The venerable MINI Cooper has served in almost every form of motorsport possible—rallying, Dakar, racetrack underdog, drag racing, tractor pulls, and setting land speed records. Now, it gets a chance to prove itself at the Nürburgring at its legendary 24-hour endurance race.

On June 25th, MINI Motorsports and three privateer MINI teams will tackle 24 hours’ worth of the Nürburgring with 200 other competitors. MINI has never entered an endurance event prior to this, and as if surviving the ‘Ring’s 14+ miles wasn’t hard enough, teams will have to contend with changing weather, exhaustion, insomnia-induced hallucination, and other racing foibles and mishaps guaranteed to put hair on any race car’s chest.

No idea what car MINI plans to enter in the event—the photo shows the faint outline of a Cooper. And in typical MINI stiff-upper-lip fashion, the entire thing is known as “The Green Hell Adventure.” Good luck, MINI. May they fare better against the Germans than they did at Arnhem.

[Source: Motoringfile]

The all-new eagerly anticipated MINI Coupe is almost here. The all-new two-seater coupe is described as being an important competitor within the compact sports car class, a greater focus on performance compared to other MINI models. MINI describes its fine balance of the selection of engines, chassis set-up, weight distribution and aerodynamic properties, delivering optimum performance and superb driving pleasure.

The MINI Coupe will offer the Cooper, the Cooper S and the John Cooper Works Model. Surprisingly there will be no engines changes for the Coupe. Power will remain the same at 122-hp(base), 180-hp(S) and 208-hp(JCW). Both the Cooper and Cooper S Coupes are available with an optional six-speed automatic transmission or the six-speed manual transmission that comes fitted in all models as standard. An active rear spoiler is also offered on all Coupe models.

Outside, the car still retains the same MINI styling, but comes wrapped in a more aggressive package. Interestingly, the Coupe is actually based on the MINI Convertible, but with added bracing on the rear and sills, making it even stiffer than the current hatch. Pricing and weight have not yet been announced but we will soon have more information in the next few days.

GALLERY: MINI Coupe

[Source: MotoringFile]

Pricing has finally been announced for the MINI Cooper receiving goods from Rolls-Royce’s factory in Goodwood and it’s probably shocking to many, even those that expected an utmost premium for the Rolls-Royce goods. So let’s just get that out of the way with the base-model Mini Cooper Goodwood coming in at an astonishing $68,000. We’re going to safely assume that the $68,000 won’t convert over to America’s market, but even at close to $50,000, that’s a crazy price to pay for a Cooper.

Those in Europe that are really interested and have no problems paying the price tag will get a ton of Rolls-Royce specific details on their MINI Cooper with Inspired by Goodwood emblems to prove you paid the price. The standard paint color is Rolls-Royce’s own Diamond Black metallic while MINI’s Reef Blue metallic is available as an option.

Interior upgrades include Rolls-like woven headliner, Cornsilk-hued leather with stitched black-leather contrast. The entire doors and center console are covered with luxurious leather while the speedometer and tachometer faces have been swapped with Rolls-Royce font.

It’s questionable if the price tag is worth it; but for those that certainly love Rolls-Royce’s luxurious amenities and prefer to drive a more discrete MINI Cooper, well, here’s your compromise.

GALLERY: MINI Cooper Goodwood

[Source: Autoblog]

While it wasn’t the MINI Countryman WRC that did it, the brand still captured their first ever rally victory, with an S2000-class MINI John Cooper Works finishing first in the Rally dell’Adriatico.

The privateer team, known as Grifone, is campaigning the car in a regional rally series that adheres to the rules of the S2000 class. These are much closer to what one can drive on the street, and are also eligible for road racing series in Europe. The win will certainly give the brand a boost ahead of the Countryman WRC’s debut next week, and its first race in Sardinia in May.

[Source: Paultan.org]

A MINI Cooper S fitted with an experimental hybrid all-wheel drive system was spotted testing in winter climates, a surprise move for BMW, which has given no indication it was developing such a car.

Sharp-eyed readers will not the electric motor mounted between the rear wheels, as well as the “hybrid” stickers mounted on the vehicle. A traditional gas engine provides power to the front wheels.

Considering MINI has their All4 AWD system already, it could become superfluous if the hybrid AWD setup becomes a fixture during the 2013 revamp of MINI’s lineup. With BMW developing hybrid technology in collaboration with Peugeot and Citroen, the cost of such a system would be spread across a large number of models, and thus make it an affordable option for MINI cars.

[Source: Left Lane News]

With the positive reception given to the very compact MINI Rocketman concept at this year’s Geneva Auto Show, MINI execs have given indications that the car will be produced sometime in the near future.

“We are good at looking at history and interpreting a future for it,” MINI sales and marketing chief Kevin Robertson told Autocar, noting that most MINIs end up making it from concept to production.  While the Rocketman is supposed to provide visual cues as to MINI’s future styling direction, the underlying technology behind the Rocketman will also play a significant role in the brand’s future.

“The themes in the car are not just about a smaller Mini,” said Robertson. “Lightweight construction, and new types of components will go on to Minis. The BMW i-concept  will be available to all members of the group.”

But with MINI USA head Jim McDowell telling AutoGuide that no larger or smaller MINIs were slated for America outside of the current lineup, it’s possible that we won’t see the Rocketman on our roads at all.

[Source: Autocar]

Diesel hot hatches have always been a bit of an oddity – one would think that a big, heavy diesel engine would throw off the superb balance and lightweight that are the hallmarks of most front-wheel-drive hot hatchbacks, but the MINI Cooper SD is one diesel hot hatch that deserves the benefit of the doubt after seeing it at the Geneva Auto Show.

While the regular Cooper S isn’t quite a featherweight, the car’s reflexes would have you believe that it weighs as much as an empty coffee cup. While the 2.0L turbo diesel only puts out 143 horsepower, its 225 lb-ft of torque is greater than even a tuned-to-the-gills Cooper S JCW’s output, giving the car plenty of useable power in the lower end of the rev range.

MINI claims a 0-60 sprint of between 8.1 seconds for a Cooper SD to 9.4 seconds for a Countryman SD. Even more astonishing are the fuel economy figures – anywhere from 57.6 mpg to 65 mpg (on the European cycle). To put that in perspective, you can theoretically return Prius-like economy with a small performance trade-off.

Gallery: MINI Cooper SD and Countryman SD

If you’ve ever seen an original Mini (which may be unlikely if you live in North America) you might find it hard to wrap your head around just how small the car really is. The current MINI Cooper, while small by our standards, absolutely dwarfs the original car, but MINI’s new Rocketman concept should set things straight for the brand.

With a footprint that’s only slightly larger than the original Mini, the Rocketman also boasts a carbon fiber spaceframe to keep weight down, and a re-configurable interior to maximize passenger and cargo space. Unfortunately, MINI USA head Jim McDowell said that North America was unlikely to get any products that deviated from the current car’s size, so we’ll have to gaze at this one from afar – assuming it ever sees production.

Gallery: MINI Rocketman Concept

As part of MINI‘s 2011 Cooper lineup and debuts at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, an announcement has been made that a John Cooper Works Tuning Kit will be available for the MINI Cooper S, MINI Cooper S Clubman and MINI Cooper S Convertible. The tuning kit will raise horsepower to 200-hp and torque to 186 ft-lbs, with an overboost function that increases torque even more to 199 ft-lbs.

The John Cooper Works factory tuning kit includes an optimized engine management (reprogrammed ECU) and a new air filter system. Both these simple modifications are the reasons for the horsepower upgrade. The tuning kit boosts 0-62 mph acceleration to 6.8 seconds while raising top speed to 145-mph.

In addition, enthusiasts will also be able to purchase a new muffler with stainless steel exhaust tips, and 18-inch Cross Spoke Red Stripe wheels.

No pricing for the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit or other accessories has been announced yet.

MINI will debut the new tuning kit in Geneva alongside the new Cooper SD lineup as well as the Rocketman concept. Check back March 1st for full coverage here.

GALLERY: 2011 MINI Cooper John Cooper Works Tuning Kit

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The thought of  a front-drive BMW was inconceivable less than 5 years ago, but the Bavarian luxury car maker appears to be planning an onslaught of front-drive models for launch by 2016, including a couple crossovers, a sports car and a new compact.

The first front-driver will be a 1 Series GT, another pointless crossover, but one that BMW evidently feels earns a spot in its lineup. The silver lining is that it will share a platform with the wonderful MINI Clubman, giving it excellent dynamics even if its technically a “downmarket” car. More intriguing is the BMW Z1, a compact roadster that would mimic the Lotus Elan of the early 1990′s by sending power to the front via a turbocharged 4-cylinder.

A compact, as well as the next generation 1-Series will likely follow suit, since 1-Series drivers apparently don’t know or care about which wheels are being driven. Naturally, a whole new range of MINIs will follow, including an all-new variant said to be the size of the original Mini Cooper.

[Source: Inside Line]

German firm X-Raid is already preparing a MINI Countryman, a vehicle that’s been on sale for less than a month, for competition in the upcoming Dakar rally.

While most of the photos show a finished product, the vehicle prep shots show a pretty thorough re-working of the biggest MINI, as well as a gorgeous custom made rollcage. Sadly, specifications aren’t part of the article, and we’re left guessing on how much power the thing makes. A long travel suspension and skid plates are also visible to the naked eye.

Gallery: MINI Countryman Dakar

It’s been announced that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recently opened an investigation into possible power steering failures in MINI Cooper cars.

NHTSA decided to investigate after receiving complaints from 54 drivers and confidential field reports where the MINI Cooper suddenly lost power steering assistance. The issue seems to only be presenting itself in 2004 and 2005 model year cars. The good news is that there haven’t been any reported incidents and most drivers were able to gain control of their vehicle. One source of the problem, according to the NHTSA, could involve a power steering pump failure.

When reached for comment, BMW North America said the carmaker is aware of the investigation but has not yet received formal notification from NHTSA.

[Source: CNN Money]

Love your MINI Cooper and its awesome British heritage. Your MINI might be sporting the stylish Union Jack on the roof but perhaps you need something to complement it in the interior. It’s a good thing Recaro is one step ahead of you, releasing their Union Jack seats that would most certainly meet with the approval of Austin Powers.

The Union Jack seats are part of their Sportster CS series and are available through the Attractive4Mini program. And like all Recaro seats, these are made for comfort and support while providing plenty of protection. No pricing has been made available but they will be released to the public on September 18th. So stop sippin’ that tea and get to ordering yourself a pair of new seats.

[Source: Zer Customs]

In advance of the Los Angeles Auto Show, where the U.S.-spec Fiat 500 will make its North American debut, the company held a dealer meeting for 400 of its franchise holders.

According to the AFP, Fiat told Chrysler dealers that it wants to open 165 showrooms in small car markets, with the goal of selling 50,000 Fiat 500′s. A statement released by the company stated that “”The new Fiat retail network will begin selling the US version of the Fiat 500 late this year, and the Fiat 500 Cabrio model in 2011.”

The 50,000 sales figure is similar to the total number of vehicles sold by MINI in the United States.

[Source: AFP]

Day 4 Of the MINI Takes The States Tour was an exciting one for me, as I was able to sample the all-new MINI Countryman before nearly anyone else.  Saturday’s epic blast through two states left me exhausted, and I was expecting the Countryman to be a little more laid back than the Clubman S I drove yesterday. I was wrong. Don’t think of the Countryman as a MINI SUV, but as a MINI Cooper S for people with obligations.

Hit the jump to read more about the MINI Countryman

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Day 3 of the MINI Takes The States Tour placed a big emphasis on driving. Not the kind of stop and go commuter traffic that we experienced in New York, Philly and Baltimore, but on the kind of high performance spirited driving that MINIs are known for.

Don’t get me wrong – as much as auto writers posture about blasting across twisty blacktop or exiting a corner on a road course with the wheel cranked at full lock, they know somewhere deep down they understand that their audience wants to know how the car does in the daily grind of traffic, gas mileage and all the unglamorous stuff left to plebian drivers. These are the conditions where we drive our press cars 95% of the time; stuck in a barely moving single file row of other cars, belching greenhouse emissions, A/C cranked and the same Lady GaGa song playing across the same 5 radio stations owned by one media conglomerate.

If you’re test driving a mid-size sedan, then the review will be centered on these conditions. But if you’re in something a bit sportier, you’ll go to bed a little earlier on a Friday night and maybe not go to the bar with your buddies. The alarm will be set for an ungodly hour, but you won’t need that double batch of morning coffee, because the urgency will be there. It’s like Christmas morning even though the August humidity is just starting to creep into your day. Today was one of those days.

Hit the jump to see how it all went down:

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The 1^st day of the MINI Takes The States Tour kicked off with a bit of a surprise – it turned out that a MINI press car was unable to take me from Newark Airport to our first destination, so I had to slum it in a BMW 550i. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited.

Unfortunately, the 550i’s nav system took me in the opposite direction from New York, nearly sending me to Camden, New Jersey, ranked America’s most dangerous city in 2009. Not exactly the kind of place you want to take a brand new Bimmer.

All was resolved thanks to a local friend who laughed at my inept sense of direction and set me on course for Manhattan’s Meat Packing District. I set forth for MILK Studios, a gallery space where MINI was hosting a launch event for the new 4-door Countryman SUV, as well as the launch point of the Eastern leg of the MINI Takes The States Tour.

Once I hit Manhattan, I began to wish for a Mini Cooper S to help weave through the atrocious traffic. Being an admitted small car guy (my Miata keys in my pocket), the 5 Series was not my ideal vehicle, though I was kept in air conditioned, HD Radio’d comfort for the few hours (yes, hours) it took me to get from Newark to Downtown Manhattan.

Keep reading more MINI Takes the States Tour, Day 1: New York after the jump:

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MINI fans will be able to preview the new MINI Countryman as the brand kicks off the MINI Takes The States rally in different locations across the United States starting tomorrow.

San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago and New York City will play host to the start points, and Autoguide will be in New York to cover the events leading off from the East Coast leg of the rally. Autoguide will be on hand for stops in Philadelphia, Baltimore/Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, Columbus and Indianapolis, Autoguide staffer Derek Kreindler will cover events such as the Countryman launch party, a visit to the sports car collection at the Simeone Museum, participate in an autocross in Baltimore, lap the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and hang out with MINI owners along at various stops along the way.

Be sure to follow @Autoguide on Twitter for line coverage, and check the blog for in-depth updates.

Hit the jump to see the official press release

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The original Mini was an immensely popular car in Japan, and the new one seems to be doing well in its position as a “premium” compact car. To help generate excitement after 4 years of the same body style, MINI is launching the Saville Row edition, which, ironically, is only available in Japan.

Sporting a deep black paint scheme, chrome wheels, gas cap and mirrors, the Saville Row uses the standard 1.6L four-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission to put power to the ground. Other features include  bi-xenon headlights, white turn signal lamps , privacy glass and an anthracite headliner. The Saville Row will be limited to 100 units and retail for a hefty $35,000.

Also available is the BMW X6 Performance Unlimited, which features a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder running through an eight-speed automatic transmission. With 21″ wheels, a special aerokit, and a blacked out grille, the X6 looks mean outside, while you the driver stay swaddled in Dakota Leather and special aluminum pedals.

[Source: BMW]

One day after spy photos of the new Suzuki Swift were captured, Suzuki has released official shots of their new MINI-rivaling subcompact, and the car looks great, despite it being more of an evolution than a clean-sheet design. The car is slightly long, lower and wider and weight has been reduced, though Suzuki didn’t specify how much mass has been trimmed from the already sprightly car.

A 1.2L gasoline engine putting out 92 horsepower and 87 lb-ft of torque will be available at launch, with a diesel option to follow. Fuel economy is 56.5 mpg on the combined European cycle, an improvement of nearly 8 mpg from the outgoing 1.3L unit. Straight line speed will never be the Swift’s best area, but the legendary handling of the last-generation car (Britain’s EVO magazine, regarded as the sports car driver’s Bible, gave it a 4/5 rating, calling it a “miniature hero”) should carry over to the new car.

The Swift is set to go on sale in Europe at the end of the summer, with a starting price of roughly $16,000, going square up against the MINI for hot hatch supremacy. The Swift has a shot at coming to North America, where it could also compete with the MINI and new offerings like the Ford Fiesta, but Suzuki seems to be throwing their limited funds behind the Kizashi, and hoping that the mid-size sedan will resurrect the brand.

[Source: Autocar]

Two stripped down models will join the MINI range within two years of the debut of the MINI Countryman crossover, one a Coupe, the other a 2-seat Roadster.

“The Coupe will arrive six months after the Countryman, and the Roadster 12 months after the Countryman,” said Jim McDowell, Vice-President of MINI USA. The Countryman will hit showrooms in February, 2011.

The MINI Coupe concept was essentially a Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works package (with the more powerful 211-horsepower turbo engine, suspension tweaks and big wheel package), with a “coupe” bodystyle. The Roadster used a base Cooper S engine (good for 172 horsepower), and jettisoned the exposed soft top from the standard Cooper Convertible in favor of a clamshell design similar to the Porsche Boxster Spyder.

Gallery: Mini Coupe and Roadster Concepts

[Source: Inside Line]

A video and a series of print advertisements from MINI has the BMW subsidiary throwing down the gauntlet against German sports car maker Porsche, challenging them to a “race” at Road Atlanta, daring them to let their 911 Carrera go up against the diminutive MINI Cooper S.

This challenge sounds fun on paper, but MINI never really defined the terms of what a “race” entails. Manufacturers usually fudge with these sorts of things so that their product comes out on top, so we’re still a bit skeptical. However the tongue-in-cheek nature of MINI’s advertising campaigns means that their ego can take a bit more bruising than most other brands.

MINI’s current head, Jim McDowell is a former Porsche Cars North America employee, something that adds a bit more fun to the whole spectacle. McDowell took out a full page ad in the New York Times, and hosted a video on Youtube outlining the challenge to the company’s Facebook fans. Check it out for yourself and decide.

[Source: MINI USA Facebook page via Jalopnik]

With the success of oil-burning hot hatches like the Seat Leon Cupra FR and Volkswagen Golf GTD, as well as a general trend towards “green” products (whatever that means), Mini is preparing to launch a diesel version of their Mini Cooper S hot hatch.

Due to emissions legislation, BMW won’t offer the diesel in North America (instead, we’ll get hyper-efficient variants of Mini’s new 3-cylinder engines)au, as federalizing it would be too cost prohibitive. But in Europe and other overseas markets, a diesel is a necessary option. The diesel should be available across the entire Mini range as well, putting out 140 horsepower and 230 lb-ft of torque, while returning over 40 mpg.

[Source: Motoring File]