NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Bini

MINI is the name of a subsidiary of BMW as well as that of a car produced by that subsidiary since April 2001. The car, designed by Frank Stephenson,^[1] is marketed as a "retro" redesign of the original Mini, which was manufactured by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 to 2000. The name is written in capital letters to distinguish it from its predecessor.^[2] It is sometimes called 'The BMW MINI' or 'The New MINI'. Originally developed by Rover Group, the MINI project was retained by BMW when the latter divested itself of Rover in 2000^[3]. The MINI is manufactured in Cowley, Oxford, United Kingdom, in what was historically the Morris car plant. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (855x673, 520 KB) Photographed by SteveBaker I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Automakers or automobile manufacturers are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Map sources for Cowley at grid reference SP5504 Cowley in Oxfordshire is a residential and industrial area within the city of Oxford, originating with the former villages of Cowley, Temple Cowley and Cowley St John (Also occasionally referred to as Church Cowley). The Cowley area underwent massive transformation from 1912... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 kmÂ² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq mi Population - 2006 est. ... Swindon is a large town of Wiltshire, England, located in the South West of the UK (between London and Bristol). ... For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ... It has been suggested that Vehicle size class be merged into this article or section. ... 1996 Volkswagen Polo, a popular modern European supermini A supermini is a European hatchback car category. ... Peugeot 205 GTI A hot hatch is an informal or slang term for a performance derivative of a European hatchback (in the US, Asian sports hatches are sometimes called sport compacts). ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... Peugeot 306 hatchback, with the hatch lifted and the parcel shelf tilted for access Not a hatchback: a fastback like this Ford Mustang can be confused with a true hatchback Hatchback is term describing an automobile design, consisting of a passenger cabin with an integrated cargo space, accessed from behind... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American Convertible can also refer to a convertible (security) A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ... In automobile design layout is the place where both the engine and driven wheels are. ... In automobile design, an FF, or Front-engine, Front wheel drive, layout places both the engine and driven wheels at the front of the vehicle. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Automotive design. ... Frank Stephenson is an automobile designer, currently head of the Fiat, Lancia, and Commercial Vehicle Styling Centre in Turin, Italy. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Frank Stephenson is an automobile designer, currently head of the Fiat, Lancia, and Commercial Vehicle Styling Centre in Turin, Italy. ... Retro is a term used to describe the culture of the past. ... For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ... BMC rosette logo old BMC share A preserved BMC ambulance. ... Rover Group plc was the name that was given by the British government to the state-owned vehicle manufacturer BL plc which was more commonly known by its previous name of British Leyland in 1986. ... Map sources for Cowley at grid reference SP5504 Cowley in Oxfordshire is a residential and industrial area within the city of Oxford, originating with the former villages of Cowley, Temple Cowley and Cowley St John (Also occasionally referred to as Church Cowley). The Cowley area underwent massive transformation from 1912... Morris Motor logo, from a UK Royal Mail van 1927 Morris Cowley 1928 Morris Minor Saloon 1946 Morris Ten Series M 1953 Morris Minor Series 2 1971 Morris 1000 Traveller The Morris Motor Company was a former British car manufacturing company. ...

The 2001 to 2006 model years included four hatchback models: the basic 'MINI One', the diesel-engined 'MINI One/D', the sportier 'MINI Cooper' and the supercharged 'MINI Cooper S'. In 2005 a convertible roof option was added. In November 2006 a greatly re-engineered version of the MINI was released which is unofficially known as the "Mk II MINI".^[4]. The Mk II is only available as a hard-top in the 2007 model year. Peugeot 306 hatchback, with the hatch lifted and the parcel shelf tilted for access Not a hatchback: a fastback like this Ford Mustang can be confused with a true hatchback Hatchback is term describing an automobile design, consisting of a passenger cabin with an integrated cargo space, accessed from behind... Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel (1858-1913), inventor of the diesel engine. ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American Convertible can also refer to a convertible (security) A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ...

Models

2001 to 2007 - The Mk I MINI

In Portugal and Greece, the MINI One is powered by a 1.4 litre version of the Tritec engine but all other petrol powered MINIs use the 1.6 litre version.^[5]^[6] Since 2004, a soft-top convertible option has been available across the entire range.^[7] A supercharger (also known as a blower) is an air compressor used to force more air (and hence more oxygen) into the combustion chamber(s) of an internal combustion engine than can be achieved at ambient atmospheric pressure. ... Epicyclic gearing or planetary gearing as used in an automatic transmission. ... The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is a transmission in which the ratio of the rotational speeds of two shafts, as the input shaft and output shaft of a vehicle or other machine, can be varied continuously within a given range, providing an infinite number of possible ratios. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... In 1997, Chrysler Corporation and Rover Group (later BMW) formed Tritec, a joint venture to design a new small straight-4 engine for small cars. ... Gasoline, as it is known in North America, or petrol, in many Commonwealth countries (sometimes also called motor spirit) is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American Convertible can also refer to a convertible (security) A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ...

There are numerous styling and badging differences between the models, perhaps the most obvious being that the Cooper S has a distinctive scoop cut into the bonnet to provide airflow over the top mounted intercooler. The Cooper S also has twin exhausts which exit under the center of the rear valance. The (non-S) Cooper has more chrome parts than the MINI One and has a single exhaust. The MINI One/D has no visible exhaust pipes at all.^[7] A hood scoop is an air vent on a car hood which usually sends air over an intercooler. ... A flipfront provides easy access to the engine bay. ... A top mounted intercooler (TMIC) is an automotive intercooler mounted within the engine bay, above the engine. ... Chrome plating is a finishing treatment utilizing the electrolytic deposition of chromium. ...

In some markets, such as Australia and the US, only the MINI Cooper and Cooper S are sold because the MINI One's engine was considered to deliver insufficient power to run an air conditioner - a necessary feature in those climates. However, the only difference between the engines in the 'One' and the 'Cooper' models is a software change within the engine control unit which is tuned for optimum fuel economy on the MINI One and for a compromise between power and economy on the Cooper. Almost fifty percent of all MINIs sold in Australia and about seventy percent of those sold in the US are the top-of-the-range Cooper S model. Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic - President George Walker Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Note: in the broadest sense, air conditioning can refer to any form of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. ... Software, or program, enables a computer to perform specific tasks, as opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware). ... An Engine Control Unit (ECU) also know as Engine Management System (EMS) is an electronic system which controls various aspects of an internal combustion engines operation. ...

The names Cooper and Cooper S echo the names used for the sportier version of the classic Mini which in turn come from the involvement of John Cooper and the Cooper Car Company. The Cooper heritage is further emphasised with the John Cooper Works (JCW) range of tuning options that are available with the MINI. John Cooper also created a one off racing model of the MINI one named the MINI one s works. This car features many extras which help to improve performance such as a racing exhaust and air filter as well as uprated suspension. The car also has one of a kind 17 inch racing wheels.^[8] John Cooper (July 17, 1923 - December 24, 2000) was a co-founder, with his father Charles Cooper, of the Cooper Car Company. ... Jack Brabhams 1961 Cooper-Climax, the car that began the rear-engine revolution at the Indianapolis 500 The Cooper Car Company was founded in 1947 by Charles Cooper and his son John Cooper. ...

2007 onwards - The Mk II MINI

From November 2006, the hatchback MINI range has been replaced by an all-new MINI, consisting of MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S models, powered by a new 1.6 litre engine co-developed by BMW and PSA Peugeot-Citroen. The "old" MINI Convertible continues to be sold alongside the new hatchback range. The Mk II MINI One is expected to go on sale later in 2007 with Mk II Convertibles in the 2008 model year. The MINI One has a 1.4 litre engine derived from the same engine in the MINI Cooper and Peugeot 207.

Technology

The "Mk I" MINI One, Cooper and Cooper S use a Brazilian-built Tritec engine while the MINI One D uses a Toyota-built diesel engine. In August 2006, BMW announced that engines would in future be built in the UK, making the car essentially British-built again, with final assembly at Cowley and the body pressings being made in nearby Swindon at BMW's Swindon Pressings Ltd subsidiary. Image File history File links MINIandClassicMini. ... Image File history File links MINIandClassicMini. ... For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1152x782, 429 KB) 2006 MINI Cooper S Checkmate I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1152x782, 429 KB) 2006 MINI Cooper S Checkmate I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... In 1997, Chrysler Corporation and Rover Group (later BMW) formed Tritec, a joint venture to design a new small straight-4 engine for small cars. ... This article is about the multinational corporation. ... Swindon is a town in Wiltshire in the South West of England. ...

While the modern MINI uses none of the engineering of the original Mini, it does capture much of the spirit of the classic car. Like the original, it uses a transversely-mounted four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels. All four wheels are pushed to the corners of the body which is a 'two-box' or 'hot hatch' design. The styling of the car, like that of the Volkswagen New Beetle, is a retro design that is deliberately reminiscent of the original Mini with contrasting roof colours, optional bonnet stripes, optional rally lights and with black trim around the wheel arches and rocker panels that mimic the wide wheel flares found on many classic Minis.^[1] For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ... A transverse engine is an engine in which the crankshaft is oriented side-to-side relative to the wheels of the vehicle. ... Front wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... Peugeot 205 GTI A hot hatch is an informal or slang term for a performance derivative of a European hatchback (in the US, Asian sports hatches are sometimes called sport compacts). ... The Volkswagen New Beetle is a compact car introduced by Volkswagen in 1998, drawing heavily on the design cues of the original Beetle. ... Retro is a term used to describe the culture of the past. ... For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ... Renault Clio featuring the classic style of go-faster stripes. ...

The later "Mk II" MINI (or R56) uses the BMW-PSA 1.4/1.6 Prince 4 cylinder engine. This engine uses a system known as VALVETRONIC to control valves for optimum performance and/or efficiency. This MINI uses a drivetrain architecture based on that of the Peugeot 207 and the Citroen C3 replacement. Prince is the codename for a family of modern automobile straight-4 engines developed jointly by BMW and PSA Peugeot CitroÃ«n. ... 2006 Production Peugeot 207 The Peugeot 207 is a supermini produced by the French company PSA Peugeot CitroÃ«n, and unveiled in January 2006. ... Citroën C3 The Citroën C3 is a supermini car made by Citroën. ...

The MINI One and MINI Cooper are available with a continuously variable transmission or with a conventional Getrag five-speed manual transmission. The Cooper S comes with a six-speed Getrag manual or (from the 2005 model year onwards) a fully automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is a transmission in which the ratio of the rotational speeds of two shafts, as the input shaft and output shaft of a vehicle or other machine, can be varied continuously within a given range, providing an infinite number of possible ratios. ... GETRAG is a leading manufacturer of automobile manual transmissions. ... A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... GETRAG is a leading manufacturer of automobile manual transmissions. ... An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually. ...

Technical innovations include an electrically driven power steering system that avoids taking power directly from the engine, equal length driveshafts to eliminate torque steer, and a sophisticated multi-link rear suspension usually found only on rear wheel drive cars. The MINI has a 'drive by wire' electronic throttle, electronic brakeforce distribution, cornering brake control, and electronic stability control to improve control and handling in adverse conditions.^[9] Front wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern automobiles, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... A multi-link suspension is a type of vehicle suspension design typically used in independent suspensions, using three or more lateral arms, and one or more longitudinal arms. ... Electronic throttle control (ETC) is an automobile technology which severs the direct link between the accelerator pedal and the throttle. ... Electronic Brake Force Distribution or EBD is an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount of force applied to each of a vehicles brakes. ... Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is the generic term for systems designed to improve a vehicles handling, particularly at the limits where the driver might lose control of the vehicle. ...

Adding a supercharger to the Cooper S model required that the battery be relocated into the rear of the car — leaving no room for a spare tyre. Hence this model comes with run flat tyres as standard. A supercharger (also known as a blower) is an air compressor used to force more air (and hence more oxygen) into the combustion chamber(s) of an internal combustion engine than can be achieved at ambient atmospheric pressure. ... // A run flat tire is a pneumatic vehicle tire that is designed to resist the effects of deflation and to enable the vehicle to continue to be driven â€” albeit at reduced speeds (i. ...

Convertible

At the 'Salon International de l'Auto' (Geneva Motor Show) in 2004, MINI introduced a cabriolet (convertible) model which was released in the 2005 model year and available in One, Cooper and Cooper S versions. The convertible roof is fully automatic — an unusual feature in such a small car — and can be opened partially to act as a sunroof whilst the car is driving at speed. The convertible model forsakes the rear hatch of the hardtop MINI — replacing it with a drop down 'tailgate' design reminiscent of the classic Mini and incorporating similarly prominent external hinges. The convertible also adds two small power windows for the rear seat passengers which are retracted automatically as the roof opens. The roof is made from a heavy cloth with many layers of insulation; the rear window is of glass and has a heater/defroster but no washer or wiper. Image File history File links 2003_and_2005_BMW_MINI.jpg Summary A Hot Orange 2005 BMW MINI Cooper S Convertible and a British Racing Green 2003 BMW MINI Cooper S Hardtop. ... Image File history File links 2003_and_2005_BMW_MINI.jpg Summary A Hot Orange 2005 BMW MINI Cooper S Convertible and a British Racing Green 2003 BMW MINI Cooper S Hardtop. ... The Salon International de lAuto (or Geneva Motor Show) is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. ... 74th Geneva Motor Show The Salon International de lAuto (or Geneva Motor Show) is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. ... Original meaning A cabriolet was a light, two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with a folding calash top, seating two persons behind the drivers box. ... Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American Convertible can also refer to a convertible (security) A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ... Open sunroof in a Peugeot 206. ... For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ...

As a joke and undoubtedly as a part of MINI's viral marketing approach, purchasers of the MINI convertible were asked to sign a 'contract' promising that they would drive the car with the roof open at least 90% of the time. MINI also set up a telephone hotline (in the USA: 1-888-DO NOT CLOSE) which one may call to report convertible owners who are driving with the roof up inappropriately. The automated system offers such helpful advice as how to administer a wedgie to the offender. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Joan halpin loves wedgies The wedgie is a joke maneuver or prank performed to humiliate someone. ...

The Works GP MINI

The last version to be made with the Tritec engine is the "MINI Cooper S Works GP", a lightweight, race-prepped John Cooper Works model. Hand-finished by Bertone in Italy, it was produced as a limited-production run of 2000 cars in 2006, with around 415 of those ear-marked for both the US (& Canada) and UK markets. The 'GP' features more bolstered front seats but has no rear seats, which along with reduced sound-deadening, deleting the rear wash-wipe, offering optional air-conditioning and making other steps to reduce the overall weight, resulted in a weight saving of around 40 kg over a Cooper S. Additionally, the car has enhanced braking and suspension, as well as 218 horsepower from the John Cooper Works engine modification package. In place of the rear seats there is additional body stiffening and below-floor storage areas. There are many unique styling points such as the red door mirrors, a carbon fibre rear spoiler, unique body kit, bespoke (2 kg lighter) 4-spoke alloy wheels and specialised badging. Available in just one colour scheme, Thunder Blue with a Pure Silver roof, each car is individually numbered and features a decal on the roof along with a plaque on the dashboard. The last of the supercharged MINIs and a genuine Limited Edition model, it is expected that the MINI Cooper S Works GP will become a collectors' item. John Cooper (July 17, 1923 - December 24, 2000) was a co-founder, with his father Charles Cooper, of the Cooper Car Company. ...

Success story

Whilst the car has been criticized for its poor space-efficiency compared with the original Mini (despite its significantly larger size), its faithfulness to the original's razor sharp handling characteristics and its unique styling has seen the MINI become a sales success in Europe and (from 2002) in the U.S.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links MINI_at_premiere_of_the_italian_job. ... Image File history File links MINI_at_premiere_of_the_italian_job. ... The Italian Job is a 2003 action-adventure film, directed by F. Gary Gray. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic - President George Walker Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from...

BMW has received a significant backlog of orders throughout the life of the car and the Cowley factory is currently expanding to reach a capacity of around 240,000 cars per year; all of this with little conventional advertising.^{[citation needed]}

The car has featured in many movies, most notable of which is the 2003 remake of The Italian Job. (See also: List of movies in which Mini cars are featured.) The Italian Job is a 2003 action-adventure film, directed by F. Gary Gray. ... Both the original 1959-2000 Austin/Morris Mini car, and its successor the BMW MINI have been widely used in movies as props or as major story elements, below is a list of movies in which Mini/MINI cars are featured. ...

As with the classic Mini, the new MINI has a widespread club and enthusiast following and strong after-market support for performance upgrades and styling enhancements. Such community support keeps the brand highly valued and shows BMW's decision to relaunch the MINI as a successful business strategy. The MINI Cooper/Cooper S won the North American Car of the Year award for 2003.^[10] The North American Car of the Year is an automobile award voted annually in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. ...

Criticism

Dr. Alex Moulton, designer of the suspension system for the original classic Mini, is reported to have said of the new MINI, in an interview with MiniWorld magazine, "It’s enormous — the original Mini was the best packaged car of all time — this is an example of how not to do it… it’s huge on the outside and weighs the same as an Austin Maxi. The crash protection has been taken too far. I mean, what do you want, an armoured car? It is an irrelevance in so far as it has no part in the Mini story."^[11] Image File history File links Batboy_Steals_MINI.jpg Summary Reduced resolution picture of front page of Weekly World News - used under fair use in discussion of BMW/MINIs innovative approach to advertising in the BMW MINI article. ... Image File history File links Batboy_Steals_MINI.jpg Summary Reduced resolution picture of front page of Weekly World News - used under fair use in discussion of BMW/MINIs innovative approach to advertising in the BMW MINI article. ... The Weekly World News (WWN) is a tabloid newspaper published by American Media Inc. ... Alex Moulton created the company Moulton, an English Bicycle company. ... The Austin Maxi was a medium sized 5-door hatchback car from British Leyland for the 1970s. ...

Many classic Mini enthusiasts are sharply critical of the new MINI (some call it the BINI as a contraction of BMW MINI), citing the fact that it is two feet longer, a foot wider and almost twice the weight of the classic car — yet it has less rear leg room and less luggage space. Undoubtedly much of this is to do with modern crash protection requirements and the desire to incorporate features such as air conditioning, a supercharged engine with modern emissions controls and a higher level of front-seat comfort than the classic Mini was capable of. This opinion is far from universal and other classic Mini enthusiasts have embraced the modern MINI as a natural evolution of the original concept with many of them owning both kinds of car.

Some MINI convertible owners criticise the poor rear visibility in the convertible. With the roof up the wide areas of cloth down the sides of the car block visibility to the rear quarters and the lack of washer/wiper on the small rear window — combined with the tendency of all flat-backed cars to accumulate dirt on the rear — effectively eliminates all rear visibility. Even with the roof down, the large roll-protection bars above the back seats and the bunched up cloth of the folded roof tends to block a significant fraction of rearward visibility. In an attempt to counter this problem when reversing the car, the MINI convertible comes with rear-mounted proximity sensors as standard equipment (these are available as an option on the hardtop MINI). Saab 900 Convertible 1962 Rambler American Convertible can also refer to a convertible (security) A convertible (sometimes called cabriolet in British English) is a car body style with a folding or retracting roof (aka soft top or top in USA, hood in UK). ...

The MkII MINI

MINI has introduced a new version of the car for the 2007 model year, on a re-engineered platform with many stylistic and engineering changes. This architecture is shared with PSA Peugeot Citroën and is intended to be more flexible. The engineering was done in the United Kingdom by MINI/BMW Group UK Engineering. Air foil bearing-supported turbocharger cutaway made by Mohawk Innovative Technology Inc. ... Epicyclic gearing or planetary gearing as used in an automatic transmission. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ... PSA Peugeot CitroÃ«n (PSA) is a vehicle company that owns the marques Peugeot and CitroÃ«n. ...

The so-called 'Mk II MINI' (echoing the 'mark number' naming of the classic Mini) was introduced in January 2007 in the Cooper and Cooper S badges and the range will be completed later in 2007 with the arrival of the Mk II MINI One and a diesel variant.^[12] The MINI convertible will continue to use the Mk I platform for at least a year. For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ...

Though the Mk II has a familiar look, every panel on the new car has been changed from the old model. New safety requirements mean that the overall length has increased by 60 mm, the front end raised and the indicators have been repositioned inside the headlights. The headlights themselves are now fixed to the front quarter panels rather than being housed within the bonnet so that they are not raised up with it when the bonnet opens. The car features a restyled grille and larger rear light clusters. The Cooper S retains the bonnet scoop in order to keep an association with the outgoing model - although the relocation of the intercooler to the front of the engine means that the scoop is now purely decorative. The C pillars are no longer encased in glass and have been shaped to improve aerodynamics and to reduce the tendency for dirt to accumulate on the back of the car. Much criticised for the lack of rear legroom, MINI has added more space for rear passengers by creating sculpted cut-outs in the rear of the front seats. An engine starter button replaces the conventional ignition key and with the optional 'convenience package', the car unlocks itself automatically when the key is brought close to the car. Turn signals (US English) or indicators (British English) are a set of lights on a vehicle (be it a car, truck/lorry, tractor, motorcycle, etc. ... BMWs distinctive kidney-shaped grille on an E34 M5 Audis single frame grille, here on a second generation TT Grille is also the name of a German self-propelled artillery vehicle. ... A hood scoop is an air vent on a car hood which usually sends air over an intercooler. ... It has been suggested that Front mounted intercooler, Top mounted intercooler and Charge cooler be merged into this article or section. ... An SUV with four pillars A pillarless hardtop vehicle, considered to have two total pillars A stretch limo with five pillars An A pillar is a name applied by car stylists and enthusiasts to the shaft of material that supports the windshield (windscreen) on either of the windshield frame sides. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

The Cooper and Cooper S models offer a new rear axle and aluminium components to reduce the car's weight and a Sports kit option comprising harder springs, damper and anti-roll bars is offered with both variants. Another key difference is the introduction of an upgraded electric power steering system, the sharpness of which can be increased by pressing a Sport button on the dashboard – which also adjusts the response of the accelerator. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1932x1312, 283 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): MINI (BMW) Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1932x1312, 283 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): MINI (BMW) Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... General Name, Symbol, Number aluminium, Al, 13 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 13, 3, p Appearance silvery Atomic mass 26. ... Gasfilled Shock absorber. ... A sway bar (also called an anti-sway bar or anti-roll bar) is an automobile suspension device. ... Power steering is a system for reducing the steering effort on cars by using an external power source to assist in turning the wheels. ... A dashboard from a 1940s car The dashboard of a modern car, a Bentley Continental GT A Hayabusas dash A modern Formula 1 car has all its gauges mounted on the steering wheel A dashboard or dash board in an automobile is a panel located under the windscreen and... A small variety of cars, the most popular kind of automobile. ...

As for engines, the Tritec engine has been replaced in the Cooper model with a 120 bhp 1.6-litre Prince engine with infinitely variable valve timing, developed with Peugeot. It is reported in early road tests that this takes the car from 0-62 mph in a claimed 9.1 seconds and has top speed of 125 mph. Fuel economy of 48.7 mpg on the combined cycle is nearly 8 mpg better. The more powerful 175 bhp Cooper S replaces the supercharger with a new twin scroll turbocharger in the interests of efficiency, and will feature gasoline direct injection. This engine also has an "overboost" function which temporarily raises the torque by 15 ft·lbf (20 N·m) under hard acceleration. As a result, 0-62 mph is covered in a claimed 7.1 seconds, and top speed is 140 mph. It achieves similar improvements in fuel economy to the Cooper, returning 40.9mpg combined. Both cars come with six-speed manual or automatic gearboxes. The turbocharged engine is the same (although with some French engineering modifications) as the one in the Peugeot 207 GTi/RC. In 1997, Chrysler Corporation and Rover Group (later BMW) formed Tritec, a joint venture to design a new small straight-4 engine for small cars. ... Prince is the codename for a family of modern automobile straight-4 engines developed jointly by BMW and PSA Peugeot CitroÃ«n. ... Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot CitroÃ«n. ... A supercharger (also known as a blower) is an air compressor used to force more air (and hence more oxygen) into the combustion chamber(s) of an internal combustion engine than can be achieved at ambient atmospheric pressure. ... Air foil bearing-supported turbocharger cutaway made by Mohawk Innovative Technology Inc. ... Gasoline direct injection or GDI is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two-stroke and four stroke petrol engines. ... 2006 Production Peugeot 207 The Peugeot 207 is a supermini produced by the French company PSA Peugeot CitroÃ«n, and unveiled in January 2006. ...

All models of the Mk II "Hill Assist", a feature which prevents the car from rolling backwards on an incline by holding the brakes on after you lift your foot from the brake pedal until you press the accelerator.

The interior of the Mk II echoes the style of the earlier model but is in fact a complete redesign. The boot of the new car has an additional 10 litres of load space. The trunk of an automobile is the storage space located either at the front or the rear of the vehicle. ...

The Mk II MINI is built by MINI's Production Triangle - Plant Swindon (body panels), Plant Hams Hall (engine) and finally Plant Oxford, where final assembly work is completed.^[13] Swindon is a town in Wiltshire in the South West of England. ... Ladywalk Reserve is a nature reserve on the River Tame, in north Warwickshire, owned by Powergen, but leased to and operated by the West Midland Bird Club. ... Oxford is a city and local government district in Oxfordshire, England, with a population of 134,248 (2001 census). ...

Prototype and concept cars

BMW first showed the MINI as a concept car that looked very different from the production cars. It had circular headlamps, huge wheel flares and a much more rounded appearance overall compared to the production design. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Before the first sales of the MINI, prototype versions were shown at the 2000 Paris Auto Show. These were essentially identical to the version that was finally sold except that the colours used ('Candy Blue' and 'Flamenco Orange') have never been used in production cars. ...

BMW demonstrated a hydrogen-powered internal combustion technology in some of their concept cars in 2000 and 2001, and MINI showcased a hydrogen powered concept car in 2001 at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The car differs from electric-motor hydrogen concepts, such as the Honda FCX in that it uses a cylinder-based internal combustion engine. For the common automotive term of hybrid vehicle see: Petroleum electric hybrid vehicle A hybrid vehicle (HV) is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources such as: An on-board rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a fueled power source for vehicle propulsion Human powered bicycle with... Honda FCX at the 2006 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show Honda FCX, rear The Honda FCX (presumably meaning Fuel Cell eXperimental) is a hydrogen fuel cell automobile manufactured by Honda. ... The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the burning of a fuel occurs in a confined space called a combustion chamber. ...

An all-electric MINI is in use at the British Embassy in Mexico that uses around 200 kg of Lithium Ion batteries. Three electric MINIs were also made for use in some subway scenes in the 2003 movie The Italian Job to satisfy the subway authorities concerns over possible carbon monoxide poisoning. Li-Ion Camera Battery Lithium ion batteries (or Li-ion) have become very common and dropped in price recently. ... The Italian Job is a 2003 action-adventure film, directed by F. Gary Gray. ... Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs after the inhalation of carbon monoxide gas. ...

With higher powered engines, the standard front wheel drive MINI tends to produce more wheel spin instead of more acceleration — a four wheel drive would be a natural solution to that problem. Getrag (who make the MINI's gearbox) demonstrated a four wheel drive version of the MINI in 2004. Four wheel drive or 4x4, is a type of four wheeled vehicle drivetrain configuration that enables all four wheels to receive power from the engine simultaneously in order to provide maximum traction. ... GETRAG is a leading manufacturer of automobile manual transmissions. ...

At the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2005, MINI revealed a retro version of the classic 'Mini Traveller' station wagon. Based on a stretched wheelbase with two side-hinged rear doors and separate rear seats replacing the split bench seat of the standard MINI. At the Tokyo Auto Show, the same basic concept reappeared with some fanciful additions — a circular roof section could be removed to form a picnic table with four folding chairs. The rear side windows were replaced with fold-down storage containers containing cutlery, cups and plates. In Detroit, a further version was presented without the table and chairs — but with a radically restyled interior. Image File history File links MINI_Traveller. ... Image File history File links MINI_Traveller. ... The International Motor Show or Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) is the worlds largest motor show. ... For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ... The Tokyo Motor Show (æ±äº¬ãƒ¢ãƒ¼ã‚¿ãƒ¼ã‚·ãƒ§ãƒ¼) is a biennial auto show held in October-November at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba City, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. ... NAIAS 2005, near the Audi exhibit. ...

Additional MINI models, including a four-door version, a two-seat roadster and a dune buggy have been shown as computer-graphic mock-ups at various times.

Beer Can Exhaust

The team of designers working on the 2002 MINI had finished the full-sized clay mock-up of the MINI in plenty of time for a presentation for the board of directors. Chief designer Frank Stephenson realized that the model did not have an exhaust pipe. His short-term solution was to pick up an empty beer can, punch a hole in it, strip off the paint and pushed it into the clay at the back of the car, which took just a few minutes. The overall design for the mock-up was so good that the board members told him not to change a thing, resulting the distinctive exhaust tip seen in production cars.^[1] Frank Stephenson is an automobile designer, currently head of the Fiat, Lancia, and Commercial Vehicle Styling Centre in Turin, Italy. ...

Internal designations

All MINI models have R-series model numbers assigned to them. These are a legacy of the MINI's original development within Rover Group. The following designations are known:^[14] Rover Group plc was the name that was given by the British government to the state-owned vehicle manufacturer BL plc which was more commonly known by its previous name of British Leyland in 1986. ...

Contents

Models

2001 to 2007 - The Mk I MINI

2007 onwards - The Mk II MINI

Technology

Convertible

The Works GP MINI

Success story

Criticism

The MkII MINI

Prototype and concept cars

Beer Can Exhaust

Internal designations

See also

References

External links

Contents

Models GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

2001 to 2007 - The Mk I MINI

2007 onwards - The Mk II MINI

Technology

Convertible

The Works GP MINI

Success story

Criticism

The MkII MINI

Prototype and concept cars

Beer Can Exhaust

Internal designations

See also

References

External links

Models