As we announced back in early January, Reef Blue would be coming to the MINI Roadster in March.  MINI USA just added Reef Blue as an option in the Configurator.  The price of Reef Blue is $1,000.

All of the previous colors remain.

From BMW Group PressClub USA:

MINI Brand Sales

MINI USA reported sales of 3,334 automobiles in January, an increase of 21.2 percent from the 2,751 sold in January 2011.

See MINI sales in the USA by [...]]]>

From BMW Group PressClub USA:

MINI Brand Sales

MINI USA reported sales of 3,334 automobiles in January, an increase of 21.2 percent from the 2,751 sold in January 2011.

See MINI sales in the USA by month.

The first race of the 2012 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season is in the books.  Yesterday, RSR Motorsports competed in the the BMW Performance 200 at Daytona with three MINIs and a Honda Civic Si.

The morning produced a misting rain as the final practice session took place.  [...]]]>

Photo credit: Lori Griffin

The first race of the 2012 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season is in the books.  Yesterday, RSR Motorsports competed in the the BMW Performance 200 at Daytona with three MINIs and a Honda Civic Si.

The morning produced a misting rain as the final practice session took place.  But by race time at 1:30pm, the rain had stopped and the sun began to push through the clouds to dry out the track.  The drivers were given a few laps to check conditions before being placed on the grid.  All of the RSR Motorsports entries started well back in the field but almost immediately worked their way up the standings.  The first half of the race was mostly uneventful as the track dried, although there were many cars sliding through the start of the international horseshoe section of the Speedway.

Despite having power steering issues, the RSR Motorsports MINI No. 196 driven by Ron Farmer and then Jason Hart moved up as high as 11th.  The No. 198 MINI got involved in a jam and got spun and knocked out of the race with serious front-end damage (see photos).  Running a steady race were the No. 195 MINI driven by team owner Randy Smalley and Conway and the No. 197 Honda driven by Smalley and Owen Trinkler.  The team’s best finish was by the No. 196 in 16th place.  The ST class was won by the i-MOTO Mazdaspeed3 No. 31.

Final RSR results:

16. 196 Farmer / Hart               MINI Cooper S
18. 197 Puskar / Smalley / Trinkler Honda Civic Si
20. 195 Conway / Smalley            MINI Cooper S
35. 198 Fergus / Gimple             MINI Cooper S

See all of the official final results on the GRAND-AM website.

We spoke to Randy Smalley and Ron Farmer after the race.  RSR Motorsports always comes to Daytona with limited expectations due to the track characteristics which favor the higher-powered cars.  Smalley said he just hopes the MINIs perform well and finish well.  So despite having no cars in the top ten, he was pleased with the day.  He didn’t seems too concerned with the condition of the No. 198 MINI.  We asked if the addition of the Honda was an indication of things to come, but he bought the car as a last-minute fill-in to fulfill driver commitments.  They don’t expect to keep it long.  So expect to see the lineup change as the season continues.

Looking towards the future of MINI in GRAND-AM, we asked Smalley about their future plans with MINI.  He wasn’t sure what next year with hold due to both MINI USA’s commitment (or lack thereof) and GRAND-AM’s rules on older vehicle models and engines.  However, it appears private teams racing MINI Coopers could be competing in GRAND-AM’s new B-Spec series running a limited number of races this season.

[Photo credit: Lori Griffin]

The previously leaked dates are confirmed: July 4 – 15, 2012.  Jim McDowell had already said MTTS 2012 would start on the East [...]]]>
If you’re a MINI enthusiast—and you mostly like are since you’re reading this—then you have probably received the MINI Takes the States announcement email or the MINI USA News press release.

The previously leaked dates are confirmed: July 4 – 15, 2012.  Jim McDowell had already said MTTS 2012 would start on the East Coast.  The new piece of information is that MTTS will not end in Chicago (as rumored), but will end on the West Coast.  The specific route details are not yet available.  Registration begins in April.

Read the MINI USA News press release Go Forth. Go West. Go MINI.

Less than a week old is a new social network for MINI owners called MOTORING CONNECTION.  The website was started by Mark Vogler and can be found at motoringconnection.com.

The website lets your create a profile (with only one MINI, unfortunately), post photos and videos, create and join groups, add and respond to events, [...]]]>

Less than a week old is a new social network for MINI owners called MOTORING CONNECTION.  The website was started by Mark Vogler and can be found at motoringconnection.com.

The website lets your create a profile (with only one MINI, unfortunately), post photos and videos, create and join groups, add and respond to events, and view items for sale in the classifieds.  There is a mobile version of the site, as well.

Edit: Library of Motoring has a profile there now.  Friend us at motoringconnection.com/profile/libraryofmotoring.

In a somewhat vague article on MINI Motorsports, MINI announced a new racing series in Italy called MINI RUSHOUR.  Rather than use MINI JCW CHALLENGE vehicles, the MINI RUSHOUR will use a modified MINI Cooper S.

Here are the ingredients: the MINI Cooper S, the famous go-kart feeling, performance and a specially developed racing [...]]]>

In a somewhat vague article on MINI Motorsports, MINI announced a new racing series in Italy called MINI RUSHOUR.  Rather than use MINI JCW CHALLENGE vehicles, the MINI RUSHOUR will use a modified MINI Cooper S.

Here are the ingredients: the MINI Cooper S, the famous go-kart feeling, performance and a specially developed racing kit plus low costs to make the races more accessible than ever. The riders will compete in two races on MINI darting for 60 minutes of pure competition.

This means that MINI United 2012 will include a race, as MINI RUSHOUR begins its six-race season at Circuit Paul Ricard during the festival.

2012 MINI RUSHOUR Schedule

From the catalog description:

You love conquering the world in your MINI.  See a [...]]]>

In the new MINI MotoringGear 2012 catalog, MINI offers a new vehicle: the MINI Folding Bike.  Available in matte black with a neon yellow bell and chain, the bike can hold up to 231.5 lbs.  The retail price is $543.

From the catalog description:

You love conquering the world in your MINI.  See a new road and four wheels won’t get you there?  It’s time to pull out your MINI Folding Bike.  Built for exploring the city, your MINI Folding Bike is the ultimate in flexible transportation.  No alley is too exotic; there isn’t a nook or cranny you can’t squeeze through.  Take your adventurous lifestyle to the street with your MINI Folding Bike and enjoy limitless freedom.

The MINI Folding Bike is like a MINI on two wheels: the ideal combination of style, design, and innovation. One of the highlights: the lightweight aluminum frame with its matte black finish and silver MINI wordmark on the crossbar.  It’s light weight of just 24 pounds, eight-speed shift system and 20-inch wheels make this bike both agile and fast – in short, an ideal vehicle for the city.  The Teflon®-coated chain protects against soiling and reduces wear, and, just like the bell, it comes in an eye-catching neon yellow.  The comfortable gel saddle ensures that you’d rather be on your bike than off it.

And now for the best feature: the bike can be folded within seconds, thanks to hinges on the crossbar and handlebar stem.  The pedals fold down effortlessly, and lowering the saddle is just as easy.  The transport bag fitted under the saddle enables you to carry the folding bike in style or store it in the boot of your MINI.  It’s the new way to Park and Ride!

The MINI part number is 80 91 2 211 854.

ShopMINIUSA.com: MINI FOLDING BIKE

RSR Motorsports has been representing MINI for many years in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Series.  So it was surprising to learn that the team run by Randy Smalley just added a Honda Civic Si to the lineup.

On Wednesday, RSR Motorsports will take delivery of their new Honda Civic SI, just two days before [...]]]>

RSR Motorsports has been representing MINI for many years in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Series.  So it was surprising to learn that the team run by Randy Smalley just added a Honda Civic Si to the lineup.

On Wednesday, RSR Motorsports will take delivery of their new Honda Civic SI, just two days before the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season opener at Daytona International Speedway. The Honda will join RSR’s three MINI Coopers in the ST class, carrying sponsorship from Cruise America, Thor Motor Coach and USLED.

Owen Trinkler will be making his 80th start in the series when Friday’s race gets underway. He’ll be driving the No. 197 RSR Motorsports Honda with Chris Puskar. Trinkler made his series debut in a Honda, and got his first series win in the marque, as well.

“The Honda will be a good car for Daytona,” Trinkler says. “It’s a bit of a change for the team, and we’ll implement some things we’ve done with the MINIs to see how well it translates. Our engineers have been looking at this car for a while, and it’s a perfect addition for us.”

Owen Trinkler’s former driving partner Sarah Cattaneo has moved on to the BMW 128i of Mitchum Motorsports.  But several other drivers are returning including Smalley, Trinkler, Puskar, Ron Farmer, and Jason Hart.  Farmer and Hart have had an entire season together in the MINI No. 196 and could be a surprise team in 2012.

Here is the RSR Motorsports lineup for Daytona:

Read the entire press release RSR Motorsports Adds a Honda Civic to the Daytona Lineup.