2008 Mini Cooper S S 6 Speed Manual 2-door Hatchback on 2040-cars

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Mini Clubman Concept throws open all six of its doors for Geneva

Coming in just over 10 inches longer and 6.5 inches wider than the 2013 Mini Clubman, the new Mini Clubman Concept that you see above is set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week. Let's get the maximum mini jokes out of the way right off the bat... Done? Okay, moving along.
Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design, says that this Clubman Concept "shows how the Mini Clubman could be taken a step further: more interior space, a greater sense of high-end quality and yet still clever, bold and distinctive." And that extra interior space will be accessible through four real doors, eschewing the single-sided barn door approach of the current Clubman. Well, mostly - there's still the side-by-side barn door philosophy at the back instead of a more traditional upward-opening hatch. In fact, spy shots and early rumors pegged this more conventionally doored Mini as a new model selling under a new name, possibly Traveller. However, it appears that Mini will stick with the brand equity it has established with Clubman instead.
As you can see in the small image gallery above, the Clubman Concept is instantly recognizable as a Mini, though a somewhat more refined overall package than past efforts. The front headlamps still have a bit of a surprised look to them, but we think this concept's overall fascia, and its unique bright finishes, might be more successful than the latest Cooper's. At the rear, there are a set of rather large taillights dominating the view, and we note that the prevalence of air intakes and scoops at parent BMW have moved on down to the Mini line. We'll have to reserve final judgment until we see the Clubman Concept in person.

Mini 'Takes the States' is ready to rally again this summer

The Mini brand has gone to great lengths — literally — during the past two decades to embrace and entertain its loyal following by sponsoring cross-country caravans to celebrate its products and customers. This summer, the caravan reforms once again. Officially called “Mini Takes the States,” the rally in mid-July is scheduled to embark from Albuquerque, N.M., and finish eight days later in Seattle. Visiting five states and nine cities, several hundred drivers and their passengers are expected to join the caravan for part or all of the journey. MTTS, as it's become known as to Mini fans, first rolled out in 2006, with Mini USA using it as a way to celebrate the introduction of the first, hardcore GP edition of its high-performance John Cooper Works model. It has since become a biennial event, with each rally taking a different route around the U.S. It's not competitive. The idea is to connect Mini owners and let them share their enthusiasm about the brand and their experiences with it. Mini plans festivities along the route and usually a “Rally Finale” on the final evening. As far as expenses — hotels, most meals — participants are on their own, although breakfasts and some evening events with food are provided by Mini. The idea is to create positive publicity and “good feelings” for the brand, and to sell more Minis. Since Minis are, at the end of the day, automobiles, service may be required along the MTTS route. Technicians are on hand to perform repairs like engine computer diagnostics, light bulb replacements, tire changes, and other non-major work. Participants will initially head north from New Mexico through Colorado and Utah to Salt Lake City. Continuing through Big Sky country, MTTS 2024 will stop in Bozeman and Missoula, Mont., then head west to Spokane, Wash. From there, drivers will cruise southwest through the scenic mountains and valleys of Yakima, Wash., winding up in Seattle. “WeÂ’re excited to reconnect with our Mini owners nationwide to foster current relationships, forge new friendships and make lasting memories, this time in some of our incredible and majestic western states,” said Mike Peyton, vice president and "chief motorer" for Mini of the Americas, in a press release.

BMW-designed Mini Cooper celebrates its 20th birthday

Mini is celebrating a major milestone. It unveiled the original Cooper Hardtop 20 years ago at the 2000 edition of the Paris auto show. More than merely a new car, this retro-styled hatchback laid the foundations for the entire brand. Its predecessors sometimes wore Mini emblems, but they were always sold by various companies including Austin, Morris, Rover, and, through a licensing deal, Innocenti. The name didn't officially denote a standalone carmaker until the hatchback was presented to the public in the French capital two decades ago. The decision to make Mini a brand came from executives at the top of BMW, which purchased England-based MG-Rover in 1994. Developing a Mini for the 21st century was a Herculean task. Releasing an evolution of the original car, which made its debut in 1959, was completely out of the question; it had outlived its expiration date by decades, and was a fossil in automotive terms. The new model had to be designed on a blank slate. And yet, the development team decided it still needed to look like a Mini, and it also had to drive like one. After experimenting with several concepts, like the futuristic ACV30 (pictured below) shown in 1997, designers settled on a basic set of guidelines. 1997 Mini ACV30 concept View 4 Photos According to Mini, the project brief stated the 21st-century model needed to have short overhangs, round headlights, a hexagonal grille, and room for four passengers. It also had to be front-wheel drive, a layout that made the original car a packaging masterpiece (and, admittedly, a bit of a nightmare to work on), but stylists decided to give it a hatch in the name of practicality. Finally, product planners decided to push the Mini upmarket, away from its roots as a value-friendly alternative to bubble cars, and embed it firmly into premium territory. Called R50 internally, the hatchback was initially offered in two variants named One and Cooper, respectively. Mini expanded the range in record time. Model year 2002 brought the hotter Cooper S (R53), a turbodiesel engine joined the European line-up in 2003, and a convertible (R52) was introduced in 2004. Sales in the United States started for the 2002 model year, and driving enthusiasts gave it a warm reception. It was well worth the wait. BMW never planned to keep Mini anchored to a single model. It introduced the second-generation Cooper in 2006, and new variants arrived in rapid-fire succession. By 2010, there was a Mini to suit nearly everyone's needs.