The home charger installation (required for "fast recharge") was about 1.5 ft×2 ft×5 ft (0.5 m×0.6 m×1.5 m) with integrated heatsinks and resembled a gasoline pump. Charging was entirely inductive, and accomplished by placing a Magne Charge paddle in the front port of the EV1, although GM also offered a convenience charger (120 VAC) that could be used with any standard North American receptacle to slow charge the battery pack.

Although the second-generation MINI Cooper has been on the market now for several months, the drop-top version of the car soldiered on in first-generation guise until production came to an end on August 8th. The MINI factory is now retooling to produce the convertible R57, which our spies have spotted while out testing.

As expected, the second-generation MINI Convertible will not deviate too far from the first gen-car, with styling closely related to its hard-top counterpart. As previously reported, the Convertible’s engines offering will mirror the current coupe’s, with the high-performance JCW package expected to be available at launch.

However, for 2009, the MINI Convertible with do away with its fixed rear hoops, instead opting for pop-up units — which MINI is cleverly hiding behind the camo in the back window. This change should provide the same amount of protection for occupants in the event of a rollover crash, but will allow for greater rearward visibility – as will a larger rear glass window. Another neat touch for 2009 is what MINI dubs an ‘Always Open’ gauge, which keeps track of how many miles are driven with the top down.

The 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible is slated to make its debut at January’s Detroit Motor Show, with sales set to begin in March 2009.

Electric cars are nothing new. Once the horseless chariots of upper class society women, they are now back en vogue thanks to a renewed interest in achieving zero-emissions, minimal-compromise driving. Enter the 2010 Mini E, an electrified Mini Cooper that will go on limited lease availability to select customers early next year.

First things first, the Mini E is not a mass-market electric car. Five hundred applicants mostly in Southern California and the greater New York City area - get your name in now - will be selected to lease Mini Es at $850 a month for a year. That fee includes all maintenance and an in-home charging system , as well as all the gasoline required to fuel the Mini E for the year (just checking to see if you are paying attention).

Under the Mini E’s hood is a 150kW (a little over 200 horsepower) electric motor that is “fueled” by a back seat-mounted rechargeable lithium-ion battery. A single-stage helical gearbox transfers the power to the front wheels. The Mini E’s suspension has been modified to compensate for the revised weight distribution - those batteries out back add a few pounds, but a careful diet cut the overall curb weight increase to around 100 lbs.

Aside from badging and stickers, there isn’t much outside to hint to drivers that your motoring is not consuming any gasoline. The fuel filler door is still there, except on this Mini it’s where you plug in a cable from the in-home charging system. Like any electric car, the Mini E emits only a high-pitched whine when it is running, so be careful sneaking up on your fellow shoppers in the Kroger parking lot.

Inside, the changes are more obvious. Your friends who argued over who got shoved in the back seat will now have to drive themselves since the Mini E’s huge battery packs take up the rear accommodations and most of the cargo area. There’s just enough room for a bag or two of groceries but nothing else in this minimized Mini. Don’t expect to take a cross country trip unless you can pack lightly and want to stop often for charges.

Speaking of charging, the Mini E goes up to 150 miles between charges, which take about two hours to complete. A full recharge takes about 28 kilowatt hours of electricity - about 5.4 miles per kWh.

Climb aboard and the Mini E feels like any automatic-transmission Mini Cooper, aside from a charge gauge where you’d normally find the tachometer, a power gauge where you’d normally see the fuel gauge and a distinct lack of whiny rear seat passengers. Those batteries back there are quiet, free of smell and you don’t even have to worry about asking for them to pitch in gas money.

Put the gear lever in drive, let off the brake and you won’t go anywhere, although you might roll a little if you’re not on flat ground. The Mini E’s gas pedal isn’t particularly linear in its operation, which will require a little getting used to for most drivers to avoid head-snapping acceleration. Hey, at least there’s only one passenger to worry about. Let off the gas and the Mini E will slow down quickly rather than slowly coast to a stop like in a conventional car. In this mode, the electric motor acts as a generator, recovering some kinetic energy and feeding it back to the battery. Because of this, Mini recommends using the deceleration feature as a brake to come to a stop.

With upwards of 200 horsepower on tap, the Mini E moves forward rapidly enough to induce some wheelspin and torque steer and, with no rev range to worry about, more power is instantaneous from any speed.

Braking is grabby and a little nonlinear, but is still better than in some inexpensive cars and even the Toyota Prius. Again, it takes some getting used to, but by the end of our short downtown Los Angeles driving circuit, we had it down to a science.

The Mini E is one of few cars that allows you to pull up next to a Prius, like the one with the personalized “LESS OIL” license plate we saw on our test drive, and smugly look down upon the gas-guzzling heathen behind the wheel. The Mini E uses no oil other than a few drops here and there for moving parts lubrication. Take that, Prius.

With a limited range and limited cargo capacity, the Mini E is a strictly in-town commuter car, and at that it excels. Handling is mostly on par with a standard Mini, though it’s possible to get the front end a little more squirrely here than in the gas version.

The future of the Mini E is the million dollar question, though. BMW and Mini executives are tight-lipped about the project, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see the lessons learned from this trial project applied to a larger, more utilitarian vehicle in the near future.

the official word from bmw is that the mini e project is just a study, but strong rumors out of munich suggest otherwise.

A unique racing experience with 208 hp now also in the new generation of the open four-seater MINI – World debut at the International Geneva Motor Show – Extension of the wide range of John Cooper Works accessories for the MINI and the MINI Clubman.

The new MINI Convertible simply begs the enthusiast to drive with the roof down – and now comes with particularly sporting and dynamic features all round. Just a few weeks after the world debut of the open four-seater, the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible is being presented to the public for the first time at the International Motor Show in Geneva (5–15 March 2009).

This open-air version of MINI’s top performer combines the drive technology of a racing car with the beautiful aesthetic looks of the MINI Convertible, providing a unique driving experience characterized, first, by genuine passion for motorsport and, second, by the undiluted pleasure of enjoying the wonderful sun shining in and the pure wind rushing by.

Stormy enthusiasm is evoked in the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder power unit complete with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection. Maximum output is 208 hp all the way from 1,850–5,600 rpm, with peak torque of 192 lb-ft increasing briefly in the Overboost mode to 207 lb-ft.

The power unit is based on the engine featured in the MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE and raced for the first time in the 2008 MINI CHALLENGE. Accelerating zero to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, the outstanding performance and sporting character of the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible makes this new model an exceptional contender in the MINI Convertible segment.

The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible is the third model introduced by John Cooper Works integrated under the overall roof of the MINI brand. Like the MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop and the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2008, this open-air top-flight performer represents the close connection between the two brands based on a decade-old tradition in motorsport and exerting a significant influence on the development of new models and components.

As with all other MINIs, the John Cooper Works models are built to the customer’s specifications at the MINI Plant in Oxford and sold worldwide through the MINI dealer network, representing the common values of driving pleasure, premium quality and individual style of the highest caliber, for which MINI is known.

The three outstanding performers proudly bearing the John Cooper Works label offer all the high standards of the BMW Group in terms of reliability, quality of finish and authenticity in design. And obviously these quality features also apply to the John Cooper Works performance components, which are geared perfectly to the MINI. Parallel to the launch of the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible, new accessories are now being presented by John Cooper Works, available for both the MINI and the MINI Clubman. The wide range of motorsport-inspired, retrofittable options already available is being expanded to include exclusive instruments offering the driver even more detailed information on the condition of the car and/or current driving conditions. So depending on his preferences, the driver may focus in particular on coolant temperature, the relative torque developed by the engine, and/or the car’s lateral acceleration in a bend or on a winding road.

The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible will go on sale in the U.S. starting in April 2009, at a retail price of $34,950, which includes the $650 D&H).

The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible: more sport, more fresh air.

The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible owes its outstandingly sporting character to the power machine within the engine compartment. Like the engine, numerous other components on the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible are derived directly from motorsport – for example the extra-light, exclusive light-alloy wheels, the extremely powerful brakes, a new exhaust system and the modified six-speed manual gearbox - all developed in close connection with the new racing car entered in the MINI CHALLENGE. So it is fair to say that driving pleasure in the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible is influenced directly by significant contributions from motorsport.

Even in its basic design and configuration, the 1,598-cc four-cylinder based on the power unit featured in the MINI Cooper S Convertible boasts significant technical features carried over from racing. The cylinder block and bearing case, for example, are made of aluminum, the four valves per cylinder are driven by two overhead camshafts, roller-type drag arms are optimized for minimum friction and hydraulic valve play compensation elements. The exhaust valves, in turn, are filled with sodium to meet the greater cooling requirements of a turbocharged power unit.

The increase in power over the engine featured in the MINI Cooper S Convertible is a result of the optimized supply and extraction of air, as well as the modified turbocharger. At the same time, all intake and exhaust components have been streamlined for optimum flow conditions, contributing to the special sound of the engine.

Know-how gained from motorsport and detailed modifications for more power and performance.

The flow of air through the pure air line leading to the turbocharger has also been increased and streamlined, with the twin-scroll turbocharger ensuring a particularly spontaneous build-up of power at all times.

The ducts of two cylinders at a time are separated from one another in the exhaust gas manifold and the turbocharger, ensuring that the turbine blades start to move in exactly the right way from low engine speeds. A turbine made of a particularly sophisticated material was developed especially for the engine of the John Cooper Works models, with maximum charge pressure increased from 0.9 to 1.3 bar.

This serves to provide maximum torque of 192 lb-ft all the way from 1,850 to 5,600 rpm. And when accelerating, torque is briefly raised to an even higher level of 207 lb-ft by increasing charge pressure between 2,000 and 5,300 rpm. This Overboost function gives the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible even more muscle and faster acceleration.

Maximum output of 208 hp comes at 6,000 rpm, the spontaneous and direct response of the engine again providing even faster acceleration: The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and has a top speed of 146 mph.

The turbocharged four-cylinder comes with direct gasoline injection based on the common-rail principle, with injection valves positioned on the side of the cylinder head delivering fuel into the combustion chambers in an exact dose and under 120 bar pressure directly from the fuel reservoir. This ensures precisely the right supply of fuel geared to driving and load requirements under all conditions.

Fuel consumption in the US EPA test cycle is unusually low for a car with this kind of power and performance, with preliminary mpg ratings of 26/34/29, (city/highway/combined).

Transmission, suspension, and brakes: developed for the race track, optimized for everyday traffic.

The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible comes with front-wheel drive in typical MINI style. Power is transmitted by a six-speed manual gearbox specially engineered to take up the particularly high torque of the new top-of-the-range engine.

In addition to the sophisticated suspension with McPherson spring struts at the front and the centrally guided rear axle, quite unique in the small car segment, Electrical Power Steering (EPS) is a further guarantee for safe and extremely precise handling. The electrical servo motor likewise contributes to the car’s efficiency by intervening actively only when power assistance is actually required or is desired by the driver.

EPS enables the driver to program various set-ups, with the basic set-up ensuring a good balance of steering assistance as a function of road speed. Pressing the Sports Button on the center console next to the gearshift lever in the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible, activates a significantly more dynamic set-up with higher steering forces and enhanced steering precision. At the same time, the Sports Button also changes over the gas pedal control map to a more sporting and dynamic configuration.

Featured as standard, the sports braking system guarantees short stopping distances and excels through its precise response and fine dosage. The fixed-caliper disc brakes with their aluminum calipers finished in red – with inner-venting at the front and proudly bearing the John Cooper Works logo on the calipers themselves – are extra-large for superior power.

The 17-inch light-alloy wheels in John Cooper Works Cross Spoke CHALLENGE design, exclusive to the John Cooper Works models, were inspired by motorsport with the particularly great demands made on the race track. Weighing less than 22 lb, these wheels are exceptionally light and come on high-speed 205/45 W 17 runflat tires.

Featured as standard and unique on a front-wheel-drive car: DSC including DTC.

Over and above its sport-tuned suspension and powerful brakes, the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible also comes with demanding driving stability systems. Standard features include ABS anti-lock-brakes, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), including Hill Assist, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and a Brake Assist.

Acting as a sub-function of DSC, DTC enables the driver at the touch of a button to raise the driving stability response thresholds, intentionally allowing controlled slip on the drive wheels. This enables the driver in the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible to set off in a controlled process on, say, snowbound surfaces or loose sand with the front wheels slightly spinning, or to drive more closely to the limits of physics in particularly dynamic situations. Then, when reaching the absolute limit, DSC will cut in again also in the DTC mode. If he wishes, however, the driver is able to completely deactivate the DSC function.

The DSC-off mode also activates the Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC) on the drive axle. Again featured as standard, this sophisticated system supports a sporting and ambitious style of motoring, for example when accelerating out of bends and hairpins. The electronically controlled locking function prevents a drive wheel from spinning in tight bends by applying the brakes appropriately, enhancing the car’s traction without exerting a negative influence on steering behavior. Accordingly, the entire process of taking a bend is smoother, more harmonious and faster all in one.

Design: uncompromisingly open, unmistakably athletic.

The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible combines the outstanding potential of its drivetrain and suspension technology with all the unmistakable features of the new MINI Convertible, with the design of the car clearly highlighting the exceptionally sporting character of the new model.

With the rollbar being almost completely out of sight, the stretched side view of the car, its silhouette inspired by the classic roadster, comes out very clearly with the roof down. The steep windscreen, in turn, not only underlines the character of an uncompromisingly open car in its looks, but also offers the driver and front passenger the enjoyment of almost sitting in the open air whenever the roof is down.

Through its proportions, short overhangs front and rear, large wheel cut-outs, the height of the waistline and numerous design features typical of the brand, the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible clearly boasts its outstanding role as a fully-fledged member of the family.

The entire front end is the same as on the other MINI John Cooper Works siblings, with the rear subdivided by horizontal lines running parallel to one another. This creates the softly flowing stage contours so typical of the brand, emphasizing the sheer width of the car.

Opening downward, the tailgate of the new MINI John Cooper Works Convertible rests on hinges fitted inside the car. The result is a smooth and homogeneous surface again enhancing the powerful and muscular look of the rear section.

Soft roof with a sliding roof function also operates while driving.

The soft roof of the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible combines an unmistakable look with unique functionality. With the roof closed the car boasts those special proportions so typical of the MINI, the low roofline additionally accentuating the sporting flair of the Convertible. The high-quality, particularly wind-proof and extremely hard-wearing textile material rests firmly on the steel and aluminum roof bars, keeping any change in shape caused by the wind at high speeds to an absolute minimum.

The soft roof opens and closes completely by electrohydraulic power within 15 seconds in each case. The opening and closing mechanism is activated by a toggle switch on the front roof frame in typical MINI design. And to enable the driver and passengers to enjoy the thrill of driving in the open air spontaneously whenever they wish or to respond quickly to sudden rainfall, the roof may be opened and closed at speeds of up to 18 mph while driving. Last but not least, there is also the option to open the soft top by means of remote control via the ignition key before even setting out.

The unique sliding roof function of the soft top is activated in an all-electric process, the front section of the soft top moving back by up 16", again by means of the switch on the front roof frame. This appropriately dosed fresh air experience is available at all times while driving at a speed of up to 75 mph.

Larger side windows and retractable rollbar for optimum all-round visibility.

Excellent all-round visibility with the roof closed is ensured, first, by the large rear side windows and, second, by the newly engineered Active Rollover Protection Bar. Moving up whenever required, this single-piece rollbar extends along the rear seats slightly below the headrests and therefore does not in any way obscure the vision of the driver looking back.

Over and above the extremely stiff passenger cell, high-load bearing structures and precisely defined deformation zones, the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible comes as standard with frontal airbags and head/thorax airbags at the side integrated in the outer flanks of the front-seat backrests and protecting the occupant’s head, upper body and hips from injury in a side-on collision.

All four seats come with three-point inertia-reel seat belts, with belt force limiters and optimized belt latch tensioners at the front.

All restraint systems are masterminded by the car’s central safety electronics including individual sensors and are activated as a function of the type and intensity of a collision.

The safety system in the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible also comprises a rollover sensor, which immediately activates the newly developed rollbar, as well as the belt latch tensioners on the front seats and the head/thorax airbags in the event of a rollover. Together with the windscreen frame specifically reinforced for the needs of open-air motoring, the new one-piece rollbar rises whenever required electromechanically within 150 milli¬seconds -- ensuring maximum occupant safety as part of the car’s passenger cell.

The interior: variable in use, sporting and elegant in design.

The interior of the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible combines the sporting and straightforward elegance typical of the car’s ambience with a standard of functionality quite unique in this segment. A three-spoke sports steering wheel in leather forms the interface between the driver and his sports machine, the anthracite-colored roof lining and the interior surfaces in glossy Piano Black enable the driver to focus calmly and consistently on driving conditions in exactly the right atmosphere. Yet a further feature in the cockpit of the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible, finally, is the speedometer extending all the way 160 mph.

Designed as a single-piece element, the rollover protection bar further serves to integrate a large loading facility between the luggage and the passenger compartment, giving the new MINI Convertible additional variability.

Clearly, this gives the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible even greater variability, with the rear-seat backrest split down in the middle folding forward as required either in a 50:50 split or completely from one side to another, offering no less than 23.3 cubic feet of storage space with the roof closed.

Furthermore, the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible comes with an Easy-Load system. In this case the tailgate swivels down and may be used as a shelf carrying a weight of up to 176 lb. As an additional feature the rear roof frame swivels up by approximately 35°, creating a truly generous opening leading into the luggage compartment.

The influence of the wind rushing by with the roof open may also be adjusted individually to the driver’s and passengers’ requirements. Available as an option, the wind deflector significantly reduces air turbulence within the interior, fitting into position behind the rear seats and folding up easily and conveniently.

Customization all the way: high-tech audio and navigation systems,
complete integration of the Apple iPhone.

Over and above the features mentioned, MINI offers an almost unlimited range of customization options for the high-performance Convertible. This means all exterior colors, interior design features, seat upholstery options, interior colors and trim variants, as well as the comfort features and other items of special equipment available on the other models.

The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible is likewise available with the full range of high-tech entertainment and navigation systems offered by MINI, with the controls for the audio system – featuring a CD player as standard – and the 6½-inch TFT color display of the optional navigation system housed within the circular instrument in the middle.

Using the AUX port also featured as standard, the user may for example play music recorded on an MP3 player on the car’s audio system. Another special feature is the interface for full integration of an Apple iPod, while a mobile phone preparation kit and, respectively, integrated hands-free operation complete with a Bluetooth interface and USB port available as an option ensure optimum and safe communication on the road. And last but not least, there is also a special Apple iPhone interface for integrating the audio and telephone functions.

Performance premium-style: John Cooper Works accessories.

Motoring comfort, practical value and the sporting flair of the car may be enhanced to an even higher level with the wide range of MINI John Cooper Works accessories. The highlights in the range include an Aerodynamics Package and the Sports Suspension with springs painted red and cross-drilled brake discs. Further features are a dome bar extending across the engine compartment, mirror caps in carbon, and side scuttles around the side direction indicators with a special, sporting grid structure.

Trim bars, the handbrake lever and the sports gearshift lever in carbon also serve to give the interior an even more sporting ambience. And last but not least, the Gearshift Indicator also offered as a John Cooper Works accessory helps to enhance the driving experience to an even higher level.

New on the MINI and MINI Clubman: additional John Cooper Works instruments.

The John Cooper Works performance components give even greater emphasis to the sporting character of every MINI highlighted also through the car’s looks. The new, additional John Cooper Works instruments, now available on both the MINI and MINI Clubman are a particularly attractive addition to the range.

This option allows full integration of up to two circular instruments in the immediate vicinity of the rev counter, with the additional instruments finished in the style of a sports car cockpit coming in special MINI design and blending perfectly with the interior of the car. With their anthracite-colored faces, they add further appeal to the sporting character of the cockpit.

Here the discerning customer has the choice of three different analogue instruments, up to two of which may be integrated to the right and left of the rev counter, directly in the driver’s field of vision. The coolant temperature gauge, for example, gives the driver clear information on the engine’s current running conditions, enabling him to monitor the process of warming up the engine and gauge his style of motoring precisely to current conditions.

The relative torque indicator permanently informs the driver on the engine’s load condition, showing current torque on the crankshaft relative to the maximum torque available. Proceeding from this information, the driver will find it much easier to choose the ideal gear for dynamic acceleration at all times.

On the MINI Cooper S, the MINI John Cooper Works, the MINI Cooper S Clubman and the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman the driver is additionally informed on the current operation of the Overboost function.

All MINIs may also be fitted with a lateral acceleration indicator providing information on centrifugal forces in a bend and on winding roads.

The additional John Cooper Works instruments are an ideal opportunity to further highlight the sporting character of the MINI and the MINI Clubman, raising driving pleasure to an even higher level. In their design and quality, the additional instruments meet all the high standards of the BMW Group. They are sold and fitted by MINI dealers within the MINI network worldwide.

The worldwide MINI Community is celebrating the 50th birthday of the brand on the occasion of the MINI United Festival at the legendary British race track in Silverstone from 22–24 May 2009.

Two special models also on the starter grid in Silverstone are the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden, two cars which will most certainly convey the great spirit at the anniversary party into lasting driving pleasure on the road. For through their characteristic design and exclusive features alone, these two models live out both the great tradition and the visionary power of the MINI brand.

Both the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden are available with two petrol engines and one diesel. They will be launched into the market in September 2009, production of the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden starting exactly fifty years after the official presentation of the classic Mini and being limited to just one year.

The modern drivetrain and suspension technology featured by the MINI also gives these two anniversary models truly fascinating agility in combination with exemplary fuel economy and emission management. Particularly the 128 kW/175 hp four-cylinder with its twin-scroll turbocharger and direct gasoline injection powering the MINI Cooper S 50 Mayfair and the MINI Cooper S 50 Camden offers truly outstanding performance on the road. And all this comes with combined cycle fuel consumption to the EU standard of just 6.2 litres/100 km (equal to 45.6 mpg imp) and a CO2 rating of just 149 grams per kilometre.

Featuring fully variable valve control and offering engine output of 88 kW/120 hp, the power unit of the MINI Cooper 50 Mayfair and the MINI Cooper 50 Camden likewise has everything it takes for truly sporting performance. Average fuel consumption of just 5.4 litres/100 km or 52.3 mpg imp in the EU test cycle, in turn, as well as a CO2 rating of 129 grams per kilometre, set new standards in terms of efficient motoring pleasure.

Last but certainly not least, the 80 kW/110 hp four-cylinder diesel in the MINI Cooper D 50 Mayfair and the MINI Cooper D 50 Camden combines supreme economy with impressive torque and pulling power. And here average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 3.9 litres/100 km, equal to 72.4 mpg imp, and a CO2 rating of 104 grams per kilometre, mark unparalleled records in the premium segment.

The MINI anniversary: looking back and looking forward.

For the first time since its market launch in 2006, the latest generation of the MINI offers the opportunity in the car’s anniversary year to enjoy supreme driving pleasure in particularly exclusive style. Hence, the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden follow the principle already applied by the classic Mini to accentuate individual highlights in the character of this highly successful performer from Great Britain. The anniversary of the brand therefore offers an ideal opportunity to look back at the fascinating tradition of the car and to look forward at the unique future and outlook of the MINI.

Both of these perspectives are expressed by the names of the new models. As in the past, the two anniversary models are named after boroughs of London also very popular and well-known far away from the British capital. Mayfair is lauded the world over for its exclusivity growing so significantly over the years and decades, while Camden is the home of a trendy and culturally versatile urban lifestyle.

Setting their respective standards, both models represent those values so typical of MINI that have grown over five decades as well as the car’s potential for ongoing development.

Characteristic design, exclusive features.

Both in their design and their features the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden stand out clearly from the current, “regular” production models. Numerous features helping to make these two cars truly unmistakable are indeed reserved to these individual anniversary models, making each version truly unique in its own right. Special body paintwork, light-alloy rims tailored to the car, special materials and surfaces within the interior as well as a range of colours tailored specifically to the MINI 50 Mayfair and, respectively, the MINI 50 Camden underline the exclusivity of these special models available only for a limited period.

The jubilee placard proudly surrounded by chrome trim on the radiator grille provides clear testimony to the tradition of the brand now going back fifty years, bearing the number “50” in typical MINI design and boasting the colours of the Union Jack – red, white, and blue.

In addition to the wide range of regular features already provided on the respective engine variant, each MINI 50 Mayfair and each MINI 50 Camden comes not only with sophisticated paintwork, seat upholstery and trim, but also with a wide range of other comfort features. Apart from air conditioning, seats adjustable for height and with electric heating, the Lights Package as well as the on-board computer, these features include the Storage Package, additional storage options, a 12 V power socket in the luggage compartment and angle adjustment on the rear-seat backrests.

MINI 50 Mayfair: noblesse oblige – dedicated to extravagant style.

Back in 1982 the classic Mini already came as a special Mayfair model combining supreme comfort and an extravagant look. Today the new MINI 50 Mayfair interprets this style of sophisticated understatement in a new, modern way. High-quality materials, stylish details and a colour scheme offering classic elements throughout determine both the outer and the inner looks of this very special car.

For the first time and only on this anniversary model the body of a MINI Hatch is finished in the special Hot Chocolate metallic paintwork colour so far available exclusively on the MINI Clubman and the MINI Convertible, combined with a white roof. On request the body is also available in Pepper White or Midnight Black paintwork as an alternative to this highly attractive brown colour.

The MINI 50 Mayfair comes on 17-inch, white-painted 12-spoke light-alloy wheels in Infinity Stream Spoke Design exclusive to this particular model. In their design, the wheels follow the classic multi-spoke look, with the spokes themselves being slightly concave to give the car a truly powerful appearance. The white paintwork on the wheels, finally, interacts with the white contrasting colour of the roof.

Yet another new feature is the engine compartment lid with almost three-dimensional stripes in light-brown Toffy metallic and white pinstripes at the edges. Additional headlights on the radiator grille, mirror caps with paintwork changing from brown to black on the way up, and a discreet “Mayfair” logo on the direction indicators at the side round off the exterior design of this anniversary model.

The combination of Toffy paintwork with white highlights is also to be admired within the interior of the MINI 50 Mayfair again absolutely exclusive in its character. The seats demonstrate their unique style through their finish in Lounge leather complete with piping round the edges, Toffy colour, and additional white piping.

A further highly attractive effect is provided by double-cap seams on the seats finished in the same, modern and technically appealing turquoise-green colour as the frame around the “Mayfair” logo to be admired not only next to the direction indicators at the side, but also on discreet seat trim adorning the inner surfaces of the front-seat backrests.

The gearshift lever knob on the manual gearbox likewise comes with turquoise-green double-cap seams providing a visual link to the seats.

As yet a further highlight, the Carbon Black interior colour is combined with special trim on the dashboard finished in brownish black to reflect the colour of the mirror caps. The trim bar finished in Toffy at the bottom becomes black as it moves further up, providing a perfect transition to the dashboard likewise finished in black.

The Colour Line at the bottom of the instrument panel and the armrests on the door linings as well as the gearshift lever knob are likewise finished in Toffy, while the trim panels on the doors are in Piano Black.

All this is further embellished by a Toffy Brown inlay in the lower half of the steering wheel rim, footmats with white piping, the Chrome Package also available on other MINI models, as well as door entry trim proudly bearing the “MINI 50” model designation and the “Mayfair” logo.

MINI 50 Camden: dynamic and progressive all in one.

With its dominating colours Silver, White and Black, the MINI 50 Camden even at very first sight highlights its technical clarity and sporting character. Body paint in White Silver metallic is combined with a white roof, and the MINI 50 Camden is also available in Midnight Black metallic or Horizon Blue metallic.

The 17-inch light-alloy rims likewise exclusive to this model stand out in particular through the contrast between their silver inner surfaces and the matt, polished contour lines around the rim hump and on the outer edges of the spokes, thus characterising the futuristic impression of this likewise very special model.

With its lines extending towards the A-pillars, the sporting, almost three-dimensional silver stripe trim on the side shoulders of the engine compartment lid accentuate the sporting and dynamic character of the MINI 50 Camden.

Like on the MINI 50 Mayfair, the mirror caps come in twin-tone stripes extending upwards on the MINI 50 Camden merging from silver into pure white. In combination with the xenon headlights featured as standard on the MINI Cooper S 50 Camden, the headlights themselves boast black-tinted lenses as a particularly progressive highlight forming a clear contrast to the rest of the exterior in its brighter colour.

The side indicator frames house the Union Jack in black-and-white and the “Camden” model designation forming the logo of this special anniversary model also to be admired, together with the designation “MINI 50”, on the door entry trim.

The interior of the MINI 50 Camden comes in an equally contrasting colour scheme combining the Carbon Black interior colour with special trim on the instrument panel interchanging from white to silver, like the caps on the exterior mirrors.

The trim panels on the doors, in turn, come in Fluid Silver, while the sports seats in cloth/Ray leather boast leather surfaces, just like the bottom edge of the instrument panel and the armrests in the door linings, finished in Tech White.

The black centre strips on the doors, in turn, come in a discreet pattern with interrupted white stripes, while the seat panels on the inner half of the backrests bear the “Camden” logo.

Twin-tone double-cap seams – black on the outside, turquoise-green on the inside – visually combine the leather and cloth surfaces on the seats. Green and white seams also provide additional colour highlights on the black gaiters around the handbrake and gearshift levers, and on the gearshift lever knob.

The rim on the leather steering wheel is highlighted additionally by a white seam, while turquoise-green colour highlights as well as design lines on the mirror caps and the trim surfaces to be admired on both the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden come as a common feature shared by both anniversary models.

Highly exclusive but featured as standard: HiFi system and Mission Control.

In addition to the particularly wide range of standard features on the two anniversary models, the MINI 50 Camden also features a top-end audio system. This new HiFi system from car audio specialist Harman Kardon sets standards for enjoying music in a MINI. The high-performance digital amplifier, for example, just like the loudspeaker units, is perfectly tailored to the MINI.

An optional feature is a USB port for connecting external audio sources and a special interface for an Apple iPod. And last but not least, the customer also has the choice of an interface for integrated control of the car’s audio and telephone functions on the latest Smartphones such as the Apple iPhone.

The market launch of the new MINI 50 Camden also marks the debut of a new generation of in-car entertainment systems. Referred to as “Mission Control”, this entertainment system processes and evaluates a wide range of vehicle, driving and ambient signals, providing the driver with relevant information and instructions in that unique style so typical of MINI.

Mission Control underlines the status of the MINI as a genuine personality in the world of motoring and intensifies the driver’s feeling and impression of interacting directly with the car, the signals coming from the car itself being used to generate new, situation-based dialogues time and again.

These dialogues are based, among other things, on information regarding safety and comfort settings, requesting the driver and passengers, say, to buckle up their seat belts and use the air conditioning, and incorporate current information on driving conditions such as the current status of the vehicle, with the focus on criteria such as outside temperatures or the level of fuel in the tank.

In addition to the entertainment aspect, the system offers a functional aspect supporting the driver over and above existing functions in properly interpreting all kinds of information and using data for appropriate action.

Mission Control in the MINI 50 Camden is the first step into a brand-new world of interactive in-car entertainment, offering a driving experience never seen before.
MINI 50 Mayfair and MINI 50 Camden: ambassadors for the character of the brand.
Fifty years of MINI – this great anniversary offers the opportunity, looking back and into the future, to highlight some significant highlights of the brand and its character.

The origin of the brand in Great Britain and the style of MINI both timeless and unmistakable are just as significant in this context as the sophisticated, future-oriented technology and sporting potential of this small premium car. Both the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden highlight precisely these qualities through their design and equipment concepts precisely tailored in a specific direction.

The harmonious configuration of the two anniversary models also provides ample room for customisation. Following the usual MINI standard, each MINI 50 Mayfair and each MINI 50 Camden is built exactly to the customer’s order. Additional options for personal comfort are provided, for example, by the MINI navigation system, automatic air conditioning, the Vision Package made up of a heated windscreen, a rain sensor, the interior mirrors with an automatic anti-dazzle function and automatic headlight control, as well as Comfort Access. Further options are foglamps, Park Distance Control, and a glass sliding/vent roof.

Six-speed automatic transmission together with shift paddles on the steering wheel are available as an alternative to the six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard. The optional Sports Button varying the control maps of the gas pedal and the steering as well as, where fitted, the shift times of the automatic transmission, ensures further enhancement of driving pleasure in both the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden.

MINI's 50th birthday celebrations continue with another special edition model. This time it's the MINI WC50 which marks the 50th Anniversary of the Cooper Car Company winning the Formula One constructors championship. The two guys behind the wheels were legends Jack Brabham and Stirling Moss who took first and third spot in the overall championship.

The WC50 will be very limited in numbers; only 250 units are to be produced from the Oxford plant, with 100 reserved for UK customers. Officially MINI does not plan to export the car anywhere else outside of Europe so markets like the US and Australia are probably not going to get it.

Mechanically the car is identical to the John Cooper Works model. But there are changes and they are significant. The main ones are the aero kit and some interior appointments. The exterior has bi-xenon lights with black interior reflectors, fog lamps, bonnet stripes, a carbon fiber bonnet scoop, carbon fiber mirror caps and a rear diffuser. It is fitted with 17-inch Cross-Spoke Challenge alloy wheels in a Jet Black colour.

The interior comes with a 6-CD Harman Kardon sound system with USB, Bluetooth phone connectivity, heated front seats, an interior lights package, sat nav, rear park distance control, a leather handbrake gaiter and a multi-function steering wheel.

There is no pricing yet, it will be confirmed on the 22nd of June. Speculation is that it will be priced at about £30,000 in the UK and €40,000 in Europe.


Special Edition Content:

* 17″ Cross-Spoke Challenge Alloy Wheels in Jet Black
* Additional Driving Lights, Black
* Bi-Xenon Lights with Black Interior Reflectors
* Bonnet Stripes in Pepper White without Pin-Stripes, with John Cooper Signature on - - Driver’s Side
* John Cooper Works 3-Spoke Sport Alcantara/Leather Steering Wheel
* John Cooper Works Aerodynamic Kit
* John Cooper Works Carbon Fibre Bonnet Scoop
* John Cooper Works Carbon Fibre Front Door Grips
* John Cooper Works Carbon Fibre Interior Trim with John Cooper Signature Plaque
* John Cooper Works Carbon Fibre Mirror Caps
* John Cooper Works Carbon Fibre Rear Diffuser
* John Cooper Works Carbon Fibre Tailgate Handle
* John Cooper Works Floor Mats, Carbon Black with Red Stitching
* Leather Gearshift Gaiter, Carbon Black with Red Stitching
* Leather Handbrake Gaiter, Carbon Black with Red Stitching
* Side Scuttle Finisher Chrome Frame with Edition Number (0-250)

Though they operate at opposite ends of the BMW Group spectrum, Rolls-Royce and Mini could be collaborating on a new special edition Mini Cooper, if reports out of the United Kingdom are to be believed. With Rolls-Royce sales down due to the recession, parent company BMW is looking for way to spread some of the automaker’s luxury touches across the lineup.

Autocar says that a prototype has been built with an extra-luxe interior akin to those once regularly custom fitted to the original Mini Coopers more than 40 years ago.

The magazine says that executives at Mini are considering the Rolls-Royce-designed interior to lure buyers seeking premium appointments in a more eco- and urban-friendly package.

The recently launched Honda Insight and third-generation Toyota Prius have stolen most of the green spotlight here in the U.S., but the European market is about to get a crack at an equally impressive high-mileage machine.

Set to hit the European market later this year, the MINI Cooper One D promise hybrid-like fuel mileage without the added cost and weight associated with a hybrid system. Joining the MINI One as one of the marque’s most modestly priced models, the diesel-powered MINI One D promises to return the equivalent of 60 mpg.

While most of that fuel sipping can be attributed to the car’s BMW-sourced 90 horsepower diesel engine, MINI engineers also include a few other bits of green tech. The One D will employ a regenerative braking system to help recoup some energy for accessory power and a start-stop system will ensure no fuel is wasted while the vehicle is at a stop.

Performance is also decent for a green machine with the sprint from 0-60 taking 11.5 seconds – not too far off from current hybrids. And, thanks to the MINI badge, the One D should feel right at home on the twisty bits.

There are no current plans to bring the MINI One D to the States, but with U.S. diesel sales starting to take off, and Americanized version might not be too far off.

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 manufacturer to the equally unique original within the premium small car segment. 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 exclusive to Rolls-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 steering 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 same 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.