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Image credits: Hamann

Racy lifestyle package for the trendy buggy ¬¬– HAMANN presents its tuning programme for the current MINI

Already since 1986, HAMANN-Motorsport develops and manufactures products for the individualisation of BMW automobiles. Therefore, it is only consistent that the technicians of the Laupheim-based company also focus on the 'small relative' in the BMW family and develop an extensive tuning programme for the MINI. The result: a powerful performance increase, road holding aerodynamics components, striking 18-inch light alloy rims and noble interior modifications in aluminium and carbon.

For both, the MINI COOPER S and the MINI COOPER D, HAMANN offers powerful performance increase components by re-programming the serial Motronic. According to the ignition map optimisation, the Diesel-aggregate has 136 hp / 100 kW at 4,000 r.p.m. and a maximum torque of 300 Nm at 1,750 – 2,000 r.p.m. This equals an increase of 26 hp / 20 kW. The HAMANN technicians achieved an even larger performance boost with the petrol version. Instead of 175 hp / 128 kW, the COOPER S then has zappy 204 hp/ 150 kW at 5,500 r.p.m. and a torque of 300 Nm at 1,600 – 5,000 r.p.m. Accordingly also the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h improves by half a second. The maximum speed is approx. 5 km/h faster than with a serial motor. But there is another, significantly greater performance increase for the trendy buggy. This is reserved to the COOPER S and is called SPORTKIT CS 230. And the name says it all: After tuning the car with a modified serial Motronic, a new supercharged air cooler and by using a HAMANN sport muffler, the MINI offers 230 PS / 169 kW at 6,050 r.p.m. and 330 Nm torque at 3,860 r.p.m. The top speed spurts to 238 km/h. But the enormous agile response behaviour and the improved high-revving character of the optimised engine are even more important for everyday use.

The lifestyle design of the HAMANN aerodynamics kit also presents itself strikingly racy. The serial front skirt does not only profit from its optic enhancement, but at the same time, the lifting forces are reduced, leading to an increased stability mainly at high speeds. The entire HAMANN front skirt is an alternative. It produces output at the front axle and supplies the air cooler and the front breaks with even more fresh air. The HAMANN side sills give the MINI a more elongated and lowered look. A rear diffuser which was especially developed for COOPER S models extends the serial skirt downwards and turns the two end pipes of the HAMANN sport exhaust system skilfully into focus.

The HAMANN rim programme takes the individual wishes of the MINI clientele into account. No matter if the customer seeks a strikingly sportive or noble and elegant version - HAMANN offers a variety of wheel designs in many sizes. One of the technical highlights is the one-piece 18-inch wheel HM EVO. The modern style is emphasised with a black-lacquered finish, a diamond grinded rim star and the discreet indent.

Five elongated and vaulted triple spokes prove optical and technical finesse. The recommended wheel-tyre combination is 7.5Jx18 inches for the front and back axle with tyres measuring 225/35ZR18. HAMANN uses high performance wheels type S1 EVO of its technology partner HANKOOK.

The chassis suspension which lowers the MINI´s centre of gravity by 30 mm also sets new highlights. HAMANN offers a height-adjustable sport coilover kit as an ideal solution for the different requirements on the racetrack and for everyday use. The set consists of four sport anti-shocks and four progressively coiled sport springs. With these, the chassis can be lowered by up to 50 mm and offers numerous possibilities for an individual adjustment.

Supplementary to the existing serial interior features, HAMANN offers high-quality aluminium accessories. Hand brake handles, sport gear shifts and pedals render a motorsports ambience and complement the lifestyle package with the HAMANN interior set made of visible carbon structures. You name it, we have it – from personalised car mats to complete leather furnishings - everything is produced with precise craftsmanship.

For more information about the extensive HAMANN tuning programme, please visit the web site www.HAMANN-MOTORSPORT.com.

Source - Hamann

Now the long period of waiting is finally coming to an end: A very special version of the MINI is making its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, injecting a fresh breeze into the world of motoring – the new MINI Convertible. Introducing this versatile four-seater, MINI is combining the distinctive pleasure of driving an open car with the unique enjoyment you can only feel at the wheel of a genuine MINI.
Combining supreme fun with practical value.

The MINI Convertible is a fully-fledged four-seater clearly standing out from the start as a genuine MINI regardless of whether the roof is up or down. For the design features and proportions so characteristic of the MINI have been consistently carried over to the MINI Convertible: The steeply raked windscreen and the optimum seating position enjoyed by the driver ensure an unforgettable open-air experience also when driving with the roof down. So the new model version leaves no doubt that motoring pleasure is an outstanding factor on all four seats of this uniquely popular cult car.

Clearly, the MINI Convertible boasts a clever all-round concept with supreme function and optimum use of space available.

Striking profile.

With its roof down, this classy convertible really looks at its best. The waistline gradually rising to the rear gives the car a strong and distinctive profile further accentuated by the chrome strip continuing along the complete window line. The steeply raked windscreen, complete absence of a B-pillar, the rollbars made of extra-strong aluminum pipes behind the rear-seat backrest, as well as the compact, folding roof all bear testimony to the unique style of a classic convertible.

The new MINI Convertible is entering the market initially in the guise of the 66 kW/90 bhp MINI One and the 85 kW/115 bhp MINI Cooper. The top-of-the-range MINI Cooper S Convertible will be following later.

In standard trim the MINI Convertible comes on 15-inch steel or, respectively, light-alloy rims (MINI One/MINI Cooper) running on 175/65 R15 tyres. As an option, both models are available with attractive 16- and 17-inch light-alloy wheels, with the 17-inch five-star Bullet light-alloy wheels developed exclusively for the new open-air version.

A convertible with a sliding roof all in one.

The roof available in three colours opens up fully automatically within just 15 seconds: Pressing a button, you first open the integrated sliding roof, then the complete soft roof as such. With the soft roof folding to the rear, the roof columns are automatically retracted and the rear side windows move down at the same time. The intelligent Z-folding mechanism allows the complete roof to fold up in compact arrangement behind the rear seats, with no need for a tonneau cover.

The sliding roof integrated in the soft top can be opened infinitely up to 40 cm or 15¾´´ while driving, up to a speed of 120 km/h or 75 mph. Clearly, a feature quite unprecedented in the convertible market.

Optimum utilisation of space available.

Folding out to the back, the rear lid is held in position when open by two steel cables with a spring-mounted retractor system. This allows use of the rear lid with its hinges facing to the outside as a practical loading panel able to carry a weight of up to 80 kg or 176 lb.

The MINI Convertible is able to carry a maximum of 400 kg or 882 lb, and the luggage compartment accommodates 165 litres with the roof closed. And even with the roof down, driving in the open air, luggage compartment capacity remains a substantial 120 litres.

The Easy Load system offers generous through-loading capacity: With the roof closed, all you do is turn two levers in the luggage compartment to fold up the bottom section of the cover fastened on a tightening bracket and attach it in position. Then, with the rear lid open, you have very convenient access to the luggage compartment through a large opening able to accommodate even bulky objects. And in conjunction with the rear seat backrests folding forward and fastened securely in position, luggage compartment capacity can be increased to no less than 605 litres.

Boasting features such as its highly functional roof, the variable luggage compartment even with the roof open, an ultra-strong and stiff bodyshell, as well as the chassis with its multi-arm rear axle, the MINI Convertible sets the standard in its market segment in many other other respects too.

That go-kart feeling so typical of the MINI.

Combining a very stiff bodyshell with superior chassis and suspension features, the open-air models, like their fixed-roof counterparts, once again offer a unique symbiosis of superior agility and handling. The drive concept as such, the long wheelbase, a low centre of gravity, wide track, the multi-arm rear axle and the direct, electrohydraulic power steering all go together to provide the foundation for the excellent driving behaviour and go-kart feeling so typical of the MINI Convertible.

Sporting performance wherever you go.

Both versions of the MINI Convertible feature a 1.6-litre four-cylinder power unit developing maximum output of 66 kW/90 bhp in the MINI One and 85 kW/115 bhp in the MINI Cooper. Maximum torque of 140 Nm/103 lb-ft and, respectively, 150 Nm/111 lb-ft comes at just 3000 and, respectively, 4,500 rpm. A smooth-shifting five-speed manual gearbox is standard on both models. Top speed of the MINI One Convertible is 175 km/h or 109 mph, with acceleration to 100 km/h in 11.8 seconds. Fuel consumption in the composite EU cycle is 7.2 litres premium/100 km, equivalent to 39.2 mpg Imp.

Maximum output of 85 kW/115 bhp gives the MINI Cooper Convertible a top speed of 193 km/h or 120 mph. Acceleration to 100 km/h from a standstill comes in just 9.8 seconds, fuel consumption in the EU cycle is 7.3 litres/100 km, equal to 38.7 mpg Imp.

High standard of safety.

Benefitting from its stiff body structure and restraint system comprising, inter alia, two 'intelligent' frontal airbags and two seat-integrated head/thorax side airbags as standard, the MINI Convertible naturally complies with the world's strictest crash standards required by law. A wide range of constructional improvements and features ensures a particularly high standard of torsional stiffness preventing the door-sills from bending in in the event of a head-on collision and offering the occupants optimum protection in an impact from the side.

Should the MINI Convertible ever be involved in a rollover, the A-pillars encompassing a tube made of ultra-strong steel guarantee a strong load-bearing function. And at the rear double rollbars made of high-strength aluminium tubes, complete with integrated headrests, afford superior passenger safety.

A high standard of active safety is ensured, inter alia, by four disc brakes, four-sensor ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), as well as Cornering Brake Control (CBC). Available as an option, Automatic Stability and Traction Control (ASC+T) as well as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) help to provide superior driving and tracking stability in an extreme situation.

MINI in colour.

The MINI Convertible is available in 10 exterior colours, two of which are reserved exclusively to this open-air model: Hot Orange and, to provide a particular effect, Cool Blue. And while the MINI One Convertible comes only with a black roof, the roof of the open-air MINI Cooper is available in Black, Blue, and Green. The exterior mirror housings, in turn, are again finished in Black on the 'basic' model and come in body colour on the MINI Cooper Convertible.

High-quality textile materials and surfaces give the interior special harmony and balance. The dashboard and door linings are available in Silver and Anthracite and also come as a further choice in wood and aluminium trim.

The seat upholstery is available in 3 different types of cloth, 3 combinations of cloth and leather, and with three different choices of all-leather upholstery.

Everything goes.

The wide range of standard equipment featured from the start on the new Convertible comprises, inter alia, an electrically operated roof complete with sliding roof function, a heated glass rear window, two frontal and two head/thorax side airbags, four-sensor ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), BMW's Tyre Defect Indicator (TDI), electrically operated rear-view mirrors and window lifts, power steering, Park Distance Control (PDC), a rev counter, height adjustment on the both driver's seat and steering column, as well as central locking with remote control plus comfort opening.

To fulfill all kinds of individual and personal wishes, the MINI Convertible comes with an equally wide range of special equipment comprising features such as xenon headlights, a TV navigation system with a 16:9 colour display, high-quality HiFi audio systems, a heated rear window, automatic air conditioning, a wind deflector, a wide range of light-alloy wheels, a multifunction steering wheel, a rain sensor, and the interior mirror complete with anti-dazzle function.

Successful and popular.

Apart from the MINI Convertible making its debut in Geneva, the four existing fixed-roof models already very successful in the market are naturally also to be admired at the Show: the MINI One, MINI One D, MINI Cooper, and MINI Cooper S. And 'popular' is indeed the right word to describe these successful models already delivered to more than 176,000 thrilled customers the world over.

Source - MINI

The British Motor Corporation came into existence in 1952 by the merging of two manufacturers, Nuffield Motors and Austin. Nuffield was known for its Morris line of vehicles, while Austin had its 'Seven' model line. The transition for the two manufacturers was difficult and had been forced out of necessity. After World War II, many vehicle manufacturers could not stay in business due to destroyed factories, recovering economies, strained resources, and lack of funds. Combining the two companies was a means to stay in business.

A fuel shortage was occurring. German engineers quickly adapted and began producing fuel-efficient vehicles. Examples include the Volkswagen Beetle. Leonard Lord, Chairman of BMC and former head of Austin, commissioned Sir Alec Issigonis to design a vehicle to compete with the German-made vehicles.

Alec Issigonis was a graduate of Battersea Technical College. After graduation he worked as a draftsman for a plethora of engineering projects. Later, he joined Morris Motors where he was tasked with creating and fitting suspensions to the Morris vehicles.

Issigonis was outfitted with requirements to create a fuel-efficient, affordable, safe vehicle capable of carrying four individuals including luggage. To save on development costs, it was requested that an existing BMC engine be used. What he created was a vehicle that sat atop of 10 inch wheels. By using smaller wheels there was little need for wheel wells.

The car was expected to carry four individuals; the combined weight of the passengers being greater than the entire vehicle. A suspension was needed that could accept this pay-load. With his prior experience creating and working with suspensions, Issigonis designed a rubber cone suspension.

A 950 cc, four cylinder, BMC engine was selected. It was mounted in the front and expected to power the front wheels, a system that was revolutionary at the time. Instead of mounting the engine longitudinally, it was place transversely. The transmission was place under the engine due to space constraints.

When Issigonis presented his designs and recommendations to Lord in 1958, changes were requested. Instead of the 950 cc engine, a 34 horsepower, 848 cc engine would be used, making the vehicle slower but more importantly, more safe. The other request was to make the vehicle two inches wider.

There were two versions of the car when it was first introduced on August 26, 1959. The only difference between the 1959 Austin and Morris versions was their badges.

John Cooper had designed vehicles that successfully won the Formula One championships in 1959 and 1960.

He proposed a marriage between his 1000 cc Formula Junior engine with the Mini. Lord approved the idea and in 1961 the Mini Cooper was born. It was fitted with a 997 cc engine producing 55 horsepower. Later, the Cooper S came into being with the advent of the 970 cc and the 1275 cc engine - the latter capable of 76 horsepower.

From 1964 through 1967 the little car dominated the Monte Carlo Rally. The car easily achieved these victories using a 91 horsepower engine.

Minis became more than just a practical car, they became a fashion statement. This, combined with their practicality, fuel efficiency, and success on the race track, created an overwhelming demand for the little car.

In the 1980's, the Mini was starting to loose momentum. Rover tried to revitalize the Mini brand by creating special editions. In all, there were more than 40 different editions created between 1980 and 2000.

A merger with British Motor Corporation and another company produced the Britsh Leyland Company. Later, it became Rover Group. Currently, it is owned by BMW.

In 2001, BMW introduced the MINI. The MINI currently has three Cooper models. Their main differences being the size of the engine and the horsepower rating. A convertible has also been included to the line-up.

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