MINI Winnipeg

First drive: 2013 Mini John Cooper Works Countryman

Jeff Teegs — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:06:39 -0400

Pity the poor Countryman. It is the "least good-looking" Kardashian. No matter how little Khloe eats or how much she exercises, she will never quite have Kim's curves.

2013 MINI Cooper Coupe Preview

Lindsay Stall — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Price Range: $25,950 and up

Description: With an eye for sporty driving, the two-seater MINI Cooper Coupe is the lightest and most agile model in the MINI lineup. Iconic MINI design elements are applied to this striking new model, which features a steeply raked rear windshield, tapered roofline and self-deploying rear spoiler. Projector lights, large alloy wheels and any combination of stripes, colours and chrome the owner likes are all part of the package.

Best of all, with three models to choose from (MINI Cooper Coupe, MINI Cooper S Coupe or MINI John Cooper Works Coupe), there's a model that's just right for virtually any need or budget. Of course, MINI's exhaustive range of accessories and custom touches are available to shoppers after added exclusivity.

(Photo: BMW Group)

Drivetrain: All 2013 MINI Cooper Coupe models are powered by a 4-cylinder that drives the front wheels. Standard is a proven 1.6L, 121 horsepower mill that's available paired with manual or automatic transmissions. Step up to the Cooper S Coupe, and MINI tosses a turbocharger into the mix, bumping output to 181 horsepower and enabling 0-100 km/h sprints in as low as 6.9 seconds. The top-performing MINI John Cooper Works Coupe sees output dialed up even further, with output rated at 208 horsepower.

Consider it if: good on gas, fun to drive, instantly recognizable, and extremely sporty are descriptors on the wish list for your next ride. Also, especially in John Cooper Works trim, the MINI Cooper Coupe is ready for motorsports activities.

Skip it if: you need more than two seats, more than 208 horsepower or a highly spacious cabin.

Other Notes: Feature content? Oh, yes. Outside, look for chrome accents, projector headlights, a heated rear window, and fog lamps. On board, leather-wrapped accents, automatic climate control, mood lighting, and a full range of power accessories can be specified. Auxiliary audio inputs, Bluetooth, push-button start, and colour-keyed accents add connectivity, convenience, and style. Performance and visual upgrades from John Cooper Works can be added to any model.

Don't Miss: The twin-scroll turbocharger. This kicks in at a moment's notice with near-nil lag, translating into a seamless and robust power curve.

(Photo: BMW Group)

Torsional reinforcements have been incorporated into the bulkhead behind the front seats, which stiffens up the Cooper Coupe's body structure and increases agility and ride quality. The trunk behind this bulkhead is rated for 280 litres of storage space, and features a pass-through compartment for easy loading of larger or longer items.

A Sport button, available on select models, instantly dials in a more responsive steering calibration, more aggressive throttle-pedal response and a louder exhaust note.

The rear spoiler on the 2013 MINI Cooper Coupe auto-deploys to create additional downforce when drivers exceed 80 km/h.

Available bi-xenon headlamps provide world-class illumination after dark, utilizing xenon technology on both low and high-beams. Xenon produces a crisp, white light that's easier on the driver's eyes, translating into reduced vision fatigue on long trips after dark.

Test Drive: 2013 Mini Paceman Cooper S ALL4

Peter — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 06:30:08 -0400

The Mini Paceman seems like an exercise in impractical-ization, and while it has its driving charms, doesnât feel as premium as its price might suggest.

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Test Drive: 2013 Mini Paceman Cooper S ALL4 is a post from: Autos.ca

MINI celebrates 500,000 vehicles sold in the USA

Horatiu Boeriu — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:12:20 -0400

âThis milestone is an incredible achievement for MINI, and weâre proud to have so many Motorers as part of the MINI family,â said Jim McDowell, Vice President â MINI USA. â11 years ago, doubters said a small car could not â¦ Continue reading

The article MINI celebrates 500,000 vehicles sold in the USA appeared first on BMW BLOG

MINI Celebrates 500,000 Vehicles Sold in America [Mega Gallery]

Jason Siu — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 19:42:43 -0400

MINI Celebrates 500,000 Vehicles Sold in America [Mega Gallery]
British automaker MiniÂ has announced that it has sold its 500,000th vehicle in America, and is celebrating by taking its cars on a trek across the west coast of America and snapping photographs at noticeable landmarks along the way.Â Many doubted that Mini would be a success in America, bringing its compact car goodness from Europe... more

2013 New York Auto Show: MINI Paceman JCW

Horatiu Boeriu — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:35:25 -0400

After its world debut in Paris back in 2012, the MINI Paceman comes to New York City. In a neighborhood like Tribeca or Soho, the âtwo-door Countrymanâ feels at home and without a doubt is one of MINIâs most hipster â¦ Continue reading

The article 2013 New York Auto Show: MINI Paceman JCW appeared first on BMW BLOG

Mini Countryman Performs Backflip; It Really Doesn’t Matter Why

Alexander Stoklosa — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:48:27 -0500

Why did freestyle skier and rally driver Guerlain Chicherit perform an unassisted backflip inÂ a highly modified Mini Countryman? Why not? Mini, for its part, says it partnered with Chicherit to ânailâ what itâs calling the âworldâs first backflip in a car.â Sounds like a good enough reason to set up a ramp, aim a Countryman [...]

MINI shows snowboarders how it’s done with the perfect backflip

Horatiu Boeriu — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:53:09 -0500

A MINI can do more. It can win the Dakar Rally twice in a row. It can conquer more than 100 markets worldwide. But what about defying the laws of gravity and showing snowboarders how to nail the perfect backflip? … Continue reading

MINI Countryman Completes Backflip In French Alps

Matt Grey — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 06:40:00 -0500

In the French Alps, the perfect backflip is usually attempted by skiers or snowboarders.

First drive: 2013 Mini Cooper Paceman

Stacy Flint — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:05:54 -0500

ankly, I don’t know if Mini’s choice of Puerto Rico as the venue for its Paceman was intended to discern the capabilities of the company’s newest model or the intestinal fortitude of those of us who got to drive it.

Mini lineup could expand to include up to 10 models, still no hope for Rocketman

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:31:00 -0500

Filed under: Concept Cars, Mini

During an event in Ponce, Puerto Rico last week where Mini introduced members of the media to the 2013 Paceman and John Cooper Works GP, product planners discussed that the brand's lineup could expand to eventually include up to 10 bodystyles. Currently, the Mini range consists of seven models: the Hardtop, Clubman, Convertible, Countryman, Coupe, Roadster and Paceman.

Speaking to members of the media, David Duncan, Mini USA sales manager, said that these new models could fall into a range of niches - "any segment that makes sense for a small car." No specific vehicle classes were discussed, but Duncan stated that the possibilities are endless, "as long as we're the smallest player in any segment."

Well, nearly endless. We've been hoping that Mini would re-think its decision to nix plans to create a vehicle smaller than the Hardtop - a notion previewed by the excellent Rocketman concept (shown above) from the 2011 Geneva Motor Show - but the automaker once again stated that this is absolutely off the table. In order to create a vehicle of the Rocketman's size, a completely new platform would have to be engineered (that's expensive), and while Mini has looked into acquiring existing architecture from another brand, parent company BMW has reportedly put the kibosh on such an act. If a Rocketman is ever to be born, BMW/Mini will do it on its own, and right now, that simply isn't in the cards.

Patrick McKenna, head of Mini USA's product strategy, also told us that while he's "not going to confirm it," diesel power is indeed being investigated for use in the next-generation Mini range in the States. Yes, we've heard this before, but every time it's said, it sounds more sincere.

So, where does Mini go from here? Your guess is as good as ours. The product team tells Autoblog that one of the main reasons for people to turn away from the range-topping Countryman is that it's too small, so you could realistically argue for a larger version of this vehicle, despite the fact that we've been told before that the Countryman would be the largest Mini is willing to go. You could certainly make the argument for something relatively low-cost like a convertible version of the Paceman, or even a clever little pickup based on the all-wheel-drive Countryman platform. Give us your best ideas, in Comments.

Mini lineup could expand to include up to 10 models, still no hope for Rocketman originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dakar Wrap-Up and the Anatomy of a Dakar-Winning Mini Countryman

Daniel Pund — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:54:45 -0500

The 2013 Dakar Rally, the 15-day-long, 5000-plus-mile South American overland race/ordeal, ended Sunday in Santiago, Chile, with an 11th overall win for Dakar legend, Stephane Peterhansel. Itâs Frenchman Peterhanselâs second consecutive win in one of X-Raidâs Mini Countrymanâbodied racers. He finished the rally more than 42 minutes ahead of second-place finisher, South African Giniel De [...]

Get Flipped Off or Blinded: Mini Paceman Ad Has Alternate Endings

Richard Dicks — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:00:28 -0500

As the 2013 Mini Paceman nears its on-sale date, the brand has launched a new ad campaign that demonstrates the tagline, âDesign with Bite.â Â In the new ad titled âStreet Attitude,â a blue Paceman navigates the urban streets of New York, but if you donât like what happens at the end of the video, Mini [...]

Preview: 2013 Mini Paceman

Paul Williams — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 06:25:31 -0500

The 2013 Mini Paceman made its Canadian debut at Montrealâs MIAS and brings significant changes to the Countryman platform.

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Preview: 2013 Mini Paceman is a post from: Autos.ca

MINI Paceman “Design with Bite” campaign

Horatiu Boeriu — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:24:06 -0500

The cross-media “Design with Bite” launch campaign for the new MINI Paceman is now underway with three online videos that provide an initial foretaste of the print, TV and web elements to follow. MINI embodies the extraordinary – representing fun … Continue reading

MINI Wins Its Second Dakar Rally

Kurt Ernst — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:30:40 -0500

In 2012, Stephane Peterhansel and co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret took an unproven Monster Energy X-Raid Team MINI to victory in the Dakar Rally. As if that feat werenât impressive enough, theÂ Full Article Â»

MINI NEXT CPO Program is the Popular CPO Warranty Award Winner

Greg Wales — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:01:00 -0500

MINI NEXT CPO Program is the Popular CPO Warranty Award Winner

MINI NEXT CPO Program is the Popular CPO Warranty Award Winner

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Five-Point Inspection: 2013 MINI Roadster Cooper S

Colum Wood — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:01:37 -0500

Five-Point Inspection: 2013 MINI Roadster Cooper S
Definitively unique, and plenty of fun to drive, is the MINI Roadster too quirky for its own good, or for that matter, too sporty? Starting atÂ $29,250, is the MINI Roadster worth it? more

MINI Paceman JCW is a Crossover Doing a Hot Hatch Impression

Colum Wood — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 07:00:07 -0500

MINI Paceman JCW is a Crossover Doing a Hot Hatch Impression
Guessing the product roll-out strategy in the MINI lineup does not take an advanced degree in marketing. As a result, it comes as little surprise that the hipster-ific brand has just announced a new John Cooper Works version of its recently revealed Paceman. The coupe-styled crossover in JCW performance trim boasts the usual list of... more

2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4 Verdict

Mark Hustle — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 03:00:00 -0500

The Car Mini Had to Do. Did it Do it Right?