http://www.thecarconnection.com/reviews Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:54:01 -0500 Car Reviews -- Get the consensus and opinions from TheCarConnection and from around the Web on your favorite car. Lifestyle/Fashion http://static.thecarconnection.com/website/tcc-feed.jpg http://www.thecarconnection.com/reviews http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038644_adwatch-mini-cooper-convertible-spot-touts-protection http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038644_adwatch-mini-cooper-convertible-spot-touts-protection Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:59:00 -0500 Let's face it: MINIs have a lot of curb appeal, but the company's advertising campaigns frequently come up short. A new spot for the MINI Cooper Convertible proves that point beautifully. Compared to yesterday's ad featuring the Alfa Romeo MiTo, this clip feels clunky and under-rehearsed -- although the potentially clichéd punchline somehow ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038335_mercedes-benz-may-launch-smaller-cars-in-u-s-by-2012 http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038335_mercedes-benz-may-launch-smaller-cars-in-u-s-by-2012 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:15:00 -0500 Readers of a certain age will recall a time when America's roadways were clogged with Gremlins, Rabbits, and other fuel-efficient minicars. That historical moment was caused by spiking fuel prices in the 1970s (remember when Jimmy Carter told everyone to put on a snappy cardigan?), which rear-ended a recession in the early 1980s. If you've ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038336_the-mini-e-isnt-quite-ready-for-its-close-up http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1038336_the-mini-e-isnt-quite-ready-for-its-close-up Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:10:00 -0500 Results from field tests of the MINI E have finally come in, and sadly, the EV didn't exactly pass with flying colors. Aside from braking, handling, and other problems that our own John Voelcker discovered during his time behind the wheel, BMW learned that the biggest threat to the MINI E might be range-anxiety -- even with the car's ..]]> http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/mini_cooper-clubman_2010 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/mini_cooper-clubman_2010 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:23:00 -0500 2010 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN STYLING | [9 out of 10] Car and Driver: "Cuteness, with attitude" MyRide: "Same avant-garde interior as the MINI Cooper" Jalopnik: "Preserves much of the styling moxie possessed by the original" The 2010 MINI Cooper Clubman is pulled from the same taffy as the MINI Cooper hatchback and convertible , ...
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]]> http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/mini_cooper-hardtop_2010 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/mini_cooper-hardtop_2010 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:15:00 -0500 2010 MINI COOPER/CONVERTIBLE STYLING | [10 out of 10] MyRide: "clown-car styling inside and out" Motor Trend: "isn't the most ergonomically friendly setup" Automobile: " MINI design team...has done excellent work" The 2010 MINI Cooper/Convertible returns for the latest model year unchanged, and to enthusiasts that's perfectly ...
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]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1036252_bmw-to-launch-0-series-in-2013-based-on-mini-platform http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1036252_bmw-to-launch-0-series-in-2013-based-on-mini-platform Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:59:00 -0400 If you were surprised by BMW's plans to revive the Isetta brand, this may fully blow your mind: the company is planning a new series of BMW vehicles called the "0-Series", which will be based on the third-gen MINI platform and feature front-wheel drive. The line should hit showrooms in 2013, appearing in three-door, five-door, and roadster ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1035201_2009-frankfurt-auto-show-mini-roadster-concept http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1035201_2009-frankfurt-auto-show-mini-roadster-concept Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:01:00 -0400 With a new Coupe Concept already revealed, and a BMW X1-based crossover in the works, MINI needs another follow for its unique cult of speed. The next convert--actually, a convertible--arrives today at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show in the form of the 2009 MINI Roadster Concept. All but production-ready, the concept's been mentioned by BMW's ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1034901_mini-coupe-becomes-reality--before-its-a-concept http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1034901_mini-coupe-becomes-reality--before-its-a-concept Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:49:00 -0400 It's not even on the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show floor, but the MINI Coupe Concept is heading for a showroom, eventually, as company executives confirm two new models for the BMW-owned brand. Earlier today, BMW UK corporate communications manager Graham Biggs indicated on BBC that MINI will get two new models, while the company itself announced ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1034754_bmw-news-mini-crossover-delayed-isetta-based-on-toyota-iq http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1034754_bmw-news-mini-crossover-delayed-isetta-based-on-toyota-iq Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:10:00 -0400 There's been a lot of chatter about the MINI Roadster (also known as the MINI Speedster) which is set to debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in just a couple of weeks. That's not surprising: everyone likes a roadster, and the sporty renderings popping up on the web have sparked the interest of journalists and enthusiasts alike. The MINI ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1034455_toyota-losing-ground-in-the-ev-race http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1034455_toyota-losing-ground-in-the-ev-race Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:50:00 -0400 An interesting article in the New York Times suggests that Toyota -- the same Toyota that's often considered to be at the forefront of the green car movement, thanks to its popular Prius hybrid and all those eye-popping, folksy TV ads you've been seeing -- is slipping in the race to bring fully electric vehicles to the marketplace. It's an ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1034207_frankfurt-bmw-brings-hybrids-special-minis-rolls-royce-ghost http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1034207_frankfurt-bmw-brings-hybrids-special-minis-rolls-royce-ghost Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:33:00 -0400 Naturally, the Frankfurt Auto Show is a huge event for Munich-based BMW, and this year's event will be no exception. The company is preparing to show off new BMW hybrids, special-edition MINIs, and deluxe Rolls-Royce models (if that's not redundant). Moreover, all three marques will be presented side-by-side under one roof, allowing the ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1033975_u-haul-car-sharing-adds-toyota-prius-ford-escape-hybrid http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1033975_u-haul-car-sharing-adds-toyota-prius-ford-escape-hybrid Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:07:00 -0400 U Haul has just reduced prices for its U Car Share car-sharing service, and added more fuel-efficient EPA SmartWay vehicles, the company reports. Vehicles being added to U Car Share's fleet include the Toyota Prius, Ford Focus, Toyota Yaris, MINI Cooper, and Ford Escape Hybrid. Up until now, the Chrysler PT Cruiser has been the most common ..]]> http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/mini_cooper-hardtop_2009 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/mini_cooper-hardtop_2009 Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:17:00 -0400 2009 MINI COOPER STYLING | [10 out of 10] J. D. Power: "A pop-culture icon with a cult following" MyRide.com: "Brandishes fun like a club, from its clown-car styling inside and out" Motor Trend: "Interior design language...isn't the most ergonomically friendly setup, but it's still relatively stylish" The diminutive MINI Cooper has ...
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]]> http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/mini_cooper-convertible_2009 http://www.thecarconnection.com/fullreview/mini_cooper-convertible_2009 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:12:00 -0400 2009 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE STYLING | [9 out of 10] Automobile Magazine: " MINI design team, forty-some strong, has done excellent work" Road & Track: " Convertible roof can be fully opened in just 15 sec. at speeds of up to 20 mph" Cars.com: "Standard Openometer that tracks how much time you've driven with the top down" ...
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]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1021155_rare-bmw-screwup-mini-e-electric-vehicle-is-unpleasant-to-drive http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1021155_rare-bmw-screwup-mini-e-electric-vehicle-is-unpleasant-to-drive Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:01:00 -0400 Like their owners and pretty much every auto journalist, we love BMWs. And we especially love driving them. It's a cliche now, but especially their sedans are perfectly balanced, instantly responsive, and raring for the open road. They are, to overuse the decades-old tagline, pretty close to the ultimate driving machines. Which is why we're so ..]]>