Tag Archives: Press

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

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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]

MINI USA Partners with Miles Ahead to launch teen driving school

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'Miles Ahead Co-Founders, Stephan Gregoire (right) and Ted Woerner (left).

Indy 500 Veteran, Stephan Gregoire, Will Lead ‘Miles Ahead’ at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

MINI Cooper Hardtops will be used for all Miles Ahead driving activities
- ½ day courses at Indianapolis Motor Speedway include on-track and classroom instruction
- Firestone Indy Lights and IZOD IndyCar Series drivers will teach all courses
- First classes scheduled for November 5-6, 2011

[Source: MINI Press, Woodcliff Lake, NJ– October 5, 2011]

MINI has partnered with Miles Ahead, a new teen driving school created by Indy 500 veteran, Stephan Gregoire and business partner, Ted Woerner, to address the disproportionate number of collisions, injuries and fatalities involving teenage drivers. As part of the partnership, MINI USA will supply Miles Ahead with 12 MINI Cooper Hardtop vehicles for all of the specialized instruction for licensed teen drivers. Indianapolis Motor Speedway will serve as the program’s host site.

“Teens tend to be more engaged in learning when there is an element of excitement,” said Stephan Gregoire, former Indy racing driver and founder of Miles Ahead. “The combination of using the fun-to-drive MINIs, racing champion instructors, maximizing time behind the wheel and a driving course at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway should really help us connect with the students and make a real difference in reducing their chances of being involved in collisions on public roads.”

Fast facts / startling statistics.

- The chance of one crash in the first three years of driving is 89.2 percent
- The chance of two crashes in the first three years of driving is 52.5 percent
- A 16-year-old is 20 times more likely to be killed in a crash than an adult
- Teens are 400 percent more likely to die in a car crash than 25-34 year-old drivers
- 63% of teenage passenger deaths occur in vehicles driven by another teenager
- 113 teenage drivers each week in the U.S. are involved in fatal crashes
- Nearly 1000 teens each day are treated in an emergency room for injuries suffered in a motor vehicle crash

“The need for additional teen driving programs is clear, and this is a great opportunity for MINI to extend its commitment to safety beyond the engineering of our vehicles,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President – MINI USA. “MINI USA and its dealers are proud to be part of Miles Ahead, a very dynamic teen driving school that addresses a serious problem with a fun learning style that is sure to provide teens with lifelong lessons to keep them safe on the road.”

Each class will last approximately 4.5 hours, providing licensed teens with specialized instruction to improve their decision-making behind the wheel. This includes driving modules focused on things like distracted / impaired driving, skid control, emergency ABS brake application and hazard avoidance.

In addition to Gregoire, an impressive list of Firestone Indy Lights and IZOD IndyCar Series drivers have been added to the instructor roster for the 2011 and 2012 seasons, including Dillon Battistini, Dan Clarke, Conor Daly, Alex Lloyd, Philip Major, Stephen Simpson, Stefan Wilson and James Winslow.

The first classes will be held on November 5-6, 2011, with a full season of up to 50 class days per year beginning in 2012. Individual classes will be priced at $389, and Miles Ahead will offer group sales to companies that want to extend the course to their employees’ or customers’ children. There will be a scholarship program to award school slots to applicants in need.

The Miles Ahead Teen Driving Intensive is open to any teen driver over the age of 16 who has already earned their driver’s license. For more information or to register for upcoming Miles Ahead classes at IMS, go to www.bemilesahead.net

MINI supports Burton Global Open Series (BGOS) snow boarding

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Source BMW Press Release, Munich.

For the second time in succession, carmaker MINI is supporting renowned snowboard manufacturer Burton in organising the Burton Global Open Series (BGOS). This international snowboard competition series takes place annually and draws tens of thousands of spectators and top snowboarders from around the world.

Creative Use of Space takes flight.

With its Creative Use of Space award, MINI launched a prize last season that draws on the MINI philosophy of utilising space intelligently. The prize money goes to the male and female rider who demonstrate the most inventive and progressive tricks in the halfpipe or slopestyle competitions. For all the Creative Use of Space awards the prize money will be $85,000 in cash. The overall winners of the 2011/2012 BGOS season will also be presented with a brand-new MINI Countryman. This crossover model comes with luggage space of 1,170 litres – ample room to accommodate a snowboarder’s full kit.

This season MINI is presenting the following BGOS events:

Burton New Zealand Open     8 – 13 August 2011

Burton European Open           January 2012

Burton Canadian Open           February 2012

Burton US Open                     March 2012

In addition, MINI will be the presenting partner of the Burton Super Demo Tour, the Burton AM Series and the new Burton Rail Days event taking place in Tokyo on November 19, 2011.

Miniology TV: MINI E Report – Electric car in the UK

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Heya, Miniologists!

Here is our video report regarding the close of MINI’s electric car trial in the United Kingdom (similar trials were run in the US and other countries).

It was great to be a part of this and the MINI community on social media sites (facebook, twitter, minispace) were very supportive of the project.

This video doesn’t go into all the technical details of the project, but does have some nice interviews from the people who were actually driving the electric cars during the trial run.

With all the automotive brands doing hybrids that don’t get more than a few MPG more than their gas counterparts, it was very cool to see MINI doing a full-on electric car which looked and performed much like the petrol edition.

Check the earlier post for the full official BMW press release.

Copyright notice: UK b-roll footage and background music used in this video supplied to us from BMW AG and used by permission, under the condition this can not be used for commercial purposes. All other content (like our logo, etc.) is Copyright © 2011 by Miniology.com/The Electric Crayon.

The all-new MINI Coupé rolls off the line in Oxford

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Source: BMW Press Release, Oxford, United Kingdom – July 8, 2011

Celebrations were under way today at Plant Oxford as the first MINI Coupé rolled off the production line. Andrew Smith MP and Oxford City and County councillors joined plant managing director, Jürgen Hedrich, and members of the plant’s project team to welcome the new model.

The Coupé is the fourth member of the five-strong MINI family to be manufactured at Plant Oxford and will be built on the same production lines as the Hatchback, Clubman and Convertible. A two-seater Roadster will complete the line-up early next year.

Jürgen Hedrich said: “The car has a unique and strong design but still retains MINI’s exciting and distinctive go-kart feel.

“The aim with the MINI Coupé is to give its new owners the most thrilling MINI driving experience possible. Every aspect of the car – from the engines and chassis set up to the weight distribution and aerodynamics – is focused on delivering the optimum dynamic performance”

The Coupé is MINI’s first two-seater, since BMW Group developed the new MINI at Oxford, and has already seen strong interest and a healthy order bank developing.

Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East, said: “This is a great day for the Oxford plant. To see yet another model join the line-up shows just how strong demand is for MINI in the 90 markets around the world where MINIs are sold.

“This new model, along with BMW Group’s recently-announced £500m investment into UK manufacturing, demonstrates the company’s commitment to a long-term future for Plant Oxford.”

The Coupé will see a range of new features, including the sport stripes on the body work, and increased boot space. The unique spoiler is housed in the bootlid and reduces lift at the rear axle to improve aerodynamic balance and road grip. As with all MINIs, a wide range of accessories and personalisation choices will be available.

The MINI John Cooper Works Coupé has the fastest acceleration and top speed of any Oxford-produced MINI to date.

And while the orders for Coupé are stacking up, customers will have to wait until 1 October to take delivery of their cars.

Miniology producers Rob “Califzeph” and Chris “StarLord” (or is his rally name Udødelig now?) were there onsite to drive the first car off the line and join the release party, but.. I WISH! This is just a photoshopped pic, don’t get all excited..! We’re sure MINI UK will send us a proper invite next time :)

 

MINI WRC hits Neste Oil Rally Finland *DAY 1*

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Source: BMW Press Release
28th – 30th July. 8th of 13 rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship. Day 1.

Jyv äskylä, 28th July, 2011.

With day one of the Neste Oil Rally Finland completed the MINI WRC Team is just where it wanted to be with its two cars still running and no problems to report. This evening Dani Sordo (ES) and Carlos de Barrio (ES) returned to service in Jyväskylä, after 39.74 kilometres of competitive running on three stages, sixth overall in the number 37 MINI John Cooper Works WRC, while Kris Meeke (GB) and Paul Nagle (IR) were ninth in number 52.

From the first stage it was a matter of taking it easy on one of the World Rally Championship’s toughest and most unforgiving events. Sordo has competed in the event for the past few years, but Meeke has not been here for five years and never in a WRC car. The weather was hot and humid as this is the driest summer in Finland for 23 years, but rain is forecast overnight. This doesn’t worry either driver as it can act as a leveller on such specialist events.

Tomorrow from 08.00 the cars head south to compete on totally new stages in the area of Lahti. There will be another eight stages over 134.06 kilometres, and also a remote service before the cars head back to central Finland for the overnight halt just after 21.00.

Miniology gets a direct report from From Dave Wilcock, Technical Director:

“It is all going according to plan, with both cars functioning okay. Both drivers have done exactly what they were told to do, but I think they are both feeling the nerves as it is 12 weeks since we did Sardinia, so they are bound to be a bit rusty. It is quite useful having three stages and then a night to sleep on it. Both crews will benefit from it. Dani is really happy where he is and with the car. He is completely comfortable in all areas. We want to keep up with the others as there will be another game played tomorrow, and it will be nice to be in the hunt. Kris is doing exactly what he set out to do. He really needs to finish and get experience of all these stages. Looking at the tyre wear between all the other cars, we are as good, if not better than, the rest so with the longer loops tomorrow this could play into our hands a little bit. All the stages tomorrow are very loose and the guys are all doing them for the first time, so that will be a bit of a leveller. Let’s get to Lahti at lunch time tomorrow and go from there.”

from Dani Sordo:

“It was good today and I am really happy with these first three stages. The balance of the car was really good. It is really nice to drive these stages in the MINI, because it was very easy. We will see what happens tomorrow as we have some new stages. We had a very small problem with a communication between me and Carlos on the first stage, but that was not a problem at all.”

from Kris Meeke:

“My competitive spirit is a little bit dispirited as you have to take a step back on this rally to learn it. It was really fun to drive, we have a good rhythm and the car has a really nice balance which gives me confidence when driving. There were some places in the stages where I felt I could have driven quicker, but this is how we have to take this rally to learn for the future. It is just one of those rallies where you need experience, and you just can’t take chances.”

Stay tuned to MINIOLOGY.com for more MINI WRC coverage!

Kiss Recreates ‘Detroit Rock City’ at Mini Stand

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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