2011 MINI Inspired By Goodwood news, pictures, and information
MINI at the Auto Shanghai 2011MINI offers the most attractive and diverse model range available worldwidemotorists who seek driving fun, innovative technology and quality at the highest level also in the small car §egmènt. As the world’s first anddate only producer of independently developed premium small cars, the British traditional brand is also attracting a steadily growing number of particularly discerning customers on the Chinese automotive market. From 23rd28th April 2011, MINI will presentthose visiting the Auto Shanghai 2011 not only its further extended product range but also the most exclusive opportunity so farexperience typical MINI driving fun and a spectacular vision for the future of urban mobility. An exceptionally resolute manifestation of premium character is embodied by the MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD, which will be making its world debut at the Auto Shanghai 2011. With the MINI Concept Rocketman, the brand-typical principle of creative use of space in urban road traffic conditions is reinterpreted.With the market launch of the MINI Countryman and the new MINI family, Chinese car buyers now have ten different modelschoose from. The first MINI with four doors and a large tailgate will be available in China in the guise of the MINI Cooper Countryman and the MINI Cooper Countryman S. There is also a choice of two engine variants for the MINI Convertible. Both the MINI and the MINI Clubman are available with three engine variants – MINI One, MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S.Like the choice of engines, the diversity of the range of exterior colours andthe interior design features as well as the wide choice of accessories enable each MINI customerchoose a car that suits his or her very own personal style. The personalisation options are an essential element of the MINI brand’s premium character. Driving fun, which is guaranteed by sophisticated technology, is complemented by the excitement of owning an automobile that has been produced exactly accordingone’s own personal wishes. At the Auto Shanghai 2011, MINI will be demonstrating new possibilities for targeted individualisation. The new product range MINI Yours comprises exclusive options for the exterior and interior design. A further highlight accompanying the launch of MINI Yours is, in additionthe world premiere of the MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD, the Asian premiere of the MINI Clubman Hampton, which embodies the concept realised by MINI Yours in yet a further particularly concentrated form.MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD: highest exclusivity in the small car §egmènt.The MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD is characterised by top-grade materials, the highest level of workmanship and stylish supremacy. Its exclusive character is the result of an exceptional collaboration. The special edition of the three-door MINI was built under the guidance of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars designer team and transfers the unmistakable style of the British luxury car manufacturerthe equally unique original within the premium small car §egmènt. The exterior and interior design features, which were conceived at the Rolls-Royce Design division in the southern English town of Goodwood, provide the model from the MINI Yours range with a fascinating charisma and an incomparably high-quality ambience.Inside the MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD, a harmonious colour concept, selected materials and a production quality characterised by precise craftsmanship guarantee the highest degree of well-being and comfort. The dashboard, including the surrounds of the central instrument and the air vents, the centre console, carpet surfaces, the Lounge leather seats, the roof lining as well as the door, side and body pillar cladding boast the exclusive Rolls-Royce colour Cornsilk. The dashboard and doorhandle surfaces, which are manufactured in Goodwood and finished in Walnut Burr, a wood quality also exclusiveRolls-Royce, the black nappa leather dashboard top, Tipped Leather Cornsilk door linings as well as Piano Black surface finishes for the buttons on the multifunction §teering wheel and the controls below the central instrument all provide additional quality-enhancing accents. In addition, the car boasts Cashmere roof linings, sun visors and rear storage tray as well as foot mats boasting a deep-pile lambswool quality also featured in current Rolls-Royce models. The most striking features of the exterior design are the body finish in the exclusive Rolls-Royce colour Diamond Black metallic and 17-inch light alloy wheels sporting a multi-spoke design.The MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD is powered by a l.6-litre 135 kW/184 bhp four-cylinder engine with Twin Scroll turbocharger, direct petrol injection and variable valve control. The power unit, which is featured for the first time in the new MINI Cooper S, impresses with spontaneous power delivery. At the sam time it is also the most efficient engine in its displacement class. Moreover, the MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD’s range of high-quality equipment offered as standard also includes Xenon Adaptive Headlights, Park Distance Control, automatic air conditioning, an onboard computer and the audio system Radio MINI Visual Boost, which includes the Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system.Traditional principle, innovative technology: The MINI Rocketman Concept.The fascinating concept car being presented by MINI at the Auto Shanghai 2011, demonstrates how the brand’s fundamental principle of creative use of space can be redefined by the use of innovative technology in the areas of body construction, interior design and Infotainment. The MINI Rocketman Concept, which will be making its debut in Asia, is being presented as a 3+1-seater with a unique spatial concept, 3 doors and a length of just over 3 metres. Its characteristics are oriented towards the multi-faceted demands of a modern target group, the mobility requirements of which are characterised by driving fun, flexible use of space and comprehensive networking with the personal living environment.The innovatively designed interior of the MINI Rocketman Concept offersthe driver, front seat passenger and further occupants a generous amountof space, also providing, if needed, a fourth individual seat at the rear. Furthermore, the newly conceived bodywork concept ensures comfortable entry and wide-ranging possibilities for loading. Thankssidesills integrated into the doors, the passenger entry area reaches far into the interior. The two-part tailgate consists of one section which is attachedthe roof and opens extremely high and a lower section which extends out of the body in the form of a drawer.The MINI Rocketman Concept body is shaped by an avant-garde interpretation of time-honoured brand features. A carbon spaceframe construction, whose striking surface structure is visible from the outside both on the radiator grille and in the interior, forms the basis for a weight-minimising construction. Inside the car, leather covers and high-gloss painted surfaces combine with armrests and trim strips made from a special paper that has been pressed and folded into the desired structure. The control concept for the MINI Rocketman Concept also highlights new approaches. The customary Centre Speedo houses a projection surface boasting 3D graphics presentation capability. The display is operated using both the §teering wheel buttons and the integrated trackball. Furthermore, the MINI Rocketman Concept features a removable control element for all comfort and connectivity functions.MINI Yours: the exclusive routepersonalisation.With the MINI, the MINI Clubman, the MINI Convertible and the MINI Countryman, the brand’s model diversity has also reached a new peak on the Chinese automotive market. Simultaneously, the possibilitiesconfigure the vehicle accordingpersonal taste are being continually increased. MINI is using its presence at the Auto Shanghai 2011 as a starting signal for a particularly attractive range of special equipment. The MINI Yours product portfolio being presented in Asia for the first time creates unparalleled possibilitiesconfigure a MINI both accordingpersonal preference and in the unmistakable style of the brand. These exterior and interior design options faithfully reflect the heritage of the brand and highlight the designers’ appreciation of premium quality and eye for creative ideas.Among the features of MINI Yours are unusual paint finishes, upholstery variants and interior colours, stylishly compiled equipment packages and particularly attractive limited-edition models. In additionthe MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD, the Asian premiere of MINI Yours will also feature the presentation of an exclusive edition of the MINI Clubman based on the MINI. The MINI Clubman Hampton stands out with its innovative colour and materials concept and top-quality specification, underscoring the character of MINI Yours in an additional, concisely harmonised configuration.The special features of the MINI Clubman Hampton include the newly developed Reef Blue paint finish, exclusive light-alloy wheels and specifically designed seats in Lounge Leather upholstery. Inspired by a southwest London suburb, the MINI Clubman Hampton picks up on the tradition established by the success of earlier special-edition models like the MINI Park Lane, MINI Checkmate and MINI Convertible Sidewalk.At a glance. •World premiere: the MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD.With the MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD, which will be making its world debut at the Auto Shanghai 2011, the principle of an unmistakable, exclusive and premium-quality small car is realised in a particularly concentrated form. The special edition fascinates with an exceptionally impressive exterior and interior design, which was conceived at the development centre of the British traditional brand Rolls-Royce in Goodwood. The MINI INSPIRED BY GOODWOOD, which was produced in a limited edition of 1,000 units, combines typical MINI driving fun with discerning craftsmanship, selected materials and a styling marked by typical British understatement of the world’s leading producer of luxury automobiles. •Asian premiere: the MINI Rocketman Concept.Compact on the outside, but big on the inside, the ‘creative use of space’ principle so beloved of the MINI brand enters a new dimension with the MINI Rocketman Concept. As a 3+1-seater with a vehicle length of little more than three metres (approx. 10 ft.), the concept car being presentedthe general public for the first time at the Auto Shanghai 2011 offers new and innovative ways of generating maximum interior versatility within the smallest possible exterior dimensions – and offering unbeatable driving fun in the process. The MINI Rocketman Concept once again brings the traditional principles of the classic MINIonto the road through the introduction of innovative ideas. The MINI Rocketman Concept captures the imagination as a vision of urban mobility in the future through features such as its innovative seating and door concept, groundbreaking technologies for connecting its occupants with the outside world, and the lightweight structure of its body. Thanksa new interpretation of the characteristic MINI design vocabulary, both the brand affiliation as well as the vehicle’s degree of innovation are immediately recognisable in the design of the concept car.•Asian premiere MINI Yours and Chinese premiere of the MINI Clubman Hampton:Individuality is all part of the MINI character – and now the brand has introduced a highly exclusive new way of turning your car into a personally configured one-off. The factory-fit options from the MINI Yours product range combine quality and style with familiar MINI flair, helpinggive the car a particularly expressive presence. Scheduled for launch in spring 2011, the MINI Yours range includes wonderfully expressive exterior paint finishes, upholstery variants and interior colours, as well as studiously configured equipment packages. Addedwhich, a limited-edition version of the MINI Clubman will be presentedmark the premiere of MINI Yours. The MINI Clubman Hampton embodies the unmistakable style of MINI Yours through carefully selected and precisely coordinated design features.Source – MINI
Now the long period of waiting is finally comingan end: A very special version of the MINI is making its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, injecting a fresh breeze into the world of motoring – the new MINI Convertible. Introducing this versatile four-seater, MINI is combining the distinctive pleasure of driving an open car with the unique enjoyment you can only feel at the wheel of a genuine MINI.Combining supreme fun with practical value.The MINI Convertible is a fully-fledged four-seater clearly standing out from the start as a genuine MINI regardless of whether the roof is up or down. For the design features and proportions so characteristic of the MINI have been consistently carried overthe MINI Convertible: The steeply raked windscreen and the optimum seating position enjoyed by the driver ensure an unforgettable open-air experience also when driving with the roof down. So the new model version leaves no doubt that motoring pleasure is an outstanding factor on all four seats of this uniquely popular cult car.Clearly, the MINI Convertible boasts a clever all-round concept with supreme function and optimum use of space available.Striking profile.With its roof down, this classy convertible really looks at its best. The waistline gradually risingthe rear gives the car a strong and distinctive profile further accentuated by the chrome strip continuing along the complete window line. The steeply raked windscreen, complete absence of a B-pillar, the rollbars made of extra-strong aluminum pipes behind the rear-seat backrest, as well as the compact, folding roof all bear testimonythe unique style of a classic convertible.The new MINI Convertible is entering the market initially in the guise of the 66 kW/90 bhp MINI One and the 85 kW/115 bhp MINI Cooper. The top-of-the-range MINI Cooper S Convertible will be following later.In standard trim the MINI Convertible comes on 15-inch steel or, respectively, light-alloy rims (MINI One/MINI Cooper) running on 175/65 R15 tyres. As an option, both models are available with attractive 16- and 17-inch light-alloy wheels, with the 17-inch five-star Bullet light-alloy wheels developed exclusively for the new open-air version.A convertible with a sliding roof all in one.The roof available in three colours opens up fully automatically within just 15 seconds: Pressing a button, you first open the integrated sliding roof, then the complete soft roof as such. With the soft roof foldingthe rear, the roof columns are automatically retracted and the rear side windows move down at the same time. The intelligent Z-folding mechanism allows the complete rooffold up in compact arrangement behind the rear seats, with no need for a tonneau cover. The sliding roof integrated in the soft top can be opened infinitely up40 cm or 15¾´´ while driving, upa speed of 120 km/h or 75 mph. Clearly, a feature quite unprecedented in the convertible market.Optimum utilisation of space available.Folding outthe back, the rear lid is held in position when open by two steel cables with a spring-mounted retractor system. This allows use of the rear lid with its hinges facingthe outside as a practical loading panel ablecarry a weight of up80 kg or 176 lb.The MINI Convertible is ablecarry a maximum of 400 kg or 882 lb, and the luggage compartment accommodates 165 litres with the roof closed. And even with the roof down, driving in the open air, luggage compartment capacity remains a substantial 120 litres.The Easy Load system offers generous through-loading capacity: With the roof closed, all you do is turn two levers in the luggage compartmentfold up the bottom section of the cover fastened on a tightening bracket and attach it in position. Then, with the rear lid open, you have very convenient accessthe luggage compartment through a large opening ableaccommodate even bulky objects. And in conjunction with the rear seat backrests folding forward and fastened securely in position, luggage compartment capacity can be increasedno less than 605 litres.Boasting features such as its highly functional roof, the variable luggage compartment even with the roof open, an ultra-strong and stiff bodyshell, as well as the chassis with its multi-arm rear axle, the MINI Convertible sets the standard in its market §egmènt in many other other respects too.That go-kart feeling so typical of the MINI.Combining a very stiff bodyshell with superior chassis and suspension features, the open-air models, like their fixed-roof counterparts, once again offer a unique symbiosis of superior agility and handling. The drive concept as such, the long wheelbase, a low centre of gravity, wide track, the multi-arm rear axle and the direct, electrohydraulic power §teering all go togetherprovide the foundation for the excellent driving behaviour and go-kart feeling so typical of the MINI Convertible.Sporting performance wherever you go.Both versions of the MINI Convertible feature a 1.6-litre four-cylinder power unit developing maximum output of 66 kW/90 bhp in the MINI One and 85 kW/115 bhp in the MINI Cooper. Maximum torque of 140 Nm/103 lb-ft and, respectively, 150 Nm/111 lb-ft comes at just 3000 and, respectively, 4,500 rpm. A smooth-shifting five-speed manual gearbox is standard on both models. Top speed of the MINI One Convertible is 175 km/h or 109 mph, with acceleration100 km/h in 11.8 seconds. Fuel consumption in the composite EÚ cycle is 7.2 litres premium/100 km, equivalent39.2 mpg Imp.Maximum output of 85 kW/115 bhp gives the MINI Cooper Convertible a top speed of 193 km/h or 120 mph. Acceleration100 km/h from a standstill comes in just 9.8 seconds, fuel consumption in the EÚ cycle is 7.3 litres/100 km, equal38.7 mpg Imp.High standard of safety.Benefitting from its stiff body structure and restraint system comprising, inter alia, two ‘intelligent’ frontal airbags and two seat-integrated head/thorax side airbags as standard, the MINI Convertible naturally complies with the world’s strictest crash standards required by law. A wide range of constructional improvements and features ensures a particularly high standard of torsional stiffness preventing the door-sills from bending in in the event of a head-on collision and offering the occupants optimum protection in an impact from the side.Should the MINI Convertible ever be involved in a rollover, the A-pillars encompassing a tube made of ultra-strong steel guarantee a strong load-bearing function. And at the rear double rollbars made of high-strength aluminium tubes, complete with integrated headrests, afford superior passenger safety.A high standard of active safety is ensured, inter alia, by four disc brakes, four-sensor ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), as well as Cornering Brake Control (CBC). Available as an option, Automatic Stability and Traction Control (ASC+T) as well as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) helpprovide superior driving and tracking stability in an extreme situation.MINI in colour.The MINI Convertible is available in 10 exterior colours, two of which are reserved exclusivelythis open-air model: Hot Orange and,provide a particular effect, Cool Blue. And while the MINI One Convertible comes only with a black roof, the roof of the open-air MINI Cooper is available in Black, Blue, and Green. The exterior mirror housings, in turn, are again finished in Black on the ‘basic’ model and come in body colour on the MINI Cooper Convertible.High-quality textile materials and surfaces give the interior special harmony and balance. The dashboard and door linings are available in Silver and Anthracite and also come as a further choice in wood and aluminium trim. The seat upholstery is available in 3 different types of cloth, 3 combinations of cloth and leather, and with three different choices of all-leather upholstery.Everything goes.The wide range of standard equipment featured from the start on the new Convertible comprises, inter alia, an electrically operated roof complete with sliding roof function, a heated glass rear window, two frontal and two head/thorax side airbags, four-sensor ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), BMW’s Tyre Defect Indicator (TDI), electrically operated rear-view mirrors and window lifts, power §teering, Park Distance Control (PDC), a rev counter, height adjustment on the both driver’s seat and §teering column, as well as central locking with remote control plus comfort opening.To fulfill all kinds of individual and personal wishes, the MINI Convertible comes with an equally wide range of special equipment comprising features such as xenon headlights, a TV navigation system with a 16:9 colour display, high-quality HiFi audio systems, a heated rear window, automatic air conditioning, a wind deflector, a wide range of light-alloy wheels, a multifunction §teering wheel, a rain sensor, and the interior mirror complete with anti-dazzle function.Successful and popular.Apart from the MINI Convertible making its debut in Geneva, the four existing fixed-roof models already very successful in the market are naturally alsobe admired at the Show: the MINI One, MINI One D, MINI Cooper, and MINI Cooper S. And ‘popular’ is indeed the right worddescribe these successful models already deliveredmore than 176,000 thrilled customers the world over.Source – MINI
The British Motor Corporation came into existence in 1952 by the merging of two manufacturers, Nuffield Motors and Austin. Nuffield was known for its Morris line of vehicles, while Austin had its ‘Seven’ model line. The transition for the two manufacturers was difficult and had been forced out of necessity. After World War II, many vehicle manufacturers could not stay in business due to destroyed factories, recovering economies, strained resources, and lack of funds. Combining the two companies was a means to stay in business.A fuel shortage was occurring. German engineers quickly adapted and began producing fuel-efficient vehicles. Examples include the Volkswagen Beetle. Leonard Lord, Chairman of BMC and former head of Austin, commissioned Sir Alec Issigonis to design a vehicle to compete with the German-made vehicles. Alec Issigonis was a graduate of Battersea Technical College. After graduation he worked as a draftsman for a plethora of engineering projects. Later, he joined Morris Motors where he was tasked with creating and fitting suspensions to the Morris vehicles.Issigonis was outfitted with requirements to create a fuel-efficient, affordable, safe vehicle capable of carrying four individuals including luggage. To save on development costs, it was requested that an existing BMC engine be used. What he created was a vehicle that sat atop of 10 inch wheels. By using smaller wheels there was little need for wheel wells. The car was expected to carry four individuals; the combined weight of the passengers being greater than the entire vehicle. A suspension was needed that could accept this pay-load. With his prior experience creating and working with suspensions, Issigonis designed a rubber cone suspension. A 950 cc, four cylinder, BMC engine was selected. It was mounted in the front and expected to power the front wheels, a system that was revolutionary at the time. Instead of mounting the engine longitudinally, it was place transversely. The transmission was place under the engine due to space constraints. When Issigonis presented his designs and recommendations to Lord in 1958, changes were requested. Instead of the 950 cc engine, a 34 horsepower, 848 cc engine would be used, making the vehicle slower but more importantly, more safe. The other request was to make the vehicle two inches wider.There were two versions of the car when it was first introduced on August 26, 1959. The only difference between the 1959 Austin and Morris versions was their badges. John Cooper had designed vehicles that successfully won the Formula One championships in 1959 and 1960. He proposed a marriage between his 1000 cc Formula Junior engine with the Mini. Lord approved the idea and in 1961 the Mini Cooper was born. It was fitted with a 997 cc engine producing 55 horsepower. Later, the Cooper S came into being with the advent of the 970 cc and the 1275 cc engine – the latter capable of 76 horsepower. From 1964 through 1967 the little car dominated the Monte Carlo Rally.
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