Category: MINI

The latest MINI Speedster speculation suggests an official reveal at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September, before going into production in 2010. Well, that’s the goss according to French publication L’Automobile.

If you’ve missed the news on the sleek looking MINI it is believed to be based on the R57 Cabrio platform. Except this time MINI will go all out chasing style by flicking the next to useless rear seats of the Cabrio altogether. But, it won’t be all smiling in the mirror at itself, as the Speedster will get on the scales, too, and shed some weight to help improve performance and handling further.

Apart from the computer renderings that’s about all the info that’s out there for now. Save the obvious guesses that the car will use Cooper S drivetrains, among others, and possibly the über JCW package as well. Sounds like fun!

[Source: L’Automobile via autoblog]

To help celebrate the 50th birthday of the Mini here is an electronic copy of an Australian Morris 850 brochure from the early 1960s. There are 12 images in all, and if you would like a closer look click on each pic to load a larger version.

Minis were made in Australia from 1961 to 1978. Production took place in Sydney and from 1961 to 1975 the cars were assembled at Zetland. In 1975 manufacturing shifted to Enfield. According to online sources a total of 176,284 Minis were built in Australia, plus an additional 26,142 Mini Mokes.

The brochure is a charming time capsule of its era and proudly boasts some delightful claims, including:

• A car that handles like a racer with the solidity of a bus!
• All the POWER you can use!
  
• No wonder Morris 850 is the man’s car women are crazy about.

Also included in the brochure are full specifications and a list of numerous awards and media clippings.

Helping to capture the Mini’s Australian past is a 1970 Leyland Mini in the Powerhouse Museum‘s permanent collection.

[Sources: miniauto.com.au & miniman.com.au | Thanks to Tom for the brochure scans]

To paraphrase those British pop icons; it was 50 years ago today, Issigonis taught the Mini to play… In other words, today marks the 50th anniversary of the first Mini rolling off the production line at the Cowley assembly hall.

The car featured above is that first car. 602,817 Minis were built at Cowley from 1959 to 1968 after which point production moved to Longbridge.

When BMW relaunched the MINI brand in 2001 it was the Cowley facility, renamed Plant Oxford, that was the site chosen for production. Since the relaunch almost 1.5 million MINIs have rolled out the door.

Dr Jürgen Hedrich, Plant Oxford’s managing director, enthused at the company’s heritage, “Little did anyone know just how popular Sir Alec Issigonis’s car for the people would be—or that half a century later it would be reborn as the MINI and once again be built in Oxford.

“This is a momentous day in the plant and car’s history. Everyone at the plant is proud to be part of both the heritage and the future of this car.”

MINI will be celebrating its 50th birthday with a birthday bash at MINI United to be held at Silverstone in a couple of weeks.

Hip, hip, hooray for Mini then. Stay tuned tomorrow for a special 50th birthday treat for Mini fans from AUSmotive. To satisfy your urge to celebrate Mini’s anniversary further, take a peek at this article on MotoringFile.

The MINI Speedster theory appears to be gathering momentum. First, MotoringFile ran a piece saying the car had been given an internal sign off. They think. Now, AutoExpress has published a couple of renderings of how the car might look.

The raked, almost Porsche-like, headlights set the scene for the Speedster, while the rear cowling leading to the rollover hoops is classic sports car.

If these images are on the money then MINI will be hitting the market with a pretty sexy roadster that’s for sure. The shame of it will be that the car will be front-wheel drive. At least it appears that way, as the Speedster is said to be based on the recently released R57 Cabrio.

Sure, the current MINI platform is FWD and very successful, but there’s something about a true sports car that says it should be RWD. Especially if MINI want to go head to head with Mazda’s MX-5.

Philosophical tantrums aside, the Speedster will be a hoot to drive, no doubt. And in ditching the rear seats altogether MINI will be making a convertible that relieves itself of the foolish task of attempting to be a four seater, that leaves both the rear seat and boot space too compromised.

[Source: AutoExpress | Thanks to Lee for the tip.]

Australian pricing for the MINI Cooper D was announced today, and its entry level figure of $33,750 completes a trifecta of benefits that leave the Hollywood hyped Prius in its dust.

We already know the Cooper D uses less fuel than Toyota’s hybrid. We already know the Cooper D emits less CO2 emissions. Now, we know it will undercut the Prius on price, as well (according to the Toyota website Prius pricing starts at $37,400).

On paper, at least, MINI shows you can have a fuel conscious car, with style, and driving enjoyment. As MINI puts it, yes, you can have your cake and eat it too.

Powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder engine the MINI Cooper D is fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. A a six-speed auto is available for $2350, if required.

Contributing to the Dooper’s impressive fuel consumption figure of 3.9l/100km is the Auto Start Stop function, where the engine switches itself off when stationary, thereby saving fuel. Other ‘MINIMALISM’ features included are Brake Energy Regeneration and a Shift Point Display that lights at the most optimum time to change gears. There is also a streamlined underbody reducing drag, and many of the car’s ancillaries, such as the power steering, operate only as demand dictates.

The Cooper D engine produces a modest 80kW but, as to be expected with diesel technology, it is the torque on offer—240Nm at a low 1750rpm—that makes cars like this driveable around town. With MINI’s now familiar overboost system torque can peak at 260Nm.

We should see the diesel MINI in showrooms in May this year. Brief discussions with my local MINI Garage indicate this model will generate plenty of interest, and, importantly, solid sales too.