Sections: MINI, Project i Feb 18th, 2011 5 Comments 
The title says it all. BMW will launch the highly anticipated new sub-brand on Monday. We’ll be in Munich later in the week to talk with BMW about plans for both the new sub-brand and the future of MINI.
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Sections: Design, F10 5 Series, F13 6 Series Coupe, MINI, Motorrad Feb 1st, 2011 1 Comment Official Release: The annually presented GOOD DESIGN Award for 2010 went to a full quartet of vehicles and concepts: the BMW 5 Series Sedan, the MINI Countryman, the BMW S 1000 RR and the BMW Concept 6. This most prestigious of international honours yet again recognised the exceptional standard of BMW Group Design. The prizewinners’ products will be exhibited as part of the annual GOOD DESIGN SHOW to be held in June 2011 at the Chicago Athenaeum.
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Sections: EfficientDynamics, MINI, Official News Feb 1st, 2011 1 Comment 
No this isn’t the first time we’ve read an official press release on this topic. But now BMW and PSA feel compelled to talk a bit more about their plans. However while some of these goals in may sound a bit lofty, what’s really happening here are two companies coming together to share a hybrid powerplant. More specifically we believe the powerplant will be based on the four cylinder Prince engine (we’d guess the Cooper model). BMW and PSA have tasked two of their largest suppliers (Bosch and Getrag) to carry out the engineering and design of the hybrid system.
We expect the first fruits of this agreement to show up in Countryman and Countryman based models around the 2014 model year. For the BMW brand look for this to find its way into the 1 Series GT (Countryman based of course) around this same time frame.
Official Release: The BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroën have decided to enter into a new phase of their collaboration, by signing an agreement to set up a 50-50 equity joint venture named BMW Peugeot Citroën Electrification. The agreement was signed on February 1st by Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, and Philippe Varin, Chairman of the Managing Board of PSA Peugeot Citroën. In October 2010, the two companies had signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to expand their existing cooperation to hybrid systems.
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Sections: 1001 (Future front wheel drive BMW), EfficientDynamics, MINI, Project i Jan 25th, 2011 3 Comments 
As we broke in our interview with MINI USA Product Manager Vinnie Kung, MINI has axed the idea of bring diesels to the US market. But in talking about that decision a few things became clear about MINI & BMW’s four cylinder strategy given that the two will be sharing cars in the years ahead.
But first a quick recap. MINI will clearly be without a diesel in the line-up in the US. MINI USA had planned on bringing over the Cooper D for the 2010 model year as early as 2007. The plan was to use the engine without urea injection until 2015 when new EPA rules would go into effect. However the 2008 worldwide economic collapse brought some unfortunately realities to BMW and all non-essential projects were cancelled.
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Sections: //1M\\, BimmerCast, MINI, Motorsport, WTCC, Z4M Dec 8th, 2010 1 Comment 
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The Z4 M Coupe. Is a new one coming? We break down the rumor and talk about engines and timeframe. Then of course we turn to the 1M. Yes we’re tired of the strip tease but we’re not tired of hearing about the car. We talk about the enormous modding potential that the engine and beefy drivetrain make possible as well as the rumored 12.12.10 debut.
We then move onto BMW racing in 2011 and some changes for the driver line-up and the elimination of the WTCC factory team.
Finally we talk about the change at MINI Design with head of BMW exterior design Anders Warming replacing the much love Gert Hildebrand. What does it mean for MINI and BMW? All questions we wonder ourselves.
Sections: MINI, Technology Oct 19th, 2010 2 Comments 
Looking at the words MINI Connected you might immediately think of BMW’s ConnectedDrive technology. While both use the car’s infotainment interface, they couldn’t be further apart. Where BMW’s ConnectedDrive uses the built-in Edge connection in some BMWs, MINI Connected uses the 3G data from your iPhone to power a myriad of updatable features. And according to our sources, it’s also a good bet that it we’ll see something like it in future BMWs. Because of this we thought an early look at the MINI version was in order.
It all started with that simple iPod connector that debuted in 2003 in BMWs and MINIs. The idea of connecting technology from outside the car and allowing it to power the infotainment center in the dash. Fast forward seven years and MINI has finally taken a giant leap with MINI Connected.
In fact leap isn’t even the right word. In reality Connected is a watershed moment in automotive technology for the simple fact that it takes software development out of seven year automotive cycles. And equally important it introduces app like mentality that allows for software development to focus on new features that are built on robust platform. That means MINI can tailor the Connected app and your car’s future functionality for whatever comes next in the world of technology. What’s going to be hot in 2013? We have no idea. But in 2013 MINI can update MINI Connected and have it there ready for you.
Or you can also think of it this way; Connected allows MINI related functionality to be driven by your iPhone and then displayed on MINI’s new gorgeous hi-res display all while being controlled by the center joystick. It takes the phone out of your hand and makes the car the interface for your life.
At the recent press launch of the 2011 MINI range, we had a chance to walk-through MINI Connected with BMW Senior Engineer Robert Passaro (one of the lead engineers of MINI Connected). Robert not only talked us through each feature but gave us some background on the technology and why it was built. The idea (as mentioned above) is all about decoupling the car from the technology.
But we’ll let Robert walk you through the system. Here’s a quick video of Robert and myself going through Connected. (video after the break)
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Sections: MINI, Motorsport Jul 27th, 2010 1 Comment 
(Updated) It’s official, MINI is making a comeback on the international rally circuit. Starting in 2011, MINI will compete in selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and will go on to contest the entire season from 2012 onwards. Sources are telling us that MINI has made a 3-4 year commitment (to start) with the program. This are the first official steps back into the highest levels of rally racing since MINI won the Monte Carlo 1,000 Lakes Rally and Acropolis Rally in 1967.
But what about the established players in the WRC? Does MINI even have a chance? The short answer is more of a chance than you’d think. There are two big things in MINI’s favor. First are the WRC regulations that will effectively level the playing field and introduce a new engine configuration (more on that in a minute). The second is the fact that the Countryman WRC is being built by Prodrive, the most successful rally outfit of the past 20 years. You can read more about Prodrive here in our recent feature on the company: “Why the Prodrive WRC MINI Countryman is Important. It’s also worth noting that Prodrive went racing with BMW E30 M3s in 1987 with the Rothmans M3.
As expected the car that will be competing is the MINI Countryman WRC and as we’ve reported it is being developed by Prodrive. The race car (design in close cooperation with MINI) will be heavily based on the production Countryman. But here’s where it gets even more interesting. At the heart of the racing car is a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine from BMW Motorsport. The car complies with the new Super2000 regulations put in place by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), which stipulate the use of turbo engines with 1,600 cc displacement and four-wheel drive combined with an increased emphasis on road relevant technologies over previous WRC regulations. The result is a significant 25 per cent reduction in overall costs. The first test drive for the MINI Countryman WRC, which will also be available to customer teams, is planned for autumn 2010.
That last bit shouldn’t go unnoticed. We expect several privateer teams to invest into the MINI Countryman WRC and run the cars alongside MINI.
Drivers linked to the car are rumored to be Norwegian rally protege Mads Ostberg and rally legend Marcus Gronholm.
Official Press Release: This decision sees MINI continue its success story in the world of rallying. In the 1960s, the MINI Cooper S caused a sensation with victories at the legendary Monte Carlo Rally. The company also tasted success on many occasions in the European Rally Championship. Having already demonstrated the sporty character of its models in many countries in the MINI CHALLENGE, the brand is now taking its presence in motorsport to a new level with the commitment to the WRC.
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Sections: F20 1 Series, MINI, Project i Jul 13th, 2010 1 Comment 
(The following story was compiled with the help of Herr26 and MotoringFile)
BMW’s small car strategy is key to the automakers future success. Based on-going research BMW is expecting premium segment growth to primarily occur in small city car’s , C-Segment Compact class, the D-Segment Small Sedan class and the small-mid sized SUV class.
Based on this BMW have invested in these three segments more than any other over the last few years. For the small City Cars it will be a three way attack with both the MegaCity vehicle, small BMW and the MINI. The C-segment is the 1er and D-Segment will be the 3er. Since the eruption of the global financial crisis one pattern discovered is that in most cases especially for BMW is that owners were downsizing. That means instead of buying the new 5 Series they’re looking at a 3er and instead of an X5 they’re looking at the X3 etc.
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