We are back!!!

with.. 2017 Mini Cooper S Hardtop 2 door! Well.. we will be.. stay tuned!

2015 MINI, F56, Interior shots cahught in China

Today, we get another sneak-peak at the interior of upcoming F56 MINI Cooper, the 3rd generation MINI Cooper under BMW, courtesy of CarNewsChina.com. As you can see in the image above, while the new interior retains the basic design theme of its predecessor, there are enough new details to call it "Progressive Evolution". Gone is the large center speedometer, which has been the key icon in MINI's interior design. As iconic as it may have been, over the years, it received mixed reviews, some loving it as the original, some calling it "ugly" "weird" "I will never buy a car with cartoonish speedometer", and MINI has decided that it is departing from the original concept. However, the dominant center circular pod does stay, continuing the tradition in a different interpretation for 21st century vehicle infortaintment, which is a must-have now days. While I am personally fine with it, as I would have opted for MINI Connected/Navigation which provides a larger screen within the center pod (just like current generation), what I do not like it the placement of tachometer. I now sits in the outer circle of the main speedometer, and it is rather so TINY! I will certainly miss the current analogue tachometer/digital speedometer setup. As for the rest, toggle switches remain, in addition to new BMW-esque switches above it. Notable in these photos are checkered insert in what look to be sport seats. It's a nice detail. Can't wait for the real thing in November 18.
 

MINI Sales Figures June 2013

274. This is the number that separated the sales of Hardtop models and Countryman, two best selling cars in MINI US lineup. Countryman sales for the month of June surged 14.8% to 2,089 units, compared to 1,819 units from same month last year. Hardtop sales are down 9.2% in June, and down 21.3% YTD - All this could be due to the anticipation of brand new F56 MINI, scheduled for world debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, with buyers waiting for the new model. Other notable trend is the sales between Coupe and Roadster model. Sales of Roadster is easily outpacing the Coupe, with the ratio of 3 to 2. It also seems Roadster is not cannibalizing sales from the Convertible, as sales of Convertible has been holding quite steady.  

MINI USA reported the best month ever in June with sales of 6,571 automobiles, an increase of 9.6 percent from the 5,995 sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, MINI sales in the U.S. are up 0.9 percent on volume of 32,356 compared to 32,059 in the first six months of 2012.

MINI Pre-Owned Vehicles
In June, sales of MINI used automobiles (including MINI NEXT certified pre-owned and pre-owned) increased 16.3 percent to 1,877 automobiles from the 1,614 sold in June, 2012. MINI NEXT had a strong month with 100 percent increase over June 2012, and 113.2 percent increase year-to-date. January through June, MINI used vehicle sales are up 18.5 percent on volume of 10,324 compared to 8,710 in the same period of 2012.

2014 MINI LINEUP PRICING AND EQUIPMENT UPDATES

MINI has big plans for 2014, as the new F56 generation MINI will be unveiled in the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show in September. Thus MY 2013 Hardtop model soldiers on until the production of new F56 hardtop begins. There are no changes to other hardtop-based models other than different package grouping. Even the price stays the same. MY 2014 Countryman/Paceman do receive some changes/updates including SAD elimination of rear bucket seats (which lessens the uniqueness of Countryman in the marketplace and will be dearly missed by me! For the record, for me, no rear buckets, no more Countryman, sadly...) Press release containing detailed info and pricing after the jump.

MINI Says Happy Birthday to Porsche 911

This year marks 50th anniversary for the famous brand Porsche and MINI pays its tribute to the brand with a nice special photo shoot, plus a long press release hailing the famous brand and itself. IMO, those two, one in pale yellow and the other in mustard yellow, look adorable. Full press release after the jump.

[Source  :: MINI ]

MINI Sales Figures May 2013

MINI Brand Sales 
MINI USA reported sales of 5,944 automobiles in May, a decrease of 3.4 percent from the 6,153 sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, MINI sales in the U.S. are down 1.1 percent on volume of 25,785 compared to 26,064 in the first five months of 2012.

MINI Pre-Owned Vehicles 
In May, sales of MINI used automobiles (including MINI NEXT certified pre-owned and pre-owned) increased 18.8 percent to 1,964 automobiles from the 1,653 sold in May, 2012. January through May, MINI used vehicle sales are up 19.0 percent on volume of 8,447 compared to 7,096 in the same period of 2012.

This isn't MINI.. but...Spyshot 2014 BMW X5

The other day, as I was driving along the streets of Hollywood, I spotted a large SUV with camouflage. At first, the angel-eye and the snout with pig-nose (kidney grill for those who are in denial) told me it's a BMW with customized camo paint-job, but as it got closer to me, I recognized it as non other than 2014 BMW X5 (code named F15)! So I made a U-turn and followed it a little capturing it on my phone. It certainly looked a bit bigger than the chaser car (current X5 diesel) and whatever engine it had in its engine bay, it did feature Start-Stop. Design-wise, it had shark-nose front profile, sculpted side surfaces, and now familiar BMW signature headlight and tail lamp treatment. With order sheeting floating around the internet, I'd imagine the official debut is quite imminent. Rolling shot after the jump.