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Mini stretches its legs with new Clubman Vision Gran Turismo concept [w/video]

The Clubman may not be the first model you think of when it comes to sporty Minis, but with the next-generation wagon variant just around the corner, the Anglo-Saxon automaker is evidently keen to reshape the Clubman's image, using it as the basis for its Vision Gran Turismo concept. Designed entirely for the virtual reality of Gran Turismo 6, the Mini Clubman Vision Gran Turismo may not be as extreme as some of the creations dreamed up by other automakers. But as far as Minis go, it's pretty out there. Into its beefed-up, long-roof form it packs a powertrain of undisclosed dimensions but producing 395 horsepower (and evidently requiring six tailpipes – two on each side and two out the back). Exhaust tips aside, all that muscle – nearly twice what any road-going Mini has produced to date – drives through all four wheels to theoretically deliver it to 62 miles per hour in a scant 3.5 seconds. Throw in the track-tuned bodywork – including a proliferation of spoilers, added ventilation, a wider track and 22-inch rims – and you're looking at one very serious Mini indeed. But before you balk at the concept, consider that Mini has had some serious motorsport bragging rights over the years: it dominated the Monte Carlo Rally (among others) in the mid-1960s, and though it canceled its more recent World Rally Championship effort, it went on instead to win the Dakar Rally four years running now. What you're looking at here is the form it would likely take were Mini to shift its attention (as Citroen recently did) to touring cars instead. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. MINI goes Gran Turismo®6. From today gamers can enjoy driving the virtual MINI Clubman Vision Gran Turismo. 26.02.2015 Munich. Inspired by the brand's legendary motor racing success, the MINI Design Team has created the essence of a MINI to enable maximum racing performance in the game Gran Turismo®6 for PlayStation®3. "MINI has many highly emotional achievements to its name in motor racing. The MINI Clubman Vision Grand Turismo literally puts these onto the virtual race track in Gran Turismo 6. The image of a go-kart on the road has recurring appeal," says Anders Warming, Head of MINI Design. The 395 hp engine accelerates the MINI Clubman Vision Gran Turismo from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds.

Mini apologizes with chocolate rose after spamming customer's inbox

If you're a manufacturer, there are only so many ways you can say "sorry" after your automated e-mail system goes berzerk and spams everyone on your mailing list with hundreds of the same message. Mini recently found itself in that very spot, and rather than respond with a sheepish mea culpa, the company's PR team took a different tack by sending owners a very unique gift box. How unique? Inside, one owner found a set of chocolate roses, a roll of duct tape and a genuine can of Spam.
In an accompanying note, the company said it hoped the sweets would help patch things up between the company and the victims of the e-mail barrage, but in the event that wasn't enough to do the trick, the duct tape was there to help out. And the can of Spam? That tagged along just for stress release. Apparently the canned meat is squeezable. We wouldn't know. You can check out full photos of the gift box here.

Mini brings back the six-speed manual for certain 2023 trims

Mini has good news and some steep price increases for the 2023 model year, the cars available to buyers once production switches to the coming year in November. The good news for enthusiasts is the return of the manual transmission to more trims after a pause in deliveries caused by supply shortages. The six-speed manual becomes a standalone option on two-door Minis with hardtops, meaning the Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works variants. The bad news for enthusiasts who wanted to pair that gearbox with a base Mini Cooper Classic is that the Classic is gone. As other automakers are doing, Mini culled the entry-level trim for the new year, automatically raising the price of entry by a non-miniature amount. Product planners played a bunch of presto-change-o with standard features, packages and standalone options for various trims. For instance, the hardtop two-door Cooper, Cooper S and JCW in Signature guise get power folding mirrors and auto dimming rearview mirrors. The Cooper S and JCW in Iconic trim pick up Mini's Parking Assistant. On the other hand, the Cooper SE in Iconic trim loses the alarm system and active cruise control, while certain trims of the Countryman Cooper S and Cooper S All 4 drop the alarm system and dynamic damper control. If you're interested in a Mini, look closely at the small print about the feature set. The Resolute, Untold and Untamed special editions in Iconic 2.0 fettle expand their options menus. The Resolute adds Enigmatic Black Metallic as a primary body color with a Pepper White roof, or a Nanuq White body and roof. The carbon black Mini Yours Lounge Leather can be optioned for $750. The Untold expands availability from just the John Cooper Works Clubman to the Cooper S and Cooper S All4. Its exterior hues will now include Midnight Black Metallic with black spats. As for the Untamed, its paint palette adds Nanuq White, partnered with the standard black contrasting roof and mirrors, and graphics in Matte Bluestone. For all Mini Hardtops, Pepper White, White Silver and Moonwalk Grey body colors will retire at the end of October. Replacing them are Nanuq White, and Melting Silver III that becomes available throughout the range. Pricing goes way up for base versions now that the Classic is gone, with four-figure jumps on every trim compared to pricing Mini released in February of this year.