MINI E: An American sellout?

Filed under: Economy, Green, Hatchbacks, BMW, MINI

Click above for a high-res gallery of the MINI E's unveiling

Is the new MINI E sold out? If by "rented through," yes, it looks like you may have missed your opportunity to be a beta tester for BMW's new electric Cooper.

BMW is leasing around 500 of the diminutive hatchbacks at a cost of $850-a-month (including insurance) for one year in the New York/New Jersey metro area as well as Southern California, and according to a new Bloomberg News story, applicants for the program have outnumbered the cars by more than a 4-to-1 ratio, though there is always the possibility that not all of the cars have been doled out yet.

If you're still pondering how you might be able to muscle your way to the front of the queue, be prepared for some changes from your everyday motoring routine. For one, the MINI E's range is limited to 120 miles, at which point you'll have to plug the car into the 220-volt outlet you've had installed in your garage. If you're stuck away from home, you can plug the MINI E into a 110-volt wall outlet, but be prepared to wait-a charge takes about 26 hours (versus around three for the 220-volt outlet). Beyond that, expect for MINI to require you to keep track of your driving experience with a diary and various online surveys.

Despite all of the various hoops to jump through, we're not at all surprised to learn that the opportunity to noiselessly motor about in a zero-emissions Cooper has charmed more than 2000 lease applicants. Given the brand's fanatical (and generally well-heeled) following, we're almost surprised that the number isn't higher. So don't feel bad if you applied for a MINI E of your very own, only to get turned down. Besides, there's always the PML MINI QED...


[Bloomberg News]

MINI E: An American sellout? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Road Rage: American LeMans

Aston Martin GT2 coming to Wisconsin

Road racing, in general, and specifically the American LeMans Series of racing, does not get much attention in the land of NASCAR.  Nevertheless, the Generac 500 taking place at Road America in Wisconsin on Aug. 9th is one of the best initiations for those who are new to the sport.  Not only is car racing that includes more than turning left interesting to watch, but the cars on the track in the GT classes are based on real street vehicles…at least in theory.

This sort of racing has spawned all sort of limited number “production” cars from Ferrari, McLaren, etc., made in small numbers to qualify for among other things, the 24 hours of LeMans.  In addition to the supremely cool Aston Martin above, check out some of the cars  at Road America this week:

Corvette C6R

BMW M3 GT2

Dodge Viper Competition Coupe

While GT cars are based on road going versions of the same vehicle, some GT1 cars in the mid to late 1990s were purpose-built prototypes that spawned exotic cars. In order to qualify the production minimums were set at 25 cars for small manufacturers, such as Saleen or 100 cars for major manufacturers like BMW.  There are several divisions within GT racing, based on, among other things, these production numbers and racing modifications.  What makes this sort of competition even more exciting is seeing all of these different levels of cars performing on the same track at the same time.
 
Why Road America is special:
Road America is the world’s fastest permanent road course located in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.  Situated on 640 acres, Road America has hosted races since September of 1955 and currently hosts over 400 events a year.  Road America is one of only a hand-full of road circuits in the world maintaining its original configuration being 4.048 miles in length and 14 turns.  The track features many elevation changes, along with a long front stretch where speeds approaching 200 mph (300 km/h) may be reached. One of the best known features of this course is a turn on the backside known as “the kink.”  Although Road America as a whole is extremely challenging, “the kink” tests both machine and its driver to the limit.
 
Can’t get to Wisconsin?  The Speed Network will broadcast the race, tape delayed, on Aug. 10 @ 2 p.m., EST.

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BMW M division asks "What downturn?"

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupes, Sports/GTs, BMW, Earnings/Financials

So in case you haven't heard, a few economies are having a few hiccups, money isn't easy to get as it used to be, and consumer belt-tightening is turning into fastening the rope more securely around sackcloth robes. That is, unless you're looking for a BMW M-car. BMW's M division sold more cars worldwide through the end of August of this year than it had in all of 2007. But the economic world didn't end until September, you say? Well, that didn't stop the moneyed from showing up at the M division's door: it sold another 6,000 cars through the end of November, which already puts the branch up fifty-percent over last year's total sales. You can check out the press release after the jump, and walk away knowing that no matter what, there is always enough sun somewhere for people to make hay.

[Source: Driver's Republic]

Continue reading BMW M division asks "What downturn?"

BMW M division asks "What downturn?" originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need more M3 in your diet? Videos of the 2008 BMW M3

For those who cannot get enough of the upcoming 2008 BMW M3 there are some recently released extensive videos available for the drooling. Since the 90’s BMW has maintained a reputation as tops amongst its few peers in the luxury sport coupe class. From their premium factories to their premium products there really is not much in the way of negatives that can be said about BMW’s M-class unless you want to talk about their premium price. The cost of admission aside the new 2008 BMW M3 should certainly be anything but a disappointing ride.

Autospies.com was fortunate to get this special glimpse inside a new M3 in Spain. Sit back and enjoy this long, loving inspection.

Despite Agent 001’s approval of the “more masculine” lines on the M3 coupe in comparison to the new 3-Series sedan, the new model seems a bit softer in appearance next to the sharper lines of the previous models. However there can be very few complaints about the fit and finish of the interior space of the M3 (excluding the Europeans lack of a cup-holder. How would you shift with your coffee between your legs?). If the exterior and interior views of the new BMW M3 get you excited then this next video should cap off the experience just right. Take a look as they take this ride out on the winding roads of Spain. I believe this is what you came for.

For those of you looking to fit a new M3 in your garage the above videos should give you yet a little more incentive to inquire about a waiting list. For the rest of those who just enjoy good design and some aggressive sport luxury, you will just have to settle for a Need for Speed Carbon test drive to get just a feel for it.

Thanks to Autospies for those videos.

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