Since its founding in 1936, Consumer Reports has become the go-to source for shoppers. From new refrigerators to bottles of wine, Blue-ray players to homeowner’s insurance, if it’s on the market it’s likely the non-profit organization has scientifically tested it. Of course the consumer watchdog is probably most famous for its vehicle reliability ratings.
Last week was a lot like the British ocean liner Lusitania; it got sunk, but this time around it wasn’t the Kaiser’s fault. Instead of falling prey to a German U-Boat it was torpedoed by the New York Auto Show.
British automaker Mini 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.
MINI and John Cooper Works are celebrating their victory at the 2013 Dakar Rally with a special edition Countryman model limited to just 11 units.
MINI has released a full video of Guerlain Chicherit nailing the world’s first backflip in a car.
Looking to build some excitement for its brand, MINI took a highly modified Countryman, put French stuntman Guerlain Chicherit behind the wheel, and asked the duo to execute the first ever unassisted backflip for a car.
The updated 2013 MINI Countryman will be heading to the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, showing off its new interior and all-wheel drive system.
Owners of the 2011 and 2012 MINI Countryman with a manual transmission have found the factory clutch engagement point bothersome and now the British automaker is putting in a fix for those owners.
MINI is giving its Countryman model some upgrades for the 2013 model year, including the addition of all-wheel drive, marking the British automaker’s first AWD offering for the Countryman.
Mini has just announced pricing for the Countryman John Cooper Works edition, revealing that after all the speed oriented goodies are tacked on, the small crossover will cost $35,550.
The MINI John Cooper Works Countryman enjoyed its world premiere back at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, boasting a turbocharged 1.6-liter with 218-hp under its hood.
Official spy photos of the Mini Paceman were released by the company recently which showed off the car sporting a bit of camo, but now we have full photos of the new three-door Countryman.
Expanding on it’s 500 family, Fiat teased the 500X, a small crossover designed to take on the Nissan Juke during an event meant to launch its new 500L.
In celebration of a decade in America, MINI is kicking off it’s cross-country “MINI Takes The States” rally today in New York City, taking the opportunity to confirm that its seventh model will be called the Paceman.
MINI has announced its changes to its 2013 model year lineup, most noticeably with Bluetooth coming standard on every model, which was originally a $500 option.
Rumors began brewing in April of a baby SUV from Audi, sporting the Q2 model designation to sit under the Q3 (pictured above) in the German automaker’s SUV lineup.
In the world of automotive customizing, there isn’t much these days that can shock or surprise us. But Carlex Design’s MINI Countryman does just that, sporting a unique Steampunk theme that truly makes it one-of-a-kind.
The John Cooper Works (JCW) MINI lineup will all get a revised 1.6-liter engine based on its predecessor with performance numbers being the same at 208-hp and 207 lb-ft of torque.
The MINI Paceman concept was revealed to us at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, and will hit dealer showrooms in early 2013 badged as the Countryman Coupe.
It says a lot about the creations that come from MINI, when the British automaker presents their “Cowley Caravan and Swindon Roof Top Tent” and we’re not sure if it’s an elaborate April Fools Joke or if it’s serious, as it was released on April 1st.
Essentially camping accessories for your MINI model, the Cowley Caravan can be color-coordinated to your vehicle and provides a getaway for two people. It comes with a twin-burner gas stove, a water tank, a refrigerator, stereo system, and TV/DVD player, with all of it powered by a solar panel that charges the onboard battery for the 230-volt power connector.
The Swindon tent on the other hand, is a collapsible box that fits on top of your MINI, MINI Clubman, or MINI Countryman. Once the box is open, there’s enough room for two people (barely) and according to MINI “the roof-top tent works a treat, whether the location for your beauty sleep is the English shires or the foothills of Kilimanjaro.” Descriptions like that make us really think this is a nicely done April Fools joke.
If indeed it’s all a joke, it’s a very nicely executed one. MINI went through a lot of work to make these concepts real and to shoot it all in a studio with color-matching models? Who knows, maybe they’re onto something!
The MINI Countryman aims to incorporate the classic MINI look and style and take it off road, and what better way to show off the cars capabilitites than getting out on a frozen lake for some sideways fun.
MINI and Red Bull have a history of marketing campaigns together, and in this newest video, the guys from the Red Bull Crashed Ice downhill skate racing series decide to practice some techniques while in tow behind the Countryman.
The Countryman looks great going sideways, and there are even some good wipe outs in the video, what more can you ask for?
Watch the MINI Countryman with the Red Bull Crashed Ice skaters in the video below.
Earlier this year, we alluded to the fact that the MINI Paceman Concept would hit dealerships as the Countryman Coupe and it looks like that will be made official when the vehicle debuts at this year’s Paris Auto Show.
It all makes sense that MINI would put the Countryman name onto their two-door Paceman Concept considering the production vehicle will share the same front end. It also appears that the Paceman Concept will closely resemble the final production Countryman Coupe and it is still on schedule to hit dealerships in 2013, as a 2014 model.
Unfortunately there is still no confirmation on what will power the new Countryman Coupe, but the Paceman Concept did sport a John Cooper Works-built 1.6L twin-turbocharged engine sporting 211-hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. The Countryman Coupe should make a nice addition to MINI’s lineup.
[Source: Car and Driver]
