javits for interviews with Mr. McDowell after the conference. Mr. McDowell used a makeup artist for the event, but the band said they always apply the makeup themselves.

The auction begins online May 29 and runs to June 19. “We don’t make it a habit of doing press conferences and trying to convince people that we care about the planet we live and we live on the planet,” Mr. Simmons said. They also work with the charity Wounded Warriors. “We’re very blessed to lead this life.”

They have 20 concerts scheduled for this summer. “Detroit’s got its wonderful qualities and New York does too. What a great way to see America in the Mini Cooper. Wouldn’t that be cool?” Mr. Simmons said. “I’m going to get me one. I want the Demon. Jim is going to get me the Demon Mini Cooper.”

Several of the band members collect cars. “We are car aficionados,” Mr. Singer said. “I have a couple vintage cars. I go to car shows on the weekend. Southern California is the car culture of America when it comes down to it.”

When it’s time to tour, they take to the skies “We have a Kiss jet,” Mr. Thayer said. “But we’re all into cars we can appreciate great cars. Mini Coopers have a rock and roll history. Back in the ’60s the Beatles used to drive Mini Coopers, Paul McCartney, John Lennon.”

None of the Kiss members drive Minis, but they each expressed an interest in driving Minis around Los Angeles. “Not as many cars would look good with your face wrapped on them,” Mr. McDowell said.

Richard Drew/Associated Press/NYT