Vista MINI Blog

The MINI Countryman made its debut earlier this month at the 80^th Geneva Motor Show and was one of the outstanding highlights of the show. This is the first MINI with four doors and it’s also the longest. It is also the first MINI to offer all-wheel drive. You’ll be happy to hear that MINI’s go-cart like handling is not absent – the Countryman proves itself to be a genuine MINI by retaining a vice-like grip in turns and athletic acceleration in the straights. A highly sophisticated suspension technology and elevated seating, coupled with precise steering ensure this MINI delivers the maneuverability and responsiveness we have all come to expect from the brand.

New body and interior colors will be introduced with this new model, along with lots of upholstery options, decorative trim and high-end audio and navigation units. MINI has offered an abundant amount of customization options for their line of cars, and the Countryman will be no different. The various options and choices will allow owners to personalize their car right down to the side mirrors and integrated phone options.

The MINI Countryman, the world’s most interesting take on the classic MINI concept and a modern “Sports Activity Vehicle” is slated to be released for the 2011 model year this September. Stay tuned to our website for the latest news and release details.

The news hit earlier this year that the MINI Roadster is well on its way to becoming a production vehicle. The vehicle will hit the production line with little that’s changed on the concept model shown at numerous auto shows last year. The MINI Roadster will have the precision steering and suspension that gives every MINI its go-kart-like handling, in a uniquely designed two-seat convertible package.

The new design interprets the typical features of the brand in a new and exciting way, delivering a perfect pairing of driving thrills and efficiency. Purposely limited to two seats and thoroughly designed to be optimized in both overall weight and how that weight is distributed between the axles, the MINI Roadster proves to handle as well as any contemporary MINI, if not better. It is recognizable immediately as a MINI, but the fresh new design tells something more. A tight-fitting soft roof adorns the top while an intriguing rear-design takes the brand to new heights of style and spunk.

Inside, the character does not end. A high-quality interior and freshened dash layout again simultaneously calls out to the traditional MINI styling while also providing a crisp, new, modernistic look. Sharp-looking, all-new wheel options and some design differences will clearly separate the styling of the Roadster from the traditional Cooper, Cooper S and Clubman models, while an exclusive interior trim will enhance the cabin.

It’s an exciting time for MINI and MINI lovers. The Roadster should be in production later this year, around the time the Countryman arrives in our South Florida showrooms, allowing it to make its first appearance on the streets very early next year. Stay tuned to our website for the latest developments on this intriguing MINI variant and the full line of MINI cars and crossovers.

Adam Carolla take his new web show “CarCast” on the road to the Los Angeles Auto Show and visits the MINI exhibition. Adam explores the features of the upcoming MINI Coupe and Roadster with MINI Product Development Manager Vinnie Kong. The two talk about MINI’s past and present, reminiscing about Adam’s beloved first-gen MINI, and how he thought “chipping” the car meant placing a Dorito in the glove box.

Along with the ferocious, performance-oriented two-seater soft top Roadster, MINI is proud to announce the MINI Coupe is headed into production later this year. The MINI Coupe, like the Roadster, is again evidence that MINI engineers can breathe creativity and life into the brand without compromising the unique MINI styling and performance we all adore.

This hardtop MINI variant brings together a wide range of features to provide a truly thrilling driving experience in a two-seat format. The design follows the concept of lightweight construction and visual appeal, making it a hardy, athletic coupe with sharp looks to boot. Perfect load axle distribution and a low center of gravity add to the already engrained agility of the MINI brand, delivering a driving experience never before achieved.

The new Coupe has the proprietary MINI front styling and bulldog stance, while the hood angle and air dam have been adjusted to deliver maximum performance and a distinctively sporty look. The side view is unmistakably MINI as well, with additional flourish to make the MINI Coupe unique and full of character, but still part of the family. The rakish flow of the roofline is another area where the MINI Coupe stands out – it is much lower and aggressively sculpted to give this Coupe an aggressive, sporty look. The sharply inclined windshield is another MINI first, merging gently with the roofline and giving off an air of the true speed and performance you can expect behind the wheel.

The new MINI Coupe combines the concept of a compact sports car with the performance, driving capabilities, individual flair and unmistakable styling of the MINI brand. Stay tuned to our website for the latest news and pictures of this fantastic offering, and the full line of MINI models.

MINI shocked the world this week when they announce that the next generation of its core product will be powered by not four, but three cylinder engines.  These 3-cylinder engines, designed in-house by BMW, will be an entirely new range of engines for MINIs made in 2012 and beyond.

They are highly efficient and surprisingly powerful turbocharged that are reduced by at least .2 liters in capacity, but BMW promises instead of a downgrade, performance will actually be improved over the current generation of MINIs.  Weight of the vehicles will be lower, while efficiency will be dramatically improved on every model boasting these remarkable 3-bangers.

Paired with these engines will be MINI’s typical six-speed manual transmission, but rumors have surfaced that there may even be a dual clutch transmission in the works for the higher-end models.

All-in-all, the new generation of MINIs will prove to be more powerful, lighter, more fuel-efficient and ecologically conscious, which is a great thing.  They are currently slated for the next reiteration of MINI models, scheduled to arrive in 2012 or 2013.