I recently celebrated 20 years with my 2005 R53. It’s a special one, one that’s made me reflect on the memories and opportunities that this Mini has provided to enrich my life as time recedes in the rear-view mirror.

My Mini journey started with research and a test drive in 2005. I wanted a car that I could drive to work during the week and autocross on the weekend. The Mini fit the bill. I spent hours on the configurator, adding and subtracting options until I got to a price I could afford. I kept the vision of the car I created online in my mind as I drove two hours to the dealership in Pittsburgh. After speaking with a salesperson, I took the keys to a Cooper S and went for a test drive.

A test drive is like a first date. Sure, everything is great when things are limited to a computer, but that first hand experience tells if the initial interest could blossom into something long-term. You could say it was a successful date.

I could not stop smiling. It’s a driver’s car. The exterior and interior finishes gave off premium-brand vibes. I knew it would be the perfect one-car solution, so I had to see where this budding relationship would take me. I ordered my own Hyper Blue Cooper S.

I had to wait for the car to be built in Oxford, England, and make the long journey to Pittsburgh. My R53 arrived in September 2005—and it was love at first sight.

Fast-forward a few years and many miles later, and the R53 has transformed from daily driver and weekend autocross warrior to purely a performance car. The gains from performance parts no longer need to be considered in relationship to daily comfort; my life has evolved to the point where I can have a second car to drive to work. Driving the R53 is now my therapy. I enrolled in more high-performance driving schools. The R53 Mini became the vacation car, in a sense, since I drove it to the track. It was transported a few times—but I did ship it to California twice for Oktoberfest events, where I drove the R53 on the Pacific Coast Highway, turned laps around Laguna Seca, and put my feet in the Pacific Ocean on a coast far from home—all because of one small car.

Track days at Road America, Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, and Barber Motorsports Park included lessons about car dynamics and created memories with friends new and old.

If I jumped in a time machine and told my younger self in 2005 that her new Mini would one day be in a museum display, she would not have believed it. Yet my humble R53 was chosen to be a part of the year-long Minis to the Max exhibit at the Ultimate Driving Museum. I’m so grateful it was included in this great exhibition of cars and Mini memorabilia, featuring Sixties classics all the way up to modern examples.

Photo: Melissa Cunnngham

At the museum, the R53 sat under the lights in front of a large exhibit banner. The glossy stock Hyper Blue paint seemed a little brighter against the yellow banners. This detailed, ultra-clean version of the R53 may have been right in front of me, but my mind wandered to the time the car carried me from an abusive relationship—starting for me immediately when I needed it the most, carrying me to safety. I fought back tears in the museum, looking at my one-time savior. Even in the darker times of my life, the R53 was a constant positive reminder that better days were just a little farther down the road.

I never imagined owning a single car for nearly half of my life, but in twenty years behind the wheel of the R53 I’ve learned so much, and seen so many beautiful places in this country. From the early days of scraping pennies together to make the payments to seeing the car under museum lights, the years have included many emotions—as well as many compromises and challenges. This twenty-year anniversary may not be conventional, but this car greatly influenced my life.

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Smorgasburg, renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and global flavors, draws between 3,000 and 7,000 attendees per day at its year-round markets. This fall, MINI will join in the savory fun, transforming a part of the festival into a MINI experience with the MINI vehicle family, a Countryman DJ booth, and interactive experiences for visitors.

“We are proud to collaborate with innovative partners like MINI USA who are all about bringing fun, excitement, and value to our unique market. Our vendors are thrilled to create their MINI inspired bites, and we can’t wait to share them with our guests in a way that will allow them to explore more of what Smorgasburg has to offer!” said Negin Singh, VP of Partnerships and Programming at Smorgasburg.

“MINI at Smorgasburg” is a celebration of community, creativity, and culinary adventure—welcoming everyone from everywhere to join the fun. The collaboration underscores MINI’s commitment to bringing people together and creating memorable MINI experiences sometimes where it is least expected.

Event highlights include:

• MINI Family Display: Attendees can explore the latest MINI models, including the JCW 2 Door Hardtop, Countryman Cooper S, and Convertible Cooper S. Product specialists will be on-site to answer questions and offer walk-arounds.
• Countryman DJ Booth: Enjoy live music from a DJ spinning from a MINI Countryman, adding energy and excitement to the market.
• MINI Bites Scavenger Hunt: The first 1,000 visitors to register at the MINI booth will receive a sampling card for three free “MINI bites, big flavor” samples from select vendors, each inspired by MINI’s iconic colors and qualities.
• Red Bull Integration: Experience Red Bull DJ sets, dance battles, and signature Red Bull MINI mocktails, plus ticket giveaways at the Los Angeles event.
• Entertainment: Dance battles and mocktail tastings will keep the crowd engaged throughout the day.

“Partnering with Smorgasburg allows us to bring MINI’s playful spirit into an environment that’s all about community, fun, and great taste.” said Kate Alini, Head of Marketing, Product, and Strategy for MINI USA. “Together, we’re creating experiences that are as memorable and flavorful as the cars themselves.”

Confirmed event dates and locations include:

• Los Angeles (DTLA ROW): Sunday, October 5
• Atlanta (South Downtown): Saturday, November 8
• Miami (Wynwood Arts District): Saturday, November 15

For more information and to view the full fall calendar, visit Smorgasburg’s website or follow @MINIUSA and @Smorgasburg on social media.

About MINI in the US

MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC, located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey and includes the marketing and sales organizations for the MINI brand. The authorized MINI USA dealer organization is represented by a network of 105 MINI full passenger car sales and service dealers located throughout the US. MINI USA began selling vehicles in the U.S. in 2002 with the introduction of the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S Hardtops. Since then, the MINI Brand in the U.S. has grown to encompass a model range of five unique vehicles.

About Smorgasburg 

Founded in Brooklyn in 2011, Smorgasburg has grown into the largest weekly open-air food festival in the United States, with seasonal and year-round locations in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Atlanta. Each weekend, Smorgasburg brings together dozens of small businesses and emerging food entrepreneurs, attracting thousands of visitors who come to discover new flavors, connect with local communities, and enjoy a one-of-a-kind cultural experience. Widely recognized as a launching pad for some of today’s most beloved food brands, Smorgasburg continues to serve as both an incubator for culinary talent and a vibrant gathering place that celebrates creativity, diversity, and the joy of food.

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The MINI family combines tradition and modernity.

With the relaunch of the MINI family over the past two years, the brand has once again aligned its pioneering design and historical heritage with the future: with a new, charismatic generation of the MINI Cooper and MINI Countryman, the world premiere of the MINI Aceman, the first crossover model for the premium segment, and the launch of the new MINI Convertible, MINI combines tradition and innovation in the present.

The New John Cooper Works models illustrate MINI’s racing expertise and with a spectacular second place in its class at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, MINI recently demonstrated how much motorsport is in the brand’s DNA.

On its 66th birthday, MINI can look back on a growing range of electrified variants within the MINI family. MINI has shown, that go-kart feeling is also possible with fully electric vehicles.

66 years of vibrant automotive history – a look back at the milestones of MINI:

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Neither of those results could have been predicted when BMW acquired MINI in 1994, as part of its purchase of UK consortium, the Rover Group. Mini—originally in lower case—was one of a slew of British brands included in the deal along with Land Rover, Triumph, MG, Riley, and Wolseley. The sale also included outdated industrial plants, substandard product quality, and labor unrest—problems so intractable that BMW would sell off most of the Rover Group’s assets just six years later.

Though Mini was plagued by some of the same problems faced by the Rover Group overall, it was retained as an essential component of the multi-brand strategy in which the core BMW brand was bracketed by Mini and Rolls-Royce, purchased separately. Rolls would allow BMW to target customers for whom even a 7 or 8 Series wasn’t exclusive enough, while Mini would allow the company to build small cars with the front-wheel drive that was anathema to BMW in that era.

To distinguish the modern MINI from its antecedent, BMW rendered the name in all-caps. BMW then built what amounted to an all-new plant inside the existing exterior walls of the circa 1912 Morris Motors plant in Cowley, near Oxford, England. Equally important, BMW designed an all-new MINI to replace the classic Mini, which had been introduced in 1959 and updated only incrementally in the decades that followed.

The classic Mini was a ’60s style icon, endowed by Sir Alec Issigonis—coincidentally, the great-uncle of BMW’s then-chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder—with a cheerful demeanor that made it a favorite of musicians, actors, and anyone else aspiring to hip style in Swinging London. The car was a sporting legend, too, having won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, ’65, and ’67. (It should have won in 1966, as well, but was disqualified for the color of its headlamps.)

That victory inspired Adrian van Hooydonk—then a young designer at BMW Designworks/USA—to sketch a car he dubbed the Anniversary Concept Vehicle (ACV) 30 in 1997. The sketch impressed BMW design chief Chris Bangle, who approved the creation of a running prototype. With distinctive fender creases and stunning red paint with white stripes, the ACV30 was described by Bimmer magazine’s Jay Jones as “pure adrenaline in a small package.”

Van Hooydonk’s concept didn’t make it into production, and neither did an economy-focused concept from the Rover Group. Instead, BMW opted for a design by Frank Stephenson based on a theoretical evolution of the Mini over three decades.

Under the skin, the MINI got modern mechanicals designed via a rather complicated collaboration between Rover engineers and those at BMW. The car got BMW’s signature MacPherson strut front and multilink rear axles, along with state-of-the-art electronics—including Cornering Brake Control, Dynamic Stability Control, and Electronic Brake Distribution—shared with the latest BMWs. For motive power, the MINI Cooper used a transverse-mounted four-cylinder engine built in Brazil, at a plant owned jointly by BMW and Chrysler.

The new MINI made its first huge splash in Paris, and it didn’t disappoint those who drove it at the international press launch. Writing for Bimmer magazine’s October 2001 issue, Ian Kuah said the new MINI “redefines handling and ride in small cars, bringing unprecedented mechanical refinement to the supermini class. It’s also chic, well-built, good value for money, and downright desirable.”

At the time, the MINI hadn’t been announced for the U.S. Behind the scenes, however, a small group of employees at BMW of North America had spent the previous six years setting the stage for its arrival.

When the MINI was first mooted, BMW of North America was led by President Victor Doolan, a native of Great Britain. Doolan had always liked the original Mini, and he knew that U.S. sales volumes would be crucial to the MINI’s success worldwide. “The problem was the cost of the vehicle, which made it too expensive to be a viable project in the U.S.,” Doolan said.

To overcome that obstacle, BMW NA optimized the wholesale-retail relationship, allowing MINI dealers to share back-end services and administration with their BMW franchises while selling MINI from dedicated showrooms. To further enhance profitability, the BMW NA’s product planners—namely Rich Brekus and Bert Holland—pursued a premium strategy in which the base MINI offered in the U.S. would not be the 89-horsepower MINI One but the 113-horsepower MINI Cooper. Above that, the 168-horsepower MINI Cooper S and 197-horsepower MINI John Cooper Works would complete the lineup.

That strategy was approved by BMW NA’s then-CEO Helmut Panke, but it came into doubt in February 1996, when Panke left Woodcliff Lake for Munich and a seat on the BMW AG Board of Management. Panke’s replacement as BMW NA CEO, Dr. Heinrich Heitmann, insisted that MINI would never work in the U.S.

Nonetheless, Heitmann supported the investigations then underway, while other key players within BMW of North America remained committed to MINI. That group included Stefan Krause, then CEO of BMW Financial Services. Krause assigned Rich Steinberg—one of the prime architects of BMW NA’s captive leasing program and a longtime enthusiast of British cars—to research the financial aspects of bringing MINI to the US.

As the policy differences between Panke and Heitmann demonstrated, changes in company leadership can lead to abrupt shifts in strategy, particularly when they occur on the board level in Munich. That’s exactly what happened in February 1999, when fallout from the disastrous Rover acquisition saw Pischetsrieder ousted from the chairmanship. When the supervisory board chose to name Joachim Milberg chairman rather than R&D chief Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle—the second time Reitzle had been passed over for the chairmanship—Reitzle left BMW for Ford. Two months later, BMW NA experienced a similar upheaval: Doolan resigned as President to join Reitzle at Ford, while CEO Heitmann left Woodcliff Lake for Munich and a seat on the BMW board.

On May 1, 1999, Tom Purves arrived at BMW NA as a replacement for both Doolan and Heitmann, taking the newly consolidated position of Chairman and CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp. A native of Scotland, Purves had been in charge of sales at Rover while the new MINI was under development, and he was eager to bring MINI to the U.S.

In December 1999, MINI USA became a corporate division of BMW NA, with Steinberg tapped as its first employee. Alongside Steinberg, Andrew Cutler would handle communications for the new brand. “In both the pre- and post-launch stages, we relied heavily on PR, with media activations that helped get buzz around the brand even though we didn’t have a big marketing budget,” Cutler said.

MINI now had official status within BMW NA, but bringing a premium hatchback to the U.S. remained a risky proposition. Full-size SUVs were ascendant, and the unmet sales expectations for the 318ti hatchback were still fresh in BMW NA’s institutional memory.

Even so, BMW NA needed MINI to succeed: The car would return better fuel economy with lower emissions than the larger BMW-badged models, reducing BMW NA’s Corporate Average Fleet Economy (CAFE) rating and helping the company avoid fines like the record $28 million it paid in 2001.

“On a worldwide basis, we have to be involved with building more cars with smaller engines in order to comply with legislation,” Purves said. “We also know that we have to keep in touch with younger customers, who one day will be 7 Series customers. The MINI does all of those things for us.”

Since those younger customers tended to live in cities, Steinberg’s team focused on urban areas when soliciting some 70 MINI dealers from BMW’s 350 or so dealerships nationwide. “Our colleagues from overseas put together a traveling roadshow, which included two classic Minis and a PowerPoint presentation,” Steinberg said. “We went to all four regions and told the BMW dealers what the franchise was about, what the car would look like, the kind of investment we were looking for, with a stand-alone selling environment and corporate ID. We invited proposals, which we evaluated to make sure that the MINI brand values would be properly represented.”

As MINI USA was putting together its dealer network, the division got a new leader when Purves appointed Jack Pitney to the position in January 2001. Pitney was certain the MINI could succeed in this market, and he’d developed his own launch plan for the brand while serving as BMW NA’s Head of Corporate Communications.

“Jack had been a PR guy, and he was really good at it,” Steinberg said. “He managed media communications better than I could, and he also managed dealer relations and internal relations, which were definitely needed. He was the right guy at the right time.”

Shortly thereafter, MINI USA completed the long search for an ad agency, naming the Miami-based firm Crispin Porter & Bogusky its agency of record on February 13, 2001.

“Crispin had been unknown to me, and unknown to most of America, for that matter,” Steinberg said. “Crispin completely blew our doors off. They pitched us with the ‘Let’s Motor’ tagline, and The Book of Motoring, which basically explained what the brand represented. It was so easy for us to move forward with them, even though they’d never had a car account before.”

CP&B had plenty of work to do prior to the car’s on-sale date in March 2002. BMW NA’s preliminary market research had shown that only two percent of potential U.S. customers had even heard of the old Mini, much less BMW’s new MINI.

On a modest $25 million budget, CP&B worked with Kerri Martin, MINI USA’s Senior Director of Marketing, to introduce MINI to the American public. CP&B’s ad campaign avoided television in favor of print, emphasizing removable “tear-away” magazine inserts that could be shared among potential customers. The agency placed billboards in urban areas, with slogans like “The SUV Backlash Starts Now” reinforced by a MINI mounted on the roof of an SUV and driven on city streets to emphasize the vehicles’ contrasting dimensions.

CP&B’s print ads—placed in general-interest magazines like The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and The Atlantic more frequently than in automotive magazines—emphasized an entirely different set of virtues than BMW’s usual power and performance. “LET’S SIP, NOT GUZZLE,” read one ad. “Let’s leave the off-road vehicles off road. Let’s stop pretending we live in the jungle. Let’s stop intimidating each other. Let’s not use the size of our vehicle to compensate for other shortcomings. Let’s reclaim our garage space. Let’s be nimble. Let’s be quick. Let’s be honest. LET’S MOTOR.”

The campaign was wildly successful. “By the time the MINI made its debut in March 2002, more than 50,000 people had logged onto its website, miniusa.com, to express interest in buying one. By the end of the year, brand recognition in the United States had risen to 53 percent,” reported The New York Times. “Sales of the MINI reached 30,000 in the first year, about 10,000 more than the company had anticipated, defying conventional wisdom that consumers would not pay a premium price for a tiny car.”

MINI’s actual sales total was 24,590 in 2002, followed by 36,010 in 2003, MINI’s first full year on the U.S. market. Both figures could have been higher: With the Oxford plant still ramping up, many customers had to wait months for their cars to be delivered. (The vast majority were—and remain—ordered to the individual customer’s taste where color, upholstery, wheels, and other accessories were concerned.) Rather than bemoan the delays, MINI created a sense of excitement around them.

“We started a campaign called ‘Make Waiting Fun,’ in which customers who ordered a MINI could track its journey from the production line, to the boat, to the port, and to the dealership,” Steinberg said. “A lot of companies do it now, but we pioneered it.”

Twenty-five people broke the world record for the most people who can fit into a 10x4x4 mini automobile – the vehicle that served as the inspiration for the mini skirt – at BMW Group’s 40th anniversary celebration in Manhattan on Wednesday, August 25, 1999. The previous world record was set in 1967 at the Montreal World’s Fair when 24 peOple were stuffed into a 1967 Austin Mini Super Deluxe. (Chris Ramirez/WirePix)

Once they got their cars, MINI owners joined an enthusiastic community of like-minded individuals, one that recalled that of BMW 2002 owners in the late 1960s. This, too, was part of the award-winning marketing plan created by CP&B and Martin.

“The Book of Motoring had rules like, ‘MINI customers need to wave to other MINI drivers.’ It created this community that we’re so fortunate to have, in which MINI is not just transportation but part of their lives,” said Patrick McKenna, who became MINI’s Head of Product Planning and Consumer Events in 2008.

CP&B’s ads encouraged MINI owners to explore the country’s vast open spaces. “LET’S SEND GREETINGS FROM MILE MARKER 73. Let’s lose radio reception. Let’s make it on fumes. Let’s hold it until the rest stop. Let’s beat our postcards home. LET’S MOTOR.”

MINI owners took that message to heart: In 2006, some 4,000 MINI drivers joined the first-ever MINI Takes the States, a 17-day cross-country journey from New York to San Francisco. The event evolved out of a challenge faced by Jim McDowell shortly after he took over as head of MINI USA in 2005, following a job swap in which Pitney became Vice-President of Marketing for BMW NA.

“Munich had committed us to sell 200 identical MINI John Cooper Works GPs,” McDowell said. “What is a brand based on individualization going to do with 200 identical cars, and at a higher price? Maybe we could get each dealer to take one car. Okay, that’s 70. What will we do with the other 130? We could have an American Tourist delivery program, maybe at Laguna Seca. But what about people on the East Coast? Maybe we could do the same thing at Lime Rock. That’s where MINI Takes the States came from.”

As McDowell and Pitney were swapping jobs, Crispin Porter & Bogusky resigned the MINI account to pursue Volkswagen. For McDowell, CP&B’s departure presented an opportunity. “We wanted to be able to move into new directions,” McDowell said. “We weren’t going to be able to advertise on billboards forever.”

After a brief search, the contract was awarded to Sausalito, California agency Butler, Shine, Stern and Partners. The firm redesigned MINI’s brand image and expanded MINI’s experiential marketing with “Motortober” events in dealerships over Halloween. For the third Motortober, rock band KISS helped raise money for disaster relief through the sale of co-branded MINI-KISS merchandise.

In 2009, BMW chose MINI for its first foray into electric mobility. The car’s size was similar to that of the forthcoming i3 city car, and MINI drivers were eager to help BMW develop a battery-electric powertrain. “The MINI e was exhilarating in terms of performance,” McDowell said, “but it was absolutely miserable on cold days. If you used the heat, you had a very short range. You had to pick between heating and getting home!”

McDowell retired at the end of 2013, the year MINI sales hit a record 66,502 cars. He was succeeded in turn by David Duncan (who’d set up the original MINI dealer network with Steinberg), Thomas Felbmair, and now Michael Peyton, who’s run the division since 2019. Over the ensuing decade, MINI sales have ebbed and flowed with gas prices and customer preferences.

The model lineup has expanded and contracted over the ensuing years, as have the dimensions of each MINI. The portfolio has been rebalanced under Peyton’s direction, with 11 models variants in four body configurations – a two-door, four-door, convertible, and compact SUV—available with internal-combustion or battery-electric powertrains.

MINI USA remains a small but enthusiastic team within BMW NA, giving each member opportunities for creativity and flexibility.  “We had six people running an entire marketing department for the whole U.S.,” said Tom Salkowsky, who joined MINI as Head of Marketing Communications in 2010. “Everybody’s doing two or three jobs, and we’re going to get it done. I think back to an infamous Jack Pitney quote, ‘There’s nothing we can’t solve with a few beers and a couple of pizzas in the conference room.’ That exuberance permeated the company.”

It still does. More than 20 years after its introduction to the U.S., MINI remains “a small, fun-to-drive car with a big heart” as Peyton describes it. MINI USA continues to host customer-focused events like MINI Takes the States, and to collaborate with hip, design-based organizations like Pantone, for which it wrapped a MINI Cooper Convertible in 2025’s Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse.

Most importantly, MINI continues to inspire enthusiasts to motor: taking road trips, enjoying the scenery, and coming together as a community of like-minded individuals.

The post BMW NA 50th: MINI Arrives In The U.S. appeared first on BimmerLife.

As an iconic and uniquely British brand, life for MINI in the U.S. has been grand, with no lingering “hard feelings” towards the brand’s British heritage by the former colony. In fact, MINI sales are up over 29% for Q2 of this year, thanks in part to the all-new product portfolio which launched over the last 18 months, offering eleven model variants in four body styles, including gas and electric models.

The 2025 models on display in patriotic colors include the all-electric MINI Countryman SE ALL4 in Chili Red – MINI’s first tow-rated SUV, a MINI Cooper S 2-door in Nanuq White, representing the authentic Issigonis-inspired concept, and a MINI Cooper S Convertible in Blazing Blue – the latest new model to launch in the portfolio. It may also be worth noting that the trio of red, white, and blue MINIs not only represent the colors of Old Glory, but the same colors of the Union Jack.

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The event was a feast for the senses, featuring immersive exhibitions, innovative design interpretations of this year’s color by renowned creators, and engaging installations that brought the Pantone Color of the Year to life. The centerpiece of the evening was the striking 2025 MINI Convertible, which embodies the bold and innovative spirit of this year’s celebrated hue.

MINI and Pantone: A Natural Partnership

For decades, MINI has celebrated individuality and self-expression through its vivid color palette, from Chili Red to British Racing Green. Partnering with Pantone to unveil the Color of the Year 2025 was a natural fit, uniting two brands that share a passion for bold design and inspiring creativity through color.

“MINI has always embraced the power of color to transform the driving experience and reflect individuality,” said Mike Peyton, Vice President MINI Americas Region. “Partnering with Pantone to showcase this year’s Color of the Year at this event was a celebration of design, creativity, and innovation—values that MINI drivers embrace every day.”

2025 MINI Cooper Convertible

The 2025 MINI Cooper Convertible epitomizes MINI’s “Always Open” philosophy, bringing the excitement of open-air driving to life. Following an exclusive unveiling of the Pantone Color of the Year 2025, these models now embody the spirit of this vibrant new hue. Perfect for city streets, scenic country drives, or highway cruising, the MINI Convertibles offer unmistakable driving pleasure, blending iconic design and innovative technology.

When it comes to color, the 2025 MINI Convertible is available in 11 different vibrant colors depending on the trim level, including Sunny Side Yellow, Chili Red, British Racing Green, Midnight Black, Nanuq White, Melting Silver, Indigo Sunset Blue, Blazing Blue, Icy Sunshine, Ocean Wave Green and Copper Grey.

Built at the MINI plant in Oxford, the Convertible reflect a legacy of craftsmanship and a passion for adventure. The MINI Convertible features a fully automatic soft top that opens in just 18 seconds, even at speeds up to 18.6 mph. Whether used as a sunroof or fully retracted, the soft top disappears behind the rear seats for a seamless open-air experience. MINI’s playful Always Open Timer now tracks the time spent enjoying fresh air driving, displayed on the central OLED screen for an added touch of charm.

The 2025 MINI Convertible will be available in two engine variants, the MINI Cooper Convertible and the MINI Cooper S Convertible. Powered by efficient four-cylinder engines, the MINI Cooper Convertible delivers 161 horsepower, while the MINI Cooper S Convertible offers 201 horsepower for an exhilarating ride. With their charismatic design, compact proportions and advanced digital features, the Convertibles balance tradition and modernity effortlessly. From customizable exterior finishes to a thoughtfully designed interior focused on simplicity and personalization, the new MINI Convertibles are a celebration of bold expression.

Read the full press release here.

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In 2001, the introduction of the iDrive system in the 7 Series marked a groundbreaking innovation in the automotive industry. The iDrive system minimized dashboard buttons and centralized cabin controls, paving the way for other major players in the automotive sector and setting a new standard for in-car technology.

Since its launch, the iDrive system has been continuously refined to uphold the highest standards of excellence and meet the evolving needs of modern drivers. Every seamless swipe, intuitive gesture, and responsive command is the product of rigorous testing, ensuring the iDrive system exceeds global expectations.

However, the journey of enhancing the driving experience doesn’t stop with in-car systems. It extends to the Connected Features that modern drivers rely on daily, such as the My BMW and MINI app.

Turn Your Love for the Road Into Exclusive Access to the Latest Connected Features

If you’ve ever wanted to share your thoughts on the latest My BMW/MINI App versions with the developers at BMW Group, now’s your chance! Join the exclusive Tester Community with your brand-new X3, (i)X1, (i)X2, MINI Cooper or Countryman, 7 Series, and more.

Since 2019, the German-based IT company Testbirds has been an official partner of BMW. It utilizes the expertise of so-called ”crowd testers” to fuel innovation and precision. These crowd testers are real-world end users outside the development team, providing essential, authentic validation in everyday driving conditions.

With exclusive early access to the latest beta versions of the My BMW or MINI App, these dedicated app users test new features in real-world conditions using their own vehicles, providing valuable feedback for improvements. This means drivers like you have the power to shape the future of BMW technology.

By testing in real-world driving conditions, crowd testers help BMW spot hidden bugs and improve new Connected Features before they hit the market. In exchange, participants gain early access to cutting-edge tech and earn financial rewards for their insights.

Testbirds is expanding its BMW Tester Community as part of this long-term project, inviting passionate drivers ready to drive innovation in automotive technology.

Who can participate?

While all drivers with a BMW or MINI ConnectedDrive-capable vehicle and activated Remote Services are welcome, there’s a high demand for drivers of the brand-new X3 with the latest ID9 head unit, launched in 2024 in the US and worldwide.

Another focus lies on the latest 2023/2024 (i)X1, (i)X2, and MINI Cooper/Countryman models featuring the same cutting-edge ID9 head unit and 7 Series vehicles equipped with a Theatre Screen in the rear.

How do I register?

To register, visit the Testbirds platform where these beta tests are conducted.

New participants will receive an email invitation to complete an initial questionnaire, providing details about their vehicle, including the model, manufacturing year, and VIN (vehicle identification number). A BMW employee verifies the VIN to check configurations such as the installed head unit, current software version, and Remote Services status. This verification ensures the vehicle’s eligibility for various tests, with no personal data collected or handled during the process.

For more information and to register, visit the project’s landing page: https://www.testbirds.com/en/crowd/bmw-cars/

The post Write History With Your BMW – Help Shape the Next Generation of iDrive appeared first on BimmerLife.

The extensive range of safety-related driver assistance systems fitted as standard also contributed to the top rating. Above all, the latest generation of front collision warning with braking function provides an additional plus in safety in urban traffic. It can now also detect pedestrians and cyclists approaching parallel to the lane from behind or in front when turning, effectively helping to avoid a collision with weaker road users. The system also warns of oncoming traffic when turning.

The MINI Countryman also scores highly in terms of passive safety with innovative systems. The standard center airbag between the driver and front passenger seats was rated as highly effective. The compact crossover model scored maximum points in the frontal offset test and the side barrier impact test, which is designed to protect children.

The integrated safety concept provides a high level of protection against injury at all times. According to Euro NCAP, the seats and head restraints in the front and rear seats offer good protection against cervical injuries that can occur in a rear impact. The testers also emphasised the emergency braking system to prevent secondary collisions and the intelligent emergency call.

Active engine compartment lids help to reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians and cyclists. The system proved to be reliable and effective at different speeds in the Euro NCAP safety test.

The ratings of the Euro NCAP testing institute are a benchmark for accident safety recognized Europe-wide, and the safety level is constantly being raised. Only new vehicles that offer excellent impact protection and are also well equipped with comprehensive and practical technology for accident avoidance receive the highest rating of 5 stars.

Read the full NCAP report, and press release here.

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“We are thrilled about the start of production of the MINI Convertible, which is now being produced again at the Oxford plant, the home of MINI. Unique in its class, the MINI Convertible offers unparalleled, brand-typical driving fun, combined with boundless freedom and great emotions: The iconic design combined with modern technology and connectivity makes this vehicle an unmatched open-air experience for our customers,” says Stefan Richmann, Head of MINI.

Three UK BMW Group manufacturing sites contribute to the MINI Cooper Convertible. BMW Group Plant Swindon produces the body pressings and sub-assemblies, while the latest four-cylinder petrol engines are built at BMW Group Plant Hams Hall in North Warwickshire. Finally, these parts come together at MINI Plant Oxford, where body shell production, paint, and final assembly occur.

Following the relaunch of the MINI brand in 2001, the first MINI Convertible was unveiled in 2004 and has remained an icon of the MINI family ever since.

With 160,000 vehicles built at MINI Plant Oxford from 2004 to 2008, the first-generation MINI Convertible was known for its retro styling and iconic chrome roll-over arches behind the rear seats. The second generation, unveiled in 2009 with 165,000 built at MINI Plant Oxford until 2015, kept the iconic drop-down hinged boot but gained the evolved styling of the Cooper from that era.

Production of the model was briefly moved to VDL Nedcar for the third generation, making room for the MINI Clubman at MINI Plant Oxford. Over 150,000 Convertible models were produced at Nedcar until production stopped in 2023 before production returned to MINI Plant Oxford.

MINI Plant Oxford celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2023. In the same year, the plant produced over 20% of all UK-manufactured cars. As one of the oldest automotive plants in the world, MINI Plant Oxford has been in continuous production since 1913.

Read the full press release here.

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The new MINI family.

The first models to hit the market arrived in May of 2024, including the MINI Countryman S All4, MINI JCW Countryman All4, and MINI Cooper S 2-door. They were joined in September by the MINI Cooper 2-door, the MINI Cooper S 4-door, and MINI Countryman SE All4. And hitting dealerships in January 2025 will be the MINI Cooper 4-door, MINI JCW 2-door, MINI Cooper Convertible, MINI Cooper S Convertible, and MINI JCW Convertible.

Read the full press release here.

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