Looks like ALTA has just officially released their R56 Exhaust system:

ALTA Performance is pleased to announce the release of the new R56 twin tip exhaust system. Made from 304 stainless steel, the ALTA R56 exhaust system is fully polished for a show-stopping shine including the pipes, mufflers and tips. The Perfect way to show off your attention to detail and catch the eye of other mini owners. The ALTA R56 exhaust system features mandrel-bent 3î tubing and V band flanges for faster turbo spooling and increased low end power. Designed with sound in mind, the ALTA system has a very very mellow tone that will make you want to motor.

[ ALTA R56 Exhaust ]

From the pages of the latest MC²Magazine… Buckaroo Trailers has recently partnered with Mini-Fini to provide MINI owners with a luggage trailer that can be safely pulled by your MINI. The trailers can be custom painted to meet your individual needs.

Each trailer comes with 12 cubic feet of storage space, carpeted floor, chrome tongue, independent torsion suspension, wheels and tires, pre-wired, taillights and side marker lights. Buckaroo and Mini-Fini will be at Mini Meet East 07. If you will be there, make sure to check them out and say hi.

[ MC²Magazine.com ]

If youíre following the trends in the MINI world, you may have noticed that with the expiration of the 4-year factory warranty, the hunger for more power is coming of age fast. In addition to the older, trusted names in our brand of Alta, M7, Detroit Tuned and others, have come Dinan and newer companies like EvolutionMini, T.C. Kline (a major name in BMW tuning for many years) and Thumper Performance. (Others weíll soon make public, as weíre still under a non-disclosure agreement with a few companies coming to market)

There are several bodykit builders in Europe of reasonable quality, but AirborneMini (www.airbornemini.com) is the first company actually operating weíve spoken with on the re-styling of the first-generation MINI. The best part is they are bringing to market a 100% carbon-fiber kit of several pieces in a wide-body styling for about $3,500. This pummels the usual fiberglass kits from Europe or the UK for less cost, plus itís made in California, so shipping is minimal and import fees are negated.

Continue reading MC²: 100% Carbon-Fiber MINI Body Kit & Custom MINI Garage Cabinets →

Last week we mentioned the new combined MINI Motoring Accessories / MINI MotoringGear brochure which contained accessories for the new second-generation MINIs. Well, MINI USA hasn’t forgotten about the owners of 2002-2006 Coopers and Cooper Ss, and 2002-present MINI Convertibles. They just released the MINI Motoring Accessories You-ification Workbook, so pick one up at your nearest MINI dealer.

For 2007, MINI USA has combined the MINI Motoring Accessories and MotoringGear brochures into a single brochure called “The Fully Authorized, Utterly Definitive & Largely Unabridged Motorer’s Guide to the You-niverse”. Inside are many new accessories, but perhaps the most interesting is the new MINI Portable Navigation System powered by Garmin. The unit has a 3.5″ touchscreen and suction-cup dash mount. It includes maps and points-of-interest information for the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico pre-loaded. The spoken text interface calls out your turns, and yes, you can choose to have it speak with a British accent. As a bonus, the MINI Portable Navigation System includes an MP3 player, audiobook reader, photo viewer, and world clock and currency converter. You can expand the capabilities by adding an SD memory card to its slot. Last but not least, it uses Bluetooth to wirelessly connect to Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones.

Beyond the external MINI branding, this GPS unit displays a small MINI on map. The MINI icon is fully customizable, you can choose the body and roof color and even add a Union Jack or checkerboard roof graphic. No other unit allows you to do that.

The MINI Portable Navigation System retails for $750. The MINI part number is 65 90 0 429 399.