Vista MINI Blog

The all-new MINI Countryman is here, and available for delivery! Check yours out at Vista MINI today!

Next time you hit the theatres for a film, you just might see MINI’s latest, blood-curdling, death-defying Monster Truck stunt in glorious slow-motion 3D. The video, slated to roll out in a couple of weeks as a preview in theatres nationwide, challenges one Monster Truck to jump over four MINI’s in a massive coliseum. The 2-minute long event was painstaking planned, calculated and staged by over 120 experts in the fields of 3D technology, physics and engineering.

Filming took 6 days to yield 120 seconds of thrilling film. Those watching in 3D theatres will get an extra-special treat. Jason Schragger, executive director at the agency that created the film, said: “MINI is a pioneer of automotive design and driver experience. Digital 3D is so new that we worked with all the best people we could find to ensure MINI vs. Monster delivers an exciting and immersive experience. 3D technology makes you really feel like you are in the crowd and are part of the jump. When you see the monster truck flying, you see every detail, it’s better than being in the stands and you can’t help but gasp when the truck lifts off and skims the MINI Coopers. 3D is immersive and puts viewers at the heart of the action. It’s the future of screen advertising.”

Get to the theatre early next time you go, and you just may catch it. In the meantime, enjoy one of a few teasers MINI has released to promote the stunt.

Rumor has it that you’ll be able to manage the account on your favorite vehicle, right from your phone! That’s right, according to the New York Times, MINI USA is releasing a mobile device application that will allow owners to access their MINI Financial Account right from their pocket. The application is not brand specific, so it looks like no one will be left out in the cold on this one. It will fully support iPhone, Blackberry and Android operating systems as well as wi-fi devices such as the iTouch and the iPad.

Owners will be able to make payments, check statements and monitor recent activities, as well as receive account summaries and the like.
While there is no official release date, we do know it is coming soon and was completely developed in-house. This is yet another opportunity for owners to stay connected wherever they are, and should prove to be an excellent convenience! MINI, we salute you!

Exciting news hit the pipeline this week when MINI showed off yet another expansion to its model line. The newest member of the MINI family is called the MINI Paceman, and it drew a lot of eyes at the Detroit Auto Show recently.

Debuting on a platform loaded to the gills with supermodels, the Paceman inched its sleek presence down the catwalk to enthralled spectators. Uniquely shaped with a rakish roof, the general shape of the Paceman draws a slight resemblance to the Countryman, minus the two rear doors. But that’s where the similarities stop, as the Paceman appears far more athletic and masculine than any of MINI’s other offerings. The sporty vibe continues under the hood with a generous 1.6 liter twin-scroll turbocharged engine delivering 211 HP and 192 lb-ft of torque. This power is channeled to the Paceman’s permanent ALL4 drive system via your choice of six-speed manual or automatic.

We feel it is an excellent addition to the line-up, and deviates itself enough from the pack without losing what makes a MINI look like a MINI. It gives up some of the traditional vertical design of a MINI and instead accentuates the width of the car and its unique “wedge shape”. It is most definitely a future-looking design, and will offer the brand an exciting new driving experience and style.

“The MINI Paceman Concept aims to deliver a particularly emotional driving experience and demonstrates this ability in a style typical of the brand,” says Jochen Goller, MINI Director for BMW UK Ltd. “ I believe we are offering clear evidence of how totally new vehicle concepts can still be developed through unconventional creativity,” he concluded. When can you expect it? There’s no official release date yet, but we suspect we’ll see a mass-market-ready Paceman with 24 months. And that’s the most exciting news of all.

This is an electric car that doesn’t need to be charged. Built by students at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, the E-Quickie uses electric induction to pull energy straight from the road. The charging works just like the technology used in smart phone powermats – all it needs is contact with the electrical source to continue rolling, kind of like a slot car racer without the rails.

Electrical conductors are embedded in the road, allowing the E-Quickie to power up as it travels. Though small and only capable of 31 MPH, it is a design that shows promise. Tests are continuing to make it lighter, faster and more efficient, and could prove to be a solution to clean transportation should the continued research pan out.

24 Hours of LeMons is an unusual racing outfit. It is endurance racing for $500 cars. Essentially, you can bring out any vehicle priced under $500 and race it, endurance style, against other $500 cars. The only thing reliable in these vehicles is the safety equipment, which does not factor into the $500. If the vehicles don’t just quit and die on their own, you have a host of other dangers with which to contend.

Though not a contact sport, there is a lot of bumping and paint-trading. Then, there’s always the chance of rounding a corner and seeing the dead, smoking Pinto in your lane. Even if you survive that, there’s always the chance that your vehicle will be elected to be singled-out and demolished by the event judges and their steamroller. And let’s say you run this gauntlet, take the lead and win the race. You’ll get your $1500 prize money in nickels.

Some of you might be wondering, “well, how would they know if I cheated and brought in a more expensive car”? You can try, but they have rules to beat that. Their panel of judges will fine you one lap for every $10 over $500 they believe you have spent. Also, since it is a “claiming race”, any organizer reserves the right to purchase your car from you for $500 at the finish. So, that sneaky $3000 you put under the hood will be forever lost.

Ah, the desperate, ongoing quest to find a suitable parking spot. MINI feels your pain. This just-released commercial is all about our determination, craftiness and desire to secure the best (or in this case, only) spot so we can proceed with our day. It’s the first-released MINI commercial for 2011, and while it isn’t their best yet, it is certainly full of the typical quirky, tongue-in-cheek styles that MINI often loves in their media.

Check it out, and we’ll post more of them as they are released.

Photo and scoop courtesy of motoringfile.com.

Sketches leaked suggest MINI is about to reveal a MINI-brand scooter design at the Paris Motor Show this month. The scooter will be a plug-in electric design driven by a lithium-ion battery charged by a standard outlet. It has been designed to appeal to those need an ultra-efficient form of urban transportation. The oval mirrors, oversized speedometer and the copious amounts of chrome are all unmistakably MINI, and the retractable power cable built into it is also a nice touch.

Interested parties need only wait until the official reveal later this month at the Paris Motor Show, but I suspect these things will sell like hotcakes if they ever see a production run.
MINI feels your pain.

Looks like we have the dates for the two most anticipated cars in MINI’s upcoming line-up – the MINI Coupe and the MINI Roadster. These vehicles promise to have both a sportier look and even sportier performance, and both should be arriving within the year.

First to arrive will be the MINI Coupe. This two-seat, turbo-charged MINI is fitted with a powerful engine and powerful styling. It will prove to be small and economical, and give an enormous amount of driving pleasure to enthusiasts, and it will be arriving in August of 2011. Rumors suggest there may even be a JCW variant of it in the works.

This will be followed by the MINI Roadster, also a two-seat power horse with a convertible top. These will arrive around March of 2012 and will certainly be popular thanks to the sharp looks and slant toward performance and sport. Stay posted to our site for the latest news regarding these upcoming MINIs and the full current line-up.

The folks over at Motoring File had a chance to enjoy a pre-production 2011 MINI Cooper S. Spending the day and a full 350 miles with it, they were delighted with the changes and the performance of this up-and-coming MINI.

First, they gave the new engine a look over. The newly reworked 1.6L turbo engine has variable valve timing and 181 HP, which is a 9HP increase over existing models. MINI engineers also refined the handling, so there is negligible torque steer when pushing the MINI to its performance peaks and carving through corners. Power delivery is the smoothest it has ever been, thanks in part to both the self-adjusting clutch and a thorough software-tuning. Mid-range power is at an all-time high, and the classic MINI go-kart handling is present as well.

You’ll be happy to hear the newly refreshed 2011 MINI Cooper S has not lost its legendary fuel efficiency. In fact, despite all the rigorous test driving they gave it, the MINI still averaged close to 34 MPG, which is even more impressive considering there is a 10HP increase over previous models. Regular driving should even yield better efficiency.

Outside, the MINI has a more contemporary look. The headlights and tail-lights have been refreshed and the MINI now has an even more aggressive stance. Inside, the refined look continues with gloss black controls and new, more intuitive radio controls have been added. Of course, you’re still getting the proprietary array of massive gauges and instruments, so the MINI inside maintains the same classic look overall.

Ultimately, the editors at Motoring File had this to say: “…beyond that this was the most refined and sorted Cooper S I had ever driven and one of the most enjoyable days I’ve ever had in a MINI.”

Stay tuned to our website for the latest pricing and release dates on the new 2011 MINI, and check us for the latest offers on the full current line of MINIs available.