The MINI Clubman Has Arrived!

February 7, 2008 Pedro 1 Comment

The first run of MINI Cooper Clubmans (Clubmen?) were just unloaded at various MINI dealerships today, giving them plenty of time to get them spruced up and ready for show next weekend! I have been told that no test drives are allowed to take place before the launch and that the Motoring Advisors will be pretty busy getting familiar with the new cars and even test driving them at the MINIUSA orientation event next week. Here is a quick photo of what the “Clubmen” looked like having just rolled off the truck (thanks to dccxlix for the photo):

Audio & Video, Modern MINI, Track Talk

Video: 2008 MINI Challenge Test

February 5, 2008 Pedro 1 Comment

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post regarding the JCW MINI Challenge test, here is actual video footage of the test posted by Car Tribe. Check out those air jacks and the exhaust tone! VERY nice! Sure hope we get a series over here soon!

Test Day Recap @ Car Tribe

Media Coverage, Modern MINI, Track Talk

John Cooper Works Challenge Test @ Silverstone

February 4, 2008 Pedro

The website crash.net is reporting some cool news that British GT Championship driver Paul O’Neill and a few others have begun taking the new MINI John Cooper Works Challenge car out to the track for testing at Silverstone. As someone who has played Forza a few times, I am so jealous!

According to the report, O’Neill stated:

“It’s a great car to drive, like a refined touring car,” O’Neill said. “The engine’s very powerful, the power comes in very smoothly and it feels a lot lighter than it looks.

“It’s very good in the middle of the corner and you can get it to hop around, so you can dictate where it goes on the exit ñ it doesn’t have the understeer you normally associate with front wheel drive cars.

“The ABS is fantastic. I don’t normally like ABS but it’s not intrusive and lets you really brake into the corner.”

[ MINI test for RPM ace @ crash.net ]

Images, MINI Events

Sunshine MINIs 1st Annual Picnic

February 3, 2008 Pedro

I finally got the photos posted from last weekend’s Sunshine MINIs picnic in Ocala and wanted to share. First off, let me say thanks to Snooter and Mungo for putting on a fantastic event. We had just under 100 MINIacs come out in the middle of winter for a picnic full of MINI fun! Ok Ok – so it was FLORIDA! It was great getting together with some MotoringFun.com chat room regulars who came to the event, including Deviant who technically wins the furthest travelled MINIac, fresh from Iraq! Click the photo below to check out all the other photos!