Tag: Mini

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MINI’s April’s Fool

MINI Aprils Fool

MINI is full throttle again for the April fool. However, this year, they ended up with pimp my ride style, the scissors door. In case you have never heard the pimp my ride, it is an MTV tv show that pimps up people’s cars. Usually those cars are on the edge of falling into parts.

So MINI decided to increase its functionality via the scissors door concept; however, it is already done by many modification lovers. Hopefully MINI did not cause any trouble like GMail on this April’s Fool.

MINI Aprils Fool

MINI Aprils Fool

MINI Aprils Fool

MINI Aprils Fool

MINI Aprils Fool

MINI Aprils Fool

MINI Aprils Fool

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Cars

The New MINI Countryman with Facelift

The MINI Countryman with the facelift. MINI Countryman was revealed at the same year when the Range Rover Evoque was revealed. And MINI did a minor facelift to Countryman before the Evoque received one. Personally, I loved Evoque at the beginning but my emotions followed my brain and I started to prefer MINI Countryman due its technological advantage based on BMW. 
Literally, MINI Countryman is a tiny X5 with the MINI design philosophy. For some people that’s not tempting but for me, I like it. BMW offers wide range of gadgets and efficient engines. Countryman may not offer the same level of off road experience like the Evoque, but that’s the compromise.
The facelift of MINI Countryman is the new LED headlights and more personalisation options. Also, minor revisions to improve the aerodynamic performance. The 6-speed automatic gearbox is still with us, I think there won’t be any 8-speed auto near soon. In addition, MINI Countryman received the updated the information system that allows you to install apps like on your smart phone.
Worth to buy? Yes, it offers larger boots space, four-wheel drive and BMW infrastructure. And slightly more aggressive look.


Photos Credits
MINI
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Cars

Earliest Prototype of MINI is on eBay

One of the earliest prototypes of MINI is available on eBay. According to Jalopnik, you can buy this very early prototype from eBay just for £1295 in 5 hours time! However, Jalopnik did some mistakes on the article, “the sportier German concept got the green light as opposed to Rover’s budget car idea”. And I did intensive research, this statement was true.
The MINI prototype sold on eBay is a very early one. Anyway, if you wish to one a MINI Cooper S and cannot afford it, here is the best opportunity to own one. And that would be the only one on this planet. If Frank didn’t send another one to Moon or Mars.


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eBay auctioner
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Cars

Photos of the New MINI: Third Generation: The Biggest Gadget

Photos of the New MINI is here, according to BMW third generation MINI is made from scratch. However, it doesn’t seem so. I still see the major design clues from the first generation MINI designed by Frank Stephenson. Honestly, it is impossible to change the design philosophy of a car like MINI in one day!
The third generation MINI is larger and bigger than the previous models and contradicts with MINI! 98mm longer, 44mm wider, 7mm higher! Thus larger interior cabin and bigger boot!
However, the innovations are not limited with the extended size! Now MINI is available with all BMW technologies! Keyless access, active radar guided cruise control, emergency slides, pedestrian detection, road sign detection, automatic parking, head-up display, ejection seat, adaptive suspensions and lots more. And you have lots of apps to install to your onboard entertainment system. Literally, the new MINI is a proper rival to iPhone5S and Samsung Galaxy S4!
There are three new engines, 1.5-lt 3-cylinder petrol engine with 134 HP with 170 Nm of torque. 1.5-lt 3-cylinder diesel engine with 114 HP with 270 Nm of torque. 2-lt petrol engine with 192 HP and 280 Nm of torque. All the engines have turbo otherwise, they cannot produce these amounts of power! Actually, the previous Cooper S has 1.6-lt engine and now BMW shifted to 2-lt petrol engine. That’s not impressive. Bigger engine means heavy nose, heavy nose means tendency to understeer, tendency to understeer means, why I should buy this car instead of Fiat 500!
Unfortunately, there is a six-speed manual pointless gearbox, just avoid it. And you can have the new MINI with state-of-art six-speed automatic or sport automatic gearboxes.
Now the MINI is packed up with all BMW technologies. This is a part of the BMW’s strategy. They extend their safety and driving technologies across their brands from MINI to Rolls Royce. Thus, they increase the competitive power of their products and that’s correct. Now the MINI is the best small car on the market. None of the competitors can offer these technologies inside a small car. Many people like me would go for the MINI for its toys.
But the said thing is, people never order their cars with high tech safety and driving technologies. They only order the with plain features. If you ask them, they have the latest model with manual air condition. And I assume we will see the same scenery with the new MINI. But I have big hopes for fully loaded MINIs to go around. If I can buy one, you will see the most sophisticated gadget on wheels :D
Price? Of course expensive an like iPhone :)

Photos Credits
MINI
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Cars

New 2014 MINI Video

MINI released a footage of the up-coming 2014 new MINI! And they said, The New Original! The best remake ever! Sorry the best remake was done Frank Stephenson, quite long time ago :)
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Cars

Aston Martin Cygnet is Dead

Aston Martin Cygnet is dead! Today Aston Martin officially announced their decision to stop making Cygnet model. Honestly, I am bit sad with this news, despite all efforts tiny Cygnet could not keep up with its older siblings.
Since the Cygnet was revealed, it never managed to achieve any success or respected by the consumers. Aston Martin first announced that, Cygnet will be available to existing Aston Martin owners and they changed their mind and then they change their mind again. Because, it was based on Toyota iQ without any technical modification and didn’t have enough money to replace the Toyota details. 
Honestly, it was obvious mistake since the beginning. Aston Martin tried to reduce their fleet emission level by cutting corners and did not manage to reveal a proper luxury small car. Actually, luxury small car market is immature. MINI Inspired by Goodwood version managed stay in dealers to attempt world record. Their demand is so niche and so weak, manufacturing is not a feasible option.
Now, Cygnet will take its place on Aston Martin’s history as a failure from the beginning. I am sure, the small luxury car market will expand in future as the younger generation who loves to play with iPhones gets older. However, wrapping up a Toyota iQ was not a very reasonable solution to reveal a luxury product. 
If Bentley produces a small Bentley based Volkswagen Polo platform, it will be the right time! 
Actually, I liked the Aston Martin Cygnet. It was a very cute car but its fate was not that bright. And I am really happy to see it in real life.

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Cars

MINI NOT NORMAL Campaign

MINI recently released new ads for the NOT NORMAL campaign. As you may know that second generation MINI is at the end of its product lifecycle and getting ready to depart to leave a space for the third generation MINI. 
Meanwhile, MINI does not wish people lose the attention and keep the sales alive as much as possible. So, here is the latest NOT NORMAL campaign :)


Photos Credits
MINI
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Cars

MINI Cooper Royal Video | Kate Middleton

MINI released the MINI Royal video after Kate Middleton’s birth. Honestly, it is a very creative video, MINI Cooper gives a birth to a MINI Cooper.
Just one question, why it is not a MINI Cooper S :) I am definitely sure some people will write letters to MINI and asking why that’s not a MINI Cooper S or why didn’t place the electric MINI or why it is not MINI Diesel and these letters will go forever.
And sorry for the German license plates on the photos, I couldn’t find the UK license plated MINIs


Photos Credits
MINI
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Cars

The Third Generation MINI is Coming // New New New MINI

The third generation MINI coming! Actually, the present MINI is the new one. I mean Frank Stephenson designed the new MINI. And we call the MINI that we spot on the street as the new MINI. However when the product lifecycle of the new MINI came to an end, BMW revealed another new MINI. Thus, the second generation MINI is the new New MINI and the new New MINI is going to be replaced soon and the third generation will be new new New MINI. And this conversation goes forever and it will be as senseless as the chicken and egg dilemma. 
Literally, Frank Stephenson designed the new MINI. And BMW revised the new MINI and created the second generation and now they revised again and third generation is going to be available. And sorry for the confusing and non-sense new MINI conversation :)
And if you are thinking who is Frank Stephenson, here is my interview with him :) Moreover, if you are interested to cars and have no idea who is Frank, this is similar to: I love fashion so much, but I never heard of Karl Lagerfeld. I am not joking, I heard this sentence from a fashion designer student!


Photos Credits
Mini
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Cars

Why Mercedes-Benz needs Aston Martin? | The Future of Aston Martin

Why Mercedes-Benz needs Aston Martin? I would like to keep this article short and simple. Mercedes-Benz has been trying to gather a market in ultra luxury segment for more than a decade, started with the reboot of the Maybach brand. Mercedes-Benz tried their best to create an ultra luxury brand with the Maybach but due to using same structure with the W220 S-Class and lack of adequate sophistication, Maybach could not keep with Rolls-Royce and Bentley.

What I mean by sophistication? Basically, Maybach never offered the same hand built car experience like Bentley or Rolls Royce. The amount of plastic used in interior and exterior were beyond the acceptable level. And the huge resemblance with the S-Class W220 completed the picture.

Now, Volkswagen Group owns Bentley and Bugatti. BMW owns Rolls Royce and Mini. And Mercedes-Benz or Daimler Group own literally nothing in ultra luxury market. There is no brand under the Daimler Group or Mercedes-Benz to compete with Bentley, Rolls Royce or Bugatti. And Mercedes-Benz knows that their product range is not capable of running at the same pace with the iconic hand built British automotive icons.

And there is one option is left! Buying the Aston Martin. This sounds too rough! And also hinders many potential problems. Instead of that Mercedes-Benz is going to develop the relationship through engine manufacturing and automotive technology sharing. Because, Aston Martin purchases the V8 and V12 engines from the Ford and Aston Martin doesn’t have enough money to develop sophisticated automotive technologies. On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz burns more than €1-billion to R&D and have a lot technologies that are years above their competitors. But it is still Mercedes-Benz.

Harmonising the technology of Mercedes-Benz with the soul of the Aston Martin will reveal a very strong competitor to Bentley and Rolls Royce.

This article represents my own personal views. It does not advice, consult, suggest or predict an investment suggestion, or business strategy to be used for an investment. I do not provide consultantcy or service for any type of investment or similar advices.