Question: What's the maximum size that a can a car be that's called a MINI? Answer: Exactly 4 meters and 10 centimeters long, or 162 inches. Wouldn't 'cha know, that's exactly the length of the latest MINI Crossover concept from the diminutive brand? Moving forward, it sounds as if there will be two different platforms for future products from BMW's MINI brand, and both of them could be shared with Fiat. One of them could end up being a bit larger than the current Cooper, the other just a bit smaller. We are left wondering if the MINI brand will be blessed with the long-rumored Isetta revival as opposed to its parent company.

Rumors also abound regarding the powertrain of future MINI products. Engines seem likely to be supplied by Fiat moving forward, with a 1.6-liter four cylinder for the Cooper and a possible twin cylinder powerplant for the Isetta revival. Whatever the case, Mini Global Brand Manager Dr. Wolfgang Armbrecht assures us that it will be cute and fun to drive.

[Source: Inside Line]

We won't have any official details on what will be powering the electric MINIs that we know will be prowling the streets next year until the vehicle is unveiled at the LA Auto Show later this year. That doesn't mean that we can't all speculate until then, right? We've seen spy shots of test vehicles (minus tail-pipes) on the road and we've seen some engine-less MINI carcasses coming out of the Oxford plant in England. While we can't pinpoint what type of battery or electric motor(s?) the car will come with, we may be able to rule a few things out. For instance, an inside source has reportedly told EVO that the Bavarian parents of the MINI brand have been testing both lithium ion batteries and hub-mounted electric motors with unsatisfactory results. So, it won't look like this. Will the cars get a nickel metal hydride battery or a Zebra battery like the current electric smart? Not sure. Any thoughts?

[Source: EVO]

We learned just a few months ago that BMW was preparing to build a fleet of 500 battery-powered MINIs that it would unleash for field testing in California. When we spoke to MINI USA VP Jim McDowell in July, the U.S. staff had been caught as off-guard by the announcement as we had and they didn't know any technical details of the new EVs. However, CAR magazine in the UK has managed to snag some photos of what appears to be an electric MINI prototype. The car in the photos has the standard MINI Cooper S rear bumper but is conspicuously missing the dual tailpipes that normally sit in that indentation in the middle. CAR is also reporting that BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer will unveil the MINI EV at the LA Auto Show in November. All but 10 of the initial batch of 500 cars are expected to be leased to the public beginning in mid-2009 with the others reserved for internal company use. BMW still hasn't revealed any technical details of the car, but hopefully we'll know something soon. All we know so far is that the word "Erprobungsfahrzeug" appears on the signage on the doors and tailgate of the car in the photos. We translate that to mean "test vehicle."

UPDATE: German word fixed.

[Source: CAR]

Anyone who has ever tried to take a test drive before buying a new car has probably at some point encountered a recalcitrant dealer. This tends to be especially true when you want to try out a popular car like the MINI or Prius. Even if you can get a drive you're lucky to get 30 minutes at the wheel which is hardly enough to really evaluate a product that you are about to spend tens of thousands of dollars on. MINI Canada is offering up an unusual new test drive program called MINI Test Drive Forever. All you have to do is pay some cash, which coincidentally equals the price of the car and MINI Canada will let you test drive the MINI of your choice for as long as you want any time you want. You can even keep it at home and just bring it in for scheduled maintenance. Obviously it's nothing more than a quirky new advertising campaign encouraging people to buy a MINI but seems in keeping with the fun attitude of the brand. Given that MINI is currently selling cars as fast they can build them, it hardly seems worth spending the money on another marketing campaign.

[Source: MINI Canada]

When we met with MINI USA VP Jim McDowell back in July he told us that a fourth model would be added to the lineup soon, and it looks like we'll get our first real look at it in Paris next month. BMW will be rolling out the new MINI Crossover Concept. Four seems to be the operative number for the MINI Crossover. It get four seats, four doors, four driven wheels and it's over four meters long. No details about the powertrain have been revealed yet but it's likely that the production version will offer both gas and diesel engines for Europe, while the U.S. will only get the former. While the basic shape of the concept will probably carry forward largely unchanged to the production model coming in 2009, it's not known if the odd door configuration will. It's almost as if the designers couldn't decide what kind of doors to use. The passenger side has a conventionally hinged rear door while the drivers side has a sliding door. BMW calls this "new diversity through asymmetric arrangement," although the functionality is debatable. The rear hatch also swings out and to the side giving easy access to the cargo area. The MINI crossover also has an unusual center rail running the length of the passenger compartment that allows different combinations of storage compartments, cup holders, shelves, etc. to be attached.


[Source: BMW]

Preparing for the next-generation of auto dealerships, the Bill Jacobs BMW/MINI shop will break ground September 12 in Naperville, IL. The dealer's website features a countdown timer and a whole heap of information about how Bill Jacobs' crew hopes to make the building a way to "discuss the importance of eco-friendly initiatives in the automotive industry, as well as why automotive retailing is ready for these sorts of changes." How ready? Well, the shop will have a BMW Hydrogen 7 on hand on the 12th, so let's just say that they're ahead of the curve. The building will also feature sun shading, low VOC paints and "will take advantage of water, recycling and ventilation technologies to make the dealership more environmentally stable." Sensible.

[Source: Bill Jacobs Groundbreaking]

Click on picture for high-res image

If you hadn't noticed, the Olympic Games in Beijing are being celebrated these days. MINI decided that it was a good opportunity to mix Chinese traditions with British German craftmanship and so they sent a MINI Clubman to be cut in half and made a rickshaw. Yes, not a lot of horsepowers, but human legpower moves the MINI rickshaw around the Hu Tong district in Beijing. The vehicle is finished with all sorts of amulets and decorations to bring good luck to the rider, and liberate some positive energy during these Games. What we can't deny is that human power is actually greener than an ICE engine. Oh, wait, didn't somebody challenge that statement?



[Source: BMW]

We have heard all about these European hypermilers who manage to churn out 45-50mpg U.S. in production cars, usually with high-technology turbocharged diesels. However, British TV station Channel 4's motoring website 4Car has carried out real-world fuel economy tests on eight low-emissions cars (5 diesels, 2 gasoline and one hybrid) and has found out that they didn't meet the official mileage and CO₂ emission figures. Although the EU driving cycle is more theoretical than real-world driving, the difference is quite stunning. For instance, the worst offender was the Ford Focus Econetic, which got 11mpg Imperial (9mpg U. S. or almost 1l/100 km) worse in the Channel 4 tests than the official numbers whould have us believe. Moreover, higher fuel usage means that these cars pollute more than expected, and means they should fall in a different Vehicle Excess Duty (Road Tax) band and the driver should pay a higher rate. Follow us after the jump for the complete list and their press release which explains their evaluating method.

[Source: 4Car]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the MINI Cooper D

MINI doesn't seem to need much in the way of eye-catching advertising to sell its cars these days, with the brand's daily sales rate jumping by 14.9% -- one of only a handful of brands to increase at all. Still, the automaker's American arm has a new marketing scheme in the works, centering around their make-believe "carfun footprint" figure, which it defines as: "A measurement of how much fun your car is versus how much impact it has on the environment." The MINI is definitely one of the most enjoyable cars on U.S. roadways with its small size and sporty performance. To help you figure out your own carfun footprint, MINI has conveniently set up a website with a "Carfun Footprint Calculator," though it's not yet working. Check back in a few days.

MINI will be rolling out this new advertising campaign in full force soon enough. Expect to see these ads online and on billboards, in your favorite magazines and newspapers and on television. Know what would score even better on the Carfun Calculator? How 'bout an electric MINI. Oh yeah, and a diesel. Please?


[Source: MINI USA]

Cleangreencars.co.uk has awarded BMW as the "cleanest premium manufacturer" in Great Britain. Their report found that total model range CO₂ emissions from January 2008 to June 2008 at BMW averaged 161.64g/km. BMW's competitors all achieved worse figures. For instance Audi and Mercedes were 177.36g/km and 192.85g/km respectively. Lexus, with its hybrid-based model line-up, managed an average of 194.85g/km, while Jaguar topped 200g/km and Porsche recorded 275.64g/km. BMW's MINI brand had an average of 139.64g/km.

According to BMW's press release (which you can find after the jump), both the EfficientDynamics and the MINImalism program have reduced emissions while keeping up driving dynamics. BMW also said that it's preparing NOx storage capability within a catalytic converter on certain models in the near future and that it was finalizing drivetrain configurations to meet the likely EU6 legislation due to come into effect in 2014.

[Source: BMW]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the MINI Cooper D

It looks like it will be even harder to get your hands on a MINI Cooper than ever before. Sales of the diminutive little hatch have been hot so far this year, as MINI had just a four day supply of unsold vehicles on hand at the close of June. This month, supply is even tighter with just one day's supply available. Unfortunately, the manufacturing plant in England is at full capacity, so there is no real way to increase supply. Therefore, if you are looking to get your mitts on either of the current gas-powered models, you'd better get your name on whatever list your dealer can offer. Those who want an electric MINI should certainly do the same.

In much more exciting and favorable news, we hear that BMW is seriously considering offering the diesel version of the urban car on U.S. soil. First, though, the automaker needs to produce a model of the vehicle is is legal for sale in all fifty states. Based on our driving impressions, especially considering the 47 miles per gallon we achieved with it, that day can't come soon enough!


[Source: Green Fuels Forecast]

Click the MINI Cooper D for a high res gallery

For reasons such as imported oil dependency and environmental concerns, there are some people who think personal cars are evil and must be eliminated from our roads immediately. This sentiment is patently unrealistic, and there's no shortage of people, this writer included, who to enjoy cars while using less fuel and emitting fewer greenhouse gases. I'm not ashamed to say that driving quickly is fun and feels good, but that doesn't mean I like to waste fuel or dump pollutants into the air. That's why I love driving cars like the Tesla Roadster. Having fun driving doesn't necessarily mean you need to have an insanely fast car like the Tesla or an Audi R8. Small, lightweight cars like the Mazda MX-5 or or the Honda Fit don't have gobs of power, but they're fun to drive because they handle well and go around corners quickly.

The latest resident of the AutoblogGreen Garage is one of the most entertaining and fuel efficient cars I've driven in a long time. Unfortunately, it's also a car that Americans cannot buy. The 1.6L diesel-powered MINI Cooper D is not available in North America, but fuel system supplier Bosch has added one to its promotional fleet and recently loaned it to us. The aptly-named MINI is indeed a small car and the gas-engined versions offered in the US have been flying off lots at a record pace in recent months. Through the first six months of 2008, MINI sales in the U.S. are up 34 percent compared to last year. Follow the jump to see how the MINI Cooper D rates compared to the regular Cooper.


All Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Click the MINI for a high res gallery

At a breakfast meeting with MINI USA VP Jim McDowell this morning he was asked to elaborate on recently announced plans for a battery powered MINI. McDowell acknowledged that the US branch was caught somewhat by surprise with the announcement. Plans have not been finalized at this point as to whether the cars will be leased or sold, or how many will be built. What McDowell did say for certain is that electric MINIs will be on the road in the hands of regular customers in the summer of 2009, one year from now. He could not say if all those customers would be in California or if they would be made available nationwide. No specifications such as range are available at this time either.

Update: After the presentation, we talked to McDowell for a few more minutes and although he couldn't say what type of battery will be in the cars, he did say that MINI will make a further announcement later this year, possibly around the time of the Los Angeles Auto Show.


All Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: MINI]

We're not sure that a bigger MINI Cooper is exactly what the buying public at large has been waiting for, but it is exactly what they might get. We would certainly hope that the small-size MINI would remain in the line, though that would certainly negate whatever savings BMW is hoping for by collaborating with Fiat on the project in the first place. Fiat will be using the platform for the next Grande Punto, due in 2011. MINI would not use the platform until 2012 at the earliest, followed up by Alfa Romeo's planned MiTo successor a year later. Also on the docket is a new Fiat-sourced 1.6L four-banger, which would be the third 1.6L engine used by BMW for the MINI in as many platforms.

It sounds as if BMW would like to save a few million euros in the development cost of the next MINI so it can continue building its larger rear-wheel drive passenger cars and *ugh* sports activity vehicles. What's more, the expected costs to hit future targeted fuel economy standards are rather staggering. This being the case, despite the huge sales potential of the MINI brand, it could well be playing second fiddle to the larger machines from its parent company in this case.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req'd.]

German automotive supplier Bosch has announced that it has provided nearly half a million start/stop systems for BMW and Mini since launching the system. Bosch also announced that three additional manufacturers will introduce its technology withing the next few months. If you didn't know, Start/Stop technology allows the engine to shut down when the car is not moving, for instance, during traffic jams or at red traffic lights. When the gear is engaged or the accelerator pedal is pressed, the engine automatically starts again. According to Bosch, their system cuts fuel consumption by up to five percent in the European Driving Cycle, which translates into CO₂ emissions being reduced by 8 percent. Bosch also claims that the system is more quiet and more reliable than conventional starters, and can also be used for cold starts in diesel engines.

[Source: Bosch]