First batch of U.S.-bound Fiat 500s coming with manuals

Fiat dealerships are just about ready to swap your money for the keys to a brand-new 500. If you are planning on being one of the first to park one in your driveway, we hope that you know how to drive a manual transmission – the first units being shipped to dealers in February will all be equipped with manual transmissions.If you can’t handle the three-pedal setup, you’ll be forced to wait a bit

Photo Album from MINI's 50th Anniversary Festivities at Silverstone

This past weekend (May 22-24), the MINI celebrated its 50th birthday with a three-day festival at the Formula One track in Silverstone, England. More than 25,000 MINI aficionados from all four corners of the world made their way to the event with some 10,000 MINIs of all sorts and colors being displayed. The British automaker also unveiled three special edition MINIs at the event, including the

Restored 1960 Morris Mini to be Raffled at UK Classic Motor Show

A fully restored 1960 Morris Mini with 56,600 miles on the clock will be raffled at the British Classic Motor Show to be held at Birmingham’s NEC from 13th to 15th November 2009. The red Morris Minor was restored to its former glory live on stage at last year’s classic motorshow by Edd China from TV’s Wheeler Dealers programme. The car will be given away in a text-to-win competition where

VIDEO: MINI 50 Camden and 50 Mayfair Specials

MINI has released video footage of its special edition ’50 Camden’ and ’50 Mayfair’ models that were created in celebration of the brand’s 50th anniversary. Both cars made their first public appearance at the firm’s birthday party that was held in Silverstone at the end of May. Available in Cooper, Cooper S and Cooper D guises, the MINI 50 Camden and 50 Mayfair feature special color schemes along

Citroen Reveals MINI Challenging DS3's 'Insides': Photos and Video Included

Taking advantage of the news-thirsty internet media, Citroen is slowly revealing new bits and pieces of its MINI rivaling DS Inside hatch that will be called DS3 when it enters production during the first quarter of 2010. Although the premium hatchback made its world debut as a thinly disguised concept at the 2009 Geneva Show in March, this is the first time that we get a chance to see the car’s

Shanghai Clone Wars: Lifan 320 aka the Chinese MINI Cooper

Take a close look at the sign behind the Lifan 320, it reads “Innovation Lifan, Quality Lifan”. Now gaze upon the 320; what an innovative -and poorly executed- ripoff of the MINI! The 320 is one of the many China-made clones that filled the booths of various automakers at the Shanghai Show. Lifan’s minicar that pays an undesirable tribute to the new MINI’s design has been on sale in China since

AC Schnitzer MINI Convertible Performance Package with up to 226HP

The new MINI Convertible has caught the attention of engineers from famed tuner AC Schnizter that have developed a comprehensive sport package for the drop top. The German firm started by tuning the MINI’s 1.6-liter turbocharged engine to produce a reported 208HP for the domestic market model and 226HP for the export model, up from the standard unit’s 175HP. At the same time, the Cooper S and JCW

MINI Clubman with Airstream Trailer Concept: First Official Photos

These are the first official photos of a one-off concept of a specially modified MINI Cooper S Clubman and a 6.80-meter or 22-foot Airstream trailer that was created in collaboration with Danish furniture producers, Republic of Fritz Hansen. The design study will be unveiled to the public for the first time at the INTERNI Design Energies exhibition that takes place in Milan on 22 – 27 April 2009.

MINI Convertible Dresses Up for "I Kissed a Girl" singer, Kate Perry

You may not know her by her name, but we’re pretty sure that you’ve heard Kate Perry’s 2008 pop song, “I Kissed a Girl”. So what has MINI got to do with Kate Perry, we hear you ask? Well, the British automaker decided to create a “Kate Perry” style Convertible for this year’s Life Ball event, Europe’s largest annual HIV/AIDS charity gathering. At last year’s event, MINI came up with an erotic

New Special Edition MINI Graphite

MINI is enhancing its UK lineup with the launch of a special edition model called ‘Graphite’ that comes with numerous standard features and is available in MINI One, Cooper and Cooper D guises. All Graphite models are finished in a Dark Silver metallic paint that is normally reserved for MINI Cooper S and John Cooper Works models. Priced at £13,075 OTR the MINI One Gaphite’s standard equipment

Rumorville: MINI GTI Model Based on the Crossovermi

We’ve yet to see the production version of MINI’s small crossover model that will most likely be called the Crossman, but there already reports that the British firm is exploring the possibility of adding a sport version to the range aimed directly at the Golf GTI and its likes. Citing sources within the company, Autocar magazine is reporting that the GTI variant is one of two other proposals (

GENEVA: MINI claims Clubman name for its "Shooting Brake" model which goes on sale before the end

Since they’ve already unveiled a whole pack of concepts at every major car show the past two years (MINI Concept Frankfurt, MINI Concept Tokyo, MINI Concept Detroit & MINI Concept Geneva), it was about time we heard something about the production model. Dubbed Clubman and not Traveller as everybody thought, the extended-length MINI will have a design similar to the various concepts offering more

I’ll Be Pimped… A MINI Cooper Adorned With a Million Swarovski Crystals!

The characterization “bling-bling” is definitely an understatement for this Cooper. Dubbed “American Icon”, the glittering MINI is the work of CrystalArt and it’ll be on display at the upcoming National Stationery Show, May 20-23, at NY City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. It features over one-million Swarovski crystals in 50 different shades of color. Each crystal was scrupulously hand

MINI Convertible Pops Up in Florida Based MINI Dealer Site!

Strangely enough, this image featuring the yet to be unveiled, 2007/8 MINI Convertible appeared on an official MINI dealer’s website (Braman MINI Palm Beach), in the section “New Car Specials”. I’m pretty sure that you’re wondering what we think. Well, honestly, we’re not sure. There’s a chance that the dealer could have received some images/renderings that were intended for internal use but on

Mini Cooper & Cooper S Fully Revealed

No more teaser photos and speculations as Mini came out today with the full press release of the 2007 Cooper & Cooper S versions. The two new models will make their world debut at the Paris Motor Show in September with sales commencing before the end of the year.UPDATE – CHECK OUT THE PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS HERE: 2007 MINI COOPER & COOPER S2007 MINI IN DETAILExterior -Unmistakable features of MINI

NAIAS debut for new Mini Cabriolet Sidewalk – and NO it’s not the MINI II…

Jeez, we got all red and excited when we first saw the press release, but I believe you’ll forgive us as it’s not as if one can easily distinguish the MINI I & II from each other. Anyway, the Sidewalk is a new addition to the MINI Convertible range which will make its premiere at the 2007 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).The Sidewalk model offers a host of exclusive and additional

Chilly Cooper !

This must be the ultimately, the “coolest” gadget for Mini fans. Made by Italian company Smeg in cooperation with Mini, this Laser Blue coloured, pin-striped refrigerator is rather unemotionally named FAB28MCS. Although its production is limited to a mere 250 units, think of it this way; if you’re quick enough to order you’re going to have a hell of a more unique item than the 2007 Mini Cooper

Peugeot 207 RC – 175Hp, 0-100km/h in 7,1 sec

PSA Peugeot-Citroen’s December webzine issue provides us a premature view of Peugeot’s upcoming 207 RC. To be presented officially at the Geneva Show in March, the 207 RC is fitted with the most powerful version yet of PSA-BMW’s 1.6-litre Twinscroll Turbo engine producing 175Hp & 240 Nm of torque (the same motor is also used on the 2007 MINI Cooper S). According to Peugeot, the RC needs 7,1 sec

Mini Traveller Scooped

It’s been nearly two years since we first laid our eyes on the Mini Traveller Concept Frankfurt and its colourful spouses, the…witty named Detroit, Geneva & Tokyo Concepts. However, it’s not over yet since we’re waiting for the Traveller to make a comeback at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Only now, it’s going to be the final production version, which will go on sale in Europe in 2008.

MINI KRINK: Another Artistic Take on BMW's City Ride

The BMW Group is no stranger to ‘artsy’ vehicles. From the renowned BMW Art Cars to the provocative MINI creations, the German company is more than willing to turn its cars into a canvas for artists to work on. This particular MINI was crafted by KRINK creator and graffiti influencer, Craig “KR” Costello. The NY artist travelled to Hamburg, Germany and applied his trademark Krink silver paint