When the Mini Cooper came to the U.S. a few years ago, it caused as much commotion and excitement as Volkswagen’s Beetle did with its return. The British-born Cooper has been revered since its rally car racing days back in the 1960s. Now built by BMW, the hip and stylish Mini was relaunched worldwide in
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BMW and France’s PSA Peugeot Citroën issued a press release this week stating that the two companies, the longtime partners in engine development, would begin developing hybrid technologies together. Bloggers jumped to the conclusion that the move is a sign of strength and shows a renewed commitment about electric drive vehicles. They immediately started guessing
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MINI is working to finish a two-seat concept small car that it will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next March. The car will be an update of an existing concept that first appeared in Geneva in 1997 as the MINI Spiritual. The vehicle’s styling is expected to be the first showing of a revitalized
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In Sept., 2008, German Chancellor Angela Merkel plugs in an electic-powered Smart car as Daimler head Deiter Zetsche and Matthias Wissmann, Chairman of the German Automobile Industry, look on. On Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold a summit on the electrification of the automobile, with senior executives from the major German auto companies, as
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The plan to lease the Mini E—an all-electric version of the Mini Cooper—has hit a snag. The market test of about 500 Mini E cars in New York, New Jersey and California was to include a special 220-volt charging unit so leasees could recharge their cars in 3.5 hours. But the installation of the charging
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As part of a special one year lease program from BMW Group, New York City will be receiving ten MINI E electric cars to join its Street Condition Observation Unit, also known as SCOUT. SCOUT’s purpose is to search out and report potholes, graffiti and other street-level damages throughout the city’s five burroughs. The ten
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BMW officially jumped on the electric car bandwagon with the announcement of the limited edition Mini E car for production. The electric car, based on the Mini Cooper platform, will get power from a 150-kilowatt electric motor tied to a newly developed high-power lithium ion battery. Dr. Klaus Draeger, BMW chief of development, told Hybridcars.com,
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The Mini Cooper is hip, quick, and efficient—a great option for those in search of high mpg and style. Unfortunately, the Cooper’s lack of cargo space and legroom simply makes it impractical for most drivers. Mini hopes to address these shortcomings with the Mini Cooper Clubman, which offers the same iconic look of a Mini
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U.S. auto journalists got their first “ride and drive” of the Mini Cooper Clubman at a press launch in Monterey, California today. The Clubman, a stretched-out, three-door variant of the iconic hipster-mobile, the Mini Cooper, features a unique “club door” configuration. Actually, this Mini has five doors if you count the two rear swing-out barn
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