Highgate is a new special edition of the MINI Convertible which, according to MINI comes with “an essential dose of Brit-cool,” whatever that is.

This soft-top four-seater MINI comes with specially-designed exterior and interior design features. It’s not a limited edition, but will be produced for a limited period of time, which amounts to the same thing. Sales begin from Spring 2012.

The Highgate-special features on the outside include unique paint finishes, soft-top colours and wheel designs, in addition to details such as body-colored mirror caps, and bonnet stripes. It can be had a chocolaty combination with Iced Chocolate metallic finish for the body, brown soft-top, and brown/black bonnet stripes.

It also features “Highgate” lettering on the side indicator surrounds, door sills and seat tag.

Inside the cabin you get Lounge Leather seats and leather Colour Line elements come in Dark Truffle. Light blue piping on the seats and Dark Truffle contrast stitching on the gearshift/selector lever and handbrake gaiters are further highlights, in addition to stainless steel pedals, Suntouched Brushed Alloy interior trim elements, the Chrome Line Interior package and floor mats with Dark Truffle edging.

This style-obsessed MINI can be had as MINI Cooper (90 kW/122 hp), MINI Cooper S (135 kW/184 hp), MINI Cooper D (82 kW/112 hp) and MINI Cooper SD (105 kW/143 hp).

MINI will soon launch its all-new Roadster in the American market to expand its range and boost its rating.

That all depends on the Americans be willing to pay $24,350 for the Roadster. That’s the minimum, mind you, for a Cooper model. If you go for the slightly hotter Cooper S that’ll be $27,350, while the top of the range John Cooper Works version will cost $34,500.

And that’s not all! You have to add $700 destination charge to all the prices above, and if you want an automatic transmission, it’s another $1,250. All models are fitted as standard with a manual gearbox.

Still, MINI Roadster is $600 cheaper than the MINI Convertible, which is a bit more practical, but a whole lot uglier.

On paper, the Roadster seems like a perfect sportscar. It’s a two-seater open-top funster with sprightly performance. But a proper sportscar should be simple and down to earth, and this just sorta isn’t. The entry-level Cooper comes with a 121-hp and 114 lb-ft of torque 1.6 liter engine, while the Cooper S benefits from a turbocharger that takes the power up to 181-hp and 177 lb-ft of torque.

The JCW version gets more tuning so it can offer 208-hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. The Roaster is fairly heavy for its size, and that’s why it takes the JCW 6.3 second to hit 60mph, and it has a top speed of only 147mph.

MINI continues its “Another Day. Another Adventure” campaign with a new spot for the MINI Roadster. It’s called the Cliffhanger and the location for it is Istanbul, in Turkey. Now, we couldn’t make sense of this ad to be honest. But then we were sober. Try to get hideously drunk, then you might get the point. It seems they were whilst making it!

Baker Street and Bayswater are two new special editions MINI has come up with to celebrate 2012 Olympics and London.

They are not just for UK though, and will be offered for sale around the world from Spring 2012, but they will be produced for only a limited period. The MINI Baker Street can be ordered in MINI One, MINI Cooper, MINI One D and MINI Cooper D guise, while the MINI Bayswater is available as a MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper S, MINI Cooper D and MINI Cooper SD.

MINI Baker Street: This one gets Rooftop Grey metallic exterior paint shade with very special bonnet stripes, whose basic colour black is given extra character by a subtle V-shape design.  Other features include 16-inch alloys combined with matching gloss black side mirrors, and “Baker Street” lettering on the side scuttles.

Inside the cabin you get new seat variant in Cross Check Rooftop Grey light feature a diamond pattern. Cross Check Rooftop Grey light is also used for the surfaces of the cockpit and door trim and is combined with a Rooftop Grey light Colour Line. Light grey contrast stitching for the floor mats, gearshift/selector lever as well as the handbrake gaiters and seat tags which, like the door sills, bear “Baker Street” lettering are also included.

MINI Bayswater: The second special MINI features a striking a Kite Blue metallic exterior color, 17-inch light-alloy Sandblast wheels with high-gloss black surfaces and bright machined rim and spoke edges. Midnight Black metallic and Eclipse Grey metallic paint shades can be ordered for the MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper SD. It also gets contrasting roof and the likewise newly created Sport Stripes for the bonnet, which are also found on the side mirror caps.

The interior is garnished with Piano Black cockpit trim strips, which continue the path set by the Sport Stripes over the bonnet, and the leather Colour Line elements in Rocklite Anthracite, whose classy character is emphasised by black stitching. Other features include stainless steel pedals and the Chrome Line Interior package.

Pricing for these vibrant and trendy MINIs is yet to be revealed.

MINI ALL4 Racing scores a one-two for German Monster Energy X-raid Team at the 2012 Rally Dakar.

The first car was driven by the Dakar veteran Stéphane Peterhansel (FR) and his co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret (FR), which won the rally with a time of 38h 54m 46s. The second car was in the hands of Joan “Nani” Roma (ES) and Michel Périn (FR), who finished 42 minutes after Peterhansel.

This was Peterhansel’s tenth victory at the “Dakar”. He had already claimed six titles on a motorcycle, and now has four wins in the car category to his name. A trouble-free MINI ALL4, which suffered from no technical issues throughout the event, and great navigation skills of his co-driver were mentioned by Stéphane as contributing factors to his victory.

“I was starting to doubt myself, to think I was growing too old for this, that I’d lost it or that I wasn’t made for South America,” he divulged after the finish. “And in the end everything turned out fine.”

Dr. Kay Segler, Senior Vice President, MINI Brand Management and Business Coordination, said: “On behalf of MINI, I would like to congratulate Stéphane Peterhansel, his co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret and the entire X-raid team on their triumph at the 2012 Rally Dakar. To stand on the top step of the podium on ten occasions after the toughest rally in the world is quite simply an unbelievable achievement. Sven Quandt’s team has once again proven its class with all five MINI ALL4 Racings finishing in the top ten.”

Source Minimotorsport.com

In response to an NHTSA investigation report, MINI is recalling 88,911 turbocharged models built between November 2006 and January 2011.

The reason is a faulty water pump that cools the turbocharger. Apparently it has a malfunctioning electric circuit that can overheat, and eventually set the car on fire.

NHTSA befan investigating the problem after 12 MINIs caught fire, 5 of which burned to a crisp.

Affected models include the 2007-2011 Cooper S, the 2008-2011 Clubman S, the 2009-2011 Cooper S Convertible, the 2011 Countryman S and John Cooper Works models from 2009 to 2011. Owners of the affected cars will be notified by BMW dealers. They will change the water pump with a healthy one free of charge.

Until then you best not push you Cooper hard!

AC Schnitzer, as you know, tunes everything in the BMW/MINI family. Here’s their first go at upgrading the new MINI Coupe.

They provide a rather thorough tuning package for the Coupe, beginning with a couple of visual tweaks such as chrome detailing for front and rear, new graphics and paint jobs.

For the interior AC offers the usual treatment of aluminum pedals and footrests, special handbrake lever, velours floor mats, and a shift knob with digital gear display.

As for the wheels and tires, they recommend the Mi2 BiColor18-inch rims with high performance tyres from Continental and Michelin in size 225/30 R 18 or 215/35 R 18 or optionally in 205/40 R 18. They are complemented by AC’s height-adjustable racing suspension or spring kit which lower the car for a killer look and promise Go-Kart-like handling.

AC Schnitzer will also provide performance upgrade kits for all the engines in the range, but they are still in development. Meanwhile you can improve the performance via AC Schnitzer limited slip differential for the MINI Cooper S Coupé with locking up to 75%, and their sports exhaust system.

A set of high performance brake system with 4-piston fixed caliper brakes (left/right) with slotted discs (left/right) is also available.

Reports from Germany suggest MINI’s all-new model for this year Geneva Motor Show is a commercial vehicle.

According to German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, this new MINI van will be called MINI Cargo, and it’s basically a Clubman with removable back seats and no back windows. The car will provide a rather small, but flat loading bay, suitable for businesses such as pizza delivery.

MINI and its parent company BMW must be seeing some potential market for such a vehicle. As far as we are aware, those who buy commercial vehicles usually want something big, practical and rather cheap. This Cargo doesn’t seem to be any of those things. But if you want a trendy car to move your small objects around in style, then it’s definitely the car for you.

MINI has not yet confirmed this report.

via: WCF

Following the Coupe, a new sporty member will be added to the MINI family as the Roadster makes its debut at the Detroit Motor Show next month.

MINI’s expansion strategy is based on sportier models for the next few years. Besides the Coupe and now the Roadster, they will also introduce a John Cooper Works version of the Countryman crossover at the next Geneva Motor Show.

MINI Roadster is a fun, open-top sports car with a simple, manual soft-top that can be operated with one hand. will be available with a choice of three powerful and efficient petrol engines when it is launched in the US market. The model line-up will range from the MINI Cooper Roadster (121 hp) via the MINI Cooper S Roadster (181 hp) to the sharpest performer of all, the MINI John Cooper Works Roadster, whose powerplant develops 208 hp.

In spite of its simplicity, the Roadster comes packed with computer-controlled system for more safety and peace of mind, including Electric Power Steering and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). It’s even got an active rear spoiler, which extends automatically when the car reaches 80 km/h (50 mph).

A high-performance John Cooper Works version of the MINI Countryman will make its debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

This car will give you a taste of the Countryman WRC rally car with its turbocharged 1.6 liter engine developing 215 hp.

While official performance figures are yet to be revealed, the Countryman JCW is expected to have a 0 to 60 acceleration time of around 7 seconds, which is not what you call sprightly but pretty good for such an enormous Mini.

The JCW version will also be sportier in nature than the Cooper S upon which it’s based. Not that the Countryman is a bona fide off-roader, but anyway, the JCW sits 10mm lower and features stiffer springs and thicker anti-roll bars. The brakes are also upgraded over the Cooper S.

As usual, the JCW version also sports a couple of unique visual features to be distinguished over normal models, such as flared wheel arches, revised bumpers and grilles, and dual exhausts. The car is currently doing its final winter tests in Austria.

MINI is taking personalization to the next level by offering a sophisticated package called MINI Yours, consisting of a huge range of style, comfort, convenience and technology options.

The options include exterior paints, tattoos, interior trims and upholsteries, all of them designed to make your MINI as unique as it can be. These are higher-spec options than normal items you choose in the showroom. You can even get a MINI limited edition such as the MINI Inspired by Goodwood, MINI Soho, Clubman Hampton or the recently announced London 2012 edition, and then customize it with the Premium package.

The first options pack offered in the UK is the MINI Avenue. It is available with either Highclass Grey or Laguna Green metallic paint. Both feature an identical interior with an exclusive ‘Soda’ repeating design motif.

Features and equipments of it include Satellite Grey Soda Lounge leather with matching black floor mats, Bi-colour Sport leather steering wheel with multi-function controls, Soda mirror caps and special effect white bonnet stripes. The vehicle runs on 17-inch twin-blade spoke alloy wheels.

It is an interesting prospect, but it’s not cheap of course. The Avenue package costs £4,880 on a MINI One or One D, Hatch, Convertible or Clubman. That brings the cost of a entry-level MINI One D to £19,360.

It’s not like the MINI Roadster is all-new product. It is in fact the same as the Coupe but without the roof. Some might even mistake it with the MINI Convertible. But these videos after the jump will show the exterior and the interior in great detail. The car looks like a lot of fun, especially with the Cooper engine. But, I don’t know, it doesn’t seem to score high on the cool-o-meter.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Autocar gets behind the wheel of the new MINI Coupe with its weird roof, to see how it compares to the other coupe in the market. The John Cooper Works version of the Coupe comes with a meaty turbocharged 211bhp engine. Also the car is compact and very chuckable, so it is good fun to drive. But there are finer choices in this segment. If the Coupe doesn’t float your boat, MINI also makes a Roadster version.

Click here to view the embedded video.

MINI takes us to the beautiful city of Istanbul in Turkey for the first official footage of the new Roadster. This new model, 6th member of the MINI family, along with its Coupe brother are designed for the fun-seeking, adventurous type of guys who found the normal MINIs a bit too soft for their lifestyle. Mind you, if you really want to have fun with this car you gotta have the JCW version with 211 hp and top speed of 237 km/h.

If you always wanted a MINI Coupe but couldn’t live with its stupid roof, this new Roadster is the car for you.

Basically the same as the Coupe, The MINI Roadster adds the open-air driving experience to the mix. The two-seater sports car comes with a manually-opening soft-top roof, which is a bit surprising. You would expect it to work with electricity, wouldn’t ya!

The roof has a good design and build though. You can operate it with only one hand while seating down, and it’s a very quick job. Don’t get this car twisted with a MINI Convertible, it’s far more dignified and cool. Plus it sits 20mm lower than that and has stronger sporting credentials.

To make sure none of the g-kart handling is lost now that the roof is gone, MINI has stuffed the Roadster with electronic controls. Electric Power Steering and DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) as standard, DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) with EDLC (Electronic Differential Lock Control) optional (standard in the MINI John Cooper Works Roadster). Also bespoke to the Roadster are the new roll-over bars in polished stainless steel and active rear spoiler extends automatically at 80 km/h (50 mph).

The Roadster is a fun little sportscar. But that doesn’t mean it compromises on practicality and convenience. The car offers 240 liters of luggage space, and comes with standard equipment including: speed-sensitive steering assistance, electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, Park Distance Control, air conditioning (MINI Cooper S Roadster, MINI Cooper SD Roadster, MINI John Cooper Works Roadster) and audio system with MP3-compatible CD player and AUX IN connection; options include black headlight housing, xenon Adaptive Headlights, Comfort Access, automatic climate control and the Always Open Timer; wide range of entertainment and communications options: Harman Kardon hi-fi loudspeaker system, MINI navigation system, MINI Connected features including Driving Excitement app, web radio, Google services, RSS news feeds, Mission Control, and in-car use of Facebook and Twitter.

• Engine variants:

MINI John Cooper Works Roadster:

Four-cylinder petrol engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo technology and numerous technological details carried over directly from motor sport.
Displacement: 1,598 cc, output: 155 kW/211 hp at 6,000 rpm,
max. torque: 260 Nm/192 lb-ft at 1,850 – 5,600 rpm (280 Nm/207 lb-ft with Overboost at 2,000 – 5,100 rpm). Acceleration 0–100 km/h (62 mph): 6.5 seconds, top speed: 237 km/h (147 mph). Average fuel consumption according to EU: 7.3 litres/100 kilometres (38.7 mpg imp), CO2 emissions: 169 g/km.

MINI Cooper S Roadster:

Four-cylinder petrol engine with
MINI TwinPower Turbo technology. Displacement: 1,598 cc,
output: 135 kW/184 hp at 5,500 rpm, max. torque: 240 Nm/177 lb-ft at 1,600 – 5,000 rpm (260 Nm/192 lb-ft with Overboost at 1,730 – 4,500 rpm). Acceleration 0–100 km/h (62 mph): 7.0 seconds,
top speed: 227 km/h (141 mph).  Average fuel consumption according to EU: 6.0 litres/100 kilometres (47.1 mpg imp), CO2 emissions: 139 g/km.

MINI Cooper Roadster:

Four-cylinder petrol engine with fully variable valve management based on the BMW Group’s VALVETRONIC technology. Displacement: 1,598 cc, output: 90 kW/122 hp at 6,000 rpm, max. torque: 160 Nm/118 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm. Acceleration 0–100 km/h (62 mph): 9.2 seconds, top speed: 199 km/h (124 mph). Average fuel consumption according to EU: 5.7 litres/100 kilometres (49.6 mpg imp),
CO2 emissions: 133 g/km.

MINI Cooper SD Roadster:

Four-cylinder turbodiesel with MINI TwinPower Turbo technology. Displacement: 1,995 cc, output: 105 kW/143 hp at 4,000 rpm, max. torque: 305 Nm/225 lb-ft at 1,750 – 2,700 rpm. Acceleration 0–100 km/h (62 mph): 8.1 seconds,
top speed: 212 km/h (132 mph). Average fuel consumption according to EU: 4.5 litres/100 kilometres (62.8 mpg imp), CO2 emissions: 118 g/km.

Mac Audio’s new show car is based on a MINI Clubman S tuned by Wimmer.

The extremely busy exterior features the John Cooper Works Bodykit, a matte white paint on top it, and some insane graphics on top of that. It also gets matching 18-inch wheels with 215/35-18 Yokohama Advan Sports tires.

Other technical upgrades include Stoptech four-piston high performance brake system, the KW coilovers Variant 1 in Inox and the Sportster Recaro CS-seats.

The engine too has been upgraded, with remapped ECU, modified exhaust system and optimized air intake pipes. It now makes 230 hp.

The car’s party piece however, is the banging audio system it’s been fitted with. It features Mac Audio Star X 2.16 front and rear loudspeakers system in the modified door panels, handmade 90-liter bass enclosure equipped with 3 x Mac Audio STX Reference-Woofers, 6 Micro X Series amplifiers with the maximum capacity of 3,900 Watt, plus extra batteries, buffer capacitors and cabling by Stinger.

The system is completed with Audiovox VME 9325BTA Head unit which enables the user to control navigation using iPod, iPhone, USB, DVB-T and Bluetooth by touchscreen.

Prodrive, as you may know, is responsible for MINI’s World Rally Car, the Countryman WRC. Now they are thinking of a road-going version of that car.

Now those who have seen the WRC Countryman in action now that it is one helluva beast. So the idea of a hotted-up County from Prodrive sounds pretty tempting.

The car will features a body kit similar to the rally car, with big wing and everything and unique wheels. The more important part is the engine of course, and apparently Prodrive wwants to go for a Superchips-tuned version of the Cooper S’s turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine featuring Milltek exhausts.

Prodrive-tuned MINIs are going to have to be faster than Cooper and Works versions to make sense.

via: Autocar

MINI celebrated the launch of London 2012 Olympic special editions by having England long jump champion J.J. Jegede jump over them.

Jegede is actually a London 2012 hopeful, so this jump was like an exercise for him. The three MINIs when lined up measured approximately six metres in length. A long jump champion can easily jump seven or eight meters.

In order to give Jegede the correct elevation for the jump, the run-up track and sand pit were raised to the height of the MINI’s roofs on specially-constructed structures positioned either side of the vehicles.  Both track and pit were built to competition standard to ensure the best conditions for the attempt.

J.J. Jegede said: “When you watch athletics on TV it’s hard to really understand just how far professional athletes can jump.  I’ve always wanted to demonstrate my ability in a fun way, so I jumped at the chance to perform an Evel Knievel-style display.  It is my ultimate dream to compete at London 2012.  I spend much of my spare time working with young people to get them involved in sport too, but I certainly advise any budding athletes not to try this one at home.”

As an official partner of London 2012 Olympic Games MINI released a number of special editions to celebrate the event.

Limited to 2012 units, these models are available in Cooper, Cooper D, Cooper S and Cooper SD trims and come in the Union Jack themed colours; Chilli Red, White Silver or Lightning Blue. All models boast white mirror caps and a white roof featuring the iconic London 2012 Olympic graphic.

They are also distinguished by the Union Jack single sport stripe which runs over the bonnet, roof and rear tailgate. Other distinctive visual features include London 2012 Olympic graphic on side scuttles, and grey 17-inch conical spoke alloy wheels – unavailable on any other MINI model.

The coolest feature of the car inside the cabin is the the London skyline on the piano black dashboard, silhouetting some of London’s most iconic landmarks, including Tower Bridge, Battersea Power Station and the London Eye.

The cabin is further upgraded over the standard models with:

Red and blue stitching twined with white piping on both the front and rear Black ‘Lounge Leather’ upholstery. The headrests complement the theme with Union Jack piping and a London 2012 logo is stitched on the inner edge of both front seats. Coloured stitching also features on the hand brake, gear stick gaiter and floor mats which also have piping.

The London special MINIs are also ver well-equipped:

Lounge Leather sports seats, DAB radio, air conditioning, cruise control and chrome interior touches. MINIMALISM technology also comes as standard; helping to make the 99g/km CO₂ emitting Cooper D models exempt from London Congestion Charging.

Pricing:

MINI Cooper Hatch                             £17,800
MINI Cooper D Hatch                         £19,080
MINI Cooper S Hatch                          £20,125
MINI Cooper SD Hatch                       £20,860

10 years after the start of production, today the two millionth MINI rolls off the assembly line at Plant Oxford, driven by Prime Minister David Cameron, who came round to mark the event.

The Oxford plant alone is responsible for 1.5 million of the two million new generation MINI that have been produced to date and sold globally.The plant is being prepared for the produciton of the next generation MINI, while BMW is also constructing new production facilities.

This latest investment decision helps to ensure the long term future of the Oxford plant and jobs at its pressings plant in Swindon and its engine plant at Hams Hall near Birmingham. It also takes the company’s total investment across all its UK operations to more than £1.5 billion since 2000.

The two millionth MINI is a MINI Convertible specially painted in White Silver metallic with a blue denim roof.  The specification boasts a selection of bespoke interior and exterior options including special alloy wheels, a distinctive leather steering wheel and lounge leather upholstery.

This car will be gifted to a randomly chosen winner who takes part in the global Facebook campaign called ‘Two Million MINIs – Two Million Faces’ which involves photographs of the faces of two million MINI fans being collected and built to create a dedicated Facebook ‘wall’.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “It’s a real privilege to drive this true British icon off the production line today. The 2 millionth MINI to be made here in Oxford is a fantastic symbol of the UK’s strength in the global automotive industry and a great British manufacturing success story.

“BMW’s continued investment in its UK operations, together with its export success – selling to over 90 countries worldwide – is contributing to a real renaissance for the UK car industry and a brilliant example of the sustainable, balanced growth we are determined to achieve. MINI is not just a symbol of our industrial past, but also the great industrial future we want to build.”  ?