There’s been a mixed bag of news from around the globe for MINI lately. On the bright side, most of the recent breaking events have been largely positive.
Today Automotive News are reporting bullish sounds coming from MINI USA and their big cheese Jim McDowell. After a record breaking 2008 for MINI in North America, bosses are expecting to further increase sales in 2009, largely due to the relative lack of competition in the small car market over the pond. More sales means more sales outlets, and apparently there’s some of those on the cards for our American MINI fanatics too. Marvellous.
While MINI USA are looking at conventional ways to shift more metal, MINI UK have come up with a novel idea to help them deal with the current economic climate. They’re teaming up with MINI Ireland to ship over UK MINIs for sale at official BMW and MINI dealerships on the Emerald Isle. The “Sterling Scheme” as it has been ingeniously labelled, will offer pre-registered UK cars to Irish MINI (and BMW) fans at discounted prices, due to the relative strengths and weaknesses of the Euro and the Pound, and savings in taxation. The cars will be offered with full warranty and service packages, the only apparent difference being the default speedometer readings in MPH. Dealerships will set their own prices, and reports suggest savings on a MINI could be around €2,500.
More good news from the US as MSN Autos declared the MINI as the best car for residual values on the market. According a survey, the MINI retains an average of 67% of its sale value over a three year period.
Closer to home BMW and MINI have been named as the most fuel efficient premium brands by the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Germany. Statistics calculated and compiled by the Flensburg-based authority revealed that BMW and MINI brand vehicles newly registered in Germany during 2008 achieved an average fuel consumption of 5.9 litres/100 km (48 mpg) and average emission levels of 158 grams per km. Both of which are well below the average of all newly registered vehicles manufactured in Germany of 165 g/km. MINI, not surprisingly, receives an honorary mention thanks to the brand’s dramatic drop in CO2 emissions from 2006 to 2008, due to the introduction of the second generation MINI, and along with it much cleaner, more efficient engines, and energy saving technology such as brake energy regeneration and stop/start. The average CO2 emissions for MINI were recorded as 139 g/km.
Back in the UK, reports surrounding MINI have been somewhat more pessimistic (we cant help it, its in our genes), with Mike Rutherford questioning “Has the MINI bubble burst?“. While we don’t believe it has, the goal posts are certainly shifting, and while the MINI in the US can be seen to be benefiting from its diminutive size and relatively low running costs, in the UK, as a new car especially, the MINI is regarded as somewhat a luxury among the small car market, and sales could suffer as a result against “cheaper” alternatives.
With regards the recent job losses at Plant Oxford, a recent visit from Gordon Brown did little to raise any cheer, with many feeling that any government moves to introduce new legislation for agency workers is a case of too little, too late. Although Mr Brown was positive about the future for the MINI brand, stating
In the case of the Mini, it is one of the great British exports. While there have been job losses, the car has a great future.
and
The Mini is a good car and when the car market returns it will have a great future.
As for help for the ex-employees of the MINI production plant, that also made the news thanks to a very poor show of only six attendees at a jobs fair laid on to help the newly jobless find their way back to work.
But, we did have some brighter news for the MINI in the UK, with our favourite little pocket rocket beating off competition from bigger rivals in the form of the Ford Focus RS and Subaru Impreza STi in an Auto Express group test. The MINI, being considerably cheaper and smaller than its rivals in the showdown could be forgiven taking a bit of a beating, but the outcome couldn’t be any better for the little prize fighting MINI John Cooper Works.
So on this happier note, lets have some choice quotes from the Auto Express review to round off this report…
Like a true high-performance flagship should, the British-built three-door offers a bigger leap up from the regular ‘warm’ model than you might expect: the Cooper S is entertaining, but the JCW is a riot!
The MINI fares better inside, where its cabin is the best designed here. While some of the retro details can be a little over the top, the JCW has character to spare.
In addition, the JCW has the most precise gearchange. Using the six-speed lever, along with the perfectly positioned clutch and accelerator pedals, is very satisfying.
Tags: auto express, bmw, federal motor transport authority, mini germany, mini ireland, mini uk, mini usa, plant oxford
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