Mini Cars: 6/15/08

Subaru R1 Rowl

The Subaru R1 was introduced by the Japanese carmaker Subaru on January 4, 2005. It was designed to fit within the Japanese keicar tax bracket. The R1 is a two-door version of the Subaru R2, but with a shorter body and wheelbase. The R1 is unusual in that it does not use up the maximum length allowed for by the keicar regulations—the only other keicars to have done this since the 1989 Autozam Carol were the Suzuki Twin and the European Smart Fortwo.

The Subaru R1e, an experimental battery electric vehicle, currently undergoing limited production for selected industrial clients in Japan. There is intense interest in this vehicle within the US EV community as it employs Lithium Ion batteries which contribute to a significant improvement in range, and wh

ich can be 80% recharged in just 15 minutes.

Engine
Engine capacity	658 cc
Engine type	4 cylinder DOHC 16-AVCS (i-CVT)
Compression ratio	10.5
Bore x Stroke	(56.6 x 66.8) mm
Power	54 bhp
Torque	63 Nm

Performance
Acceleration	unknown
Top Speed	unknown
Fuel consumption	22.2 km\L

Misc technical data
Transmission	Automatic
Drive type	FWD

Measurements
Dimensions (L x W x H)	(3395 x 1475 x 1510)mm
Wheelbase	2,195mm
Min turning radius	4,500mm
Kerb weight	810kg
Fuel tank capacity	30L

Brakes
Brakes (Front)	Ventilated disc
Brakes (Rear)	Drum

Suspension
Suspension (Front)	Strut with L-shaped lower arm
Suspension (Rear)	Strut with dual link

Press Release: Rising Gas Prices Spark Historic Interest in Mini

RISING GAS PRICES SPARK HISTORIC INTEREST IN MINI

MINIUSA.COM Experiences Unprecedented 88.9% Increase in Traffic as Americans Look to MINImize Their Gas Intake with the Coolest Small Car on the Market

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - June 12, 2008… In the wake of skyrocketing gas prices, MINI USA has received more than 920,000 visits to its website, MINIUSA.com, in the month of May - a record 88.9% increase from May 2007. MINI, which established the premium small car segment and has nearly doubled its sales over the last six years since its launch in the U.S. , is now the subject of unprecedented consumer interest as Americans look to smaller, more fuel efficient rides to help ease the pain at the gas pump.

The greater interest has already begun to result in increased sales for the coolest small car on the market - for the first five months of 2008, which included the highly successful launch of the MINI Clubman, MINI has experienced a 36% increase in sales compared with the same period a year ago.

“MINI has always been proud of its incredible fuel efficiency - we get 37 miles to the gallon, which is as good as most hybrids - and it has certainly been one of the reasons people choose to drive our cars,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President of MINI USA. “What we’re finding is that literally hundreds of thousands of people who haven’t thought about a MINI before are checking us out. We’re thrilled to have them - and hope they join those of us who discovered a long time ago that you can have a hip, cool car that’s fun to drive - and still save at the pump. The world is becoming more MINI every day.”

This weekend, hundreds of MINI owners and their MINIs will hit the road for some major fun when MINI Takes the States 2008 kicks off in Miami . The MINI tour will hit four cities this summer - Miami , Boston , Chicago and Los Angeles . In each city, there will be two days of action-packed events and activities, including an autocross, go-kart racing, rock climbing, a fun zone, a mountain bike stunt show, a car wash and more. Rolling Stone magazine, the number one pop culture reference, will also present performances by leading musical acts, including Michelle Branch and Blues Traveler, which are sure to rock the crowd. MINI Takes the States celebrates the spirit of the MINI brand in the U.S. , and fosters a sense of community among a growing group of passionate owners and enthusiasts.

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 which has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California ; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models, X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sport Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake , New Jersey .

[Source: MINI]

Source: www.autobloggreen.com

I Love Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi i is a kei car from Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors , first released in January 2006,twenty eight months after its debut at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show . It is the first four door automobile since the 1960s to employ a "rear midship " setup with the engine behind the passengers, in an attempt to improve safety and interior space without enlarging the overall exterior

The i won the 2007 Car of the Year award from the Japanese Automotive Researchers and Journalists Conference (RJC),and two other "Car of the Year" awards, from the Carview Corporation website and the Consumer's Choice. t also won the "Most Advanced Technology" Special Achievement Award at the 2006–07 Japan Car of the Year awards, where it was nominated unsuccessfully in the overall Car of the Year category,[41] ranked first in the Japan Mini-Car Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study published by J.D. Power Asia Pacific in October 2006, with a higher score than any previous winner,Aside from the 2006 Good Design Grand Prix, its style won Design Awards from the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame (JAHFA), and the magazines Popeye and Car Styling.