MINI Minor Concept

Posted on 12.18.2010 12:00 by Kirby
Filed under: Mini | compact cars | industry news | Detroit Auto Show | future cars | Cars | Car Reviews | Mini

Back in the day, the MINI Cooper was the epitome of a small car, so much so that it became Mr. Bean?s official car. The hilarity of that is that the lovable British comedian is a pretty tall and lanky fellow so fitting him inside one of those old Coopers proved to be as difficult a task as trying to sleep inside a Little Tykes playhouse.

Since then, the MINI Cooper has become a lot bigger and with models including the Clubman and the Countryman already falling into the crossover categories, it would seem that the BMW-owned company is slowly leaving behind its small and quirky phase.

Wolfgang Armbrecht, however, begs to differ. According to MINI?s brand chief, the company is already developing a back-to-its-roots mini MINI car that will be smaller in size than the latest model of the Cooper.

Word around the watercooler says that the future car already has a name ? the MINI Minor Concept ? and that it will be a small three-door model with a small engine and a front wheel drive system. Specific details behind the MINI Minor are still unknown, but Armbrecht made it clear that a new car is already in the oven.

’’We have always been motivated by the idea to build a small spacious car,’’ he told the Financial Times Deutschland newspaper.

He also adds: ?There will be a taste of ’?the next spectacular idea from the Mini brand? at the Detroit Auto Show. Keep a close eye on the coming months.?

You don?t need to remind us about that last part, Mr. Armbrecht. We?re definitely going to keep some tabs on MINI?s potential return back to its Mr. Bean-driving days.

MINI Minor Concept originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 18 December 2010 12:00 EST.

read more

---

Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/mini/2011-mini-minor-concept-ar101771.html

Ian Scheckter Jody Scheckter Harry Schell Tim Schenken Albert Scherrer

Honda looking at F1 for 2013 - Caubet

Renault sees the new engine formula for 2013 as a great opportunity, managing director Jean Francois Caubet has confirmed.

Source: http://feeds.worldcarfans.com/~r/worldcarfans/Jxfz/~3/vsOgz45Esaw/honda-looking-at-f1-for-2013---caubet

Mike Sparken Scott Speed Mike Spence Alan Stacey Gaetano Starrabba

Here?s a press release?

Hilton Racing, the leader in Formula One fan and driver hospitality worldwide, launched today the results of its Formula One Fan Survey, which asked thousands of racing fanatics around the world about the action on and off the track this year. After an exhilarating and action-packed season, Hilton Racing?s survey addresses some of the too-often [...]

Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/heres-a-press-release/

Roger Laurent Giovanni Lavaggi Chris Lawrence Michel Leclere Neville Lederle

British GP: Vettel takes pole as Red Bull dominate

July 10 '10

Sebastian Vettel grabbed pole position for the second year in a row at Silverstone, as the Milton Keynes-based team secured its fifth front-row lockout of the season. Vettel beat his team mate Mark Webber by 0.143s. Fernando Alonso will start tomorrow's race on second row of the grid for Ferrari.

Jenson Button in his McLaren had a disastrous session. He will start his home grand prix from 14th place after missing the cut for the top-10 shootout.

In Q1

Heikki Kovalainen was the best of the new team drivers in 19th. His Lotus team mate Jarno Trulli will start from 21st position. Seems like the Virgins have made a step forward with the new updates as Timo Glock managed to split the two Lotuses.

Sakon Yamamoto who will take the place of Bruno Senna in HRT for the British Gran Prix, was last of all. He was half a second down on his team mate Karun Chandhok.

Driver from the established team unable to get into Q2 was Jaime Alguersuari who qualified 18th.

Drivers eliminated in Q1
18. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 32.430s
19. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1m 34.405s
20. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m 34.775s
21. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1m 34.864s
22. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1m 35.212s
23. Karun Chandhok HRT-Cosworth 1m 36.546s
24. Sakon Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth 1m 36.968s


In Q2

Local hero, Jenson Button could only manage 14th fastest time in his McLaren. Button radioed in that he was struggling with low grip at the rear.

McLaren was on the back foot going into qualifying after having to shelve the exhaust-blown diffuser it tried in Friday practice, which it found upset the MP4-25?s balance. Thus the team abandoned the key element of its planned car upgrade and reverted to the old specification rear end on the MP4-25.

Somewhat bewildered by the sudden downturn in performance Button said, ?This morning the car felt really good. I personally think there?s something wrong, the car was undriveable. That?s it really. I don?t know if I?ve lost rear downforce since this morning, but it?s pretty undriveable. This weekend has been tricky, but that wasn?t normal.?

Also failing to make it beyond Q2 was Adrian Sutil who has for most part been a regular in the final Q3 shootout, but alas not at Silverstone on the doorstep of the Force India team?s headquarters. His team mate Vitantonio Liuzzi fared worse and will start from 15th on the grid.

Vettel was quicker in the first knockout session while Webber had the edge in Q2.

Drivers eliminated in Q2
11. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m 31.399s
12. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari 1m 31.421s
13. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1m 31.635s
14. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m 31.699s
15. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1m 31.708s
16. Vitaly Petrov Renault-Renault 1m 31.796s
17. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 32.012s


In Q3

It was the battle of the Bulls for the top position and Vettel got the better of it. This result put Red Bull on pole for the ninth time out of ten Grands Prix this season.

Webber was the first to set a Q3 time and logged a 1m29.758s, easily the fastest lap of the new Silverstone layout up to that point ? but moments later Vettel stopped the clocks in 1m29.695s.

Webber was unable to respond on his second run so Vettel?s pole was secure, but that didn?t stop the young German shaving another few hundredths off his own benchmark just to emphasise who had the upper hand.

His final time of 1m29.615s represented an average speed of 147mph for the revised 3.7-mile circuit, almost identical to the average he recorded on the previous layout in last year?s low-fuel Q2 session.
-iTV

Fernando Alonso finished third for Ferrari and will share second row of the grid with his nemesis Lewis Hamilton.

Pedro de la Rosa qualified an excellent ninth, his first top-10 grid placing of his F1 comeback season. He qualified ahead of Mercedes' Michael Schumacher.

Only a mishap (such as a broken nosecone which Sebastian Vettel suffered in practice) is likely to prevent a Red Bull victory

Top ten drivers in Q3
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m 29.615s
2. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m 29.758s
3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 30.426s
4. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m 30.556s
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 30.625s
6. Robert Kubica Renault-Renault 1m 31.040s
7. Felipe Massa Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 31.172s
8. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m 31.175s
9. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari 1m 31.274s
10. Michael Schumacher Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 31.430s


Full Qualifying Times

Images(C) daylife, sutton-images, BBC

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/QfESU1Kmw5Q/british-gp-vettel-takes-pole-as-red.html

Bruce McLaren Allan McNish Graham McRae Jim McWithey Carlos Menditeguy

Last Lap for ?ANDO and Others

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/QTS3RaEQTNA/last-lap-for-ando-and-others.html

Dorino Serafini Chico Serra Doug Serrurier Johnny ServozGavin Tony Settember

Hamilton decision-making under the microscope

Lewis Hamilton has come in for criticism © Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton?s decision-making ability has come into question after he crashed into the side of Felipe Massa on lap one, causing his early retirement from the Italian Grand Prix. This incident has raised questions about his temperament and ability to bounce back. Kevin Garside of the Daily Telegraph questions how much we should really be expecting from Hamilton. ?Perhaps this is how it must be with Hamilton, an instinctive racer compelled to chase the impossible through gaps that don?t exist. He took the best part of an hour to compose himself before walking out into the sun to face the cameras. This was Hamilton?s third DNF of the season but the first of his own making. Occasions like this are perhaps reminders to us not to expect too much. ?On the days when Hamilton?s insane alliance of guts, skill and derring-do appear capable of delivering the world it is easy to forget he is only 25, an age when it is all too common for boys to believe themselves men.? Byron Young of the Mirror also pulls no punches about Hamilton?s performance and was heavily critical of the manoeuvre which meant he left the weekend pointless. ?To say that his dive down the outside at Della Roggia chicane was optimistic would be generous. Mystifying, definitely, with so much at stake. So often Hamilton has made them stick but yesterday the outcome was all too predictable.?

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/09/hamilton_decisionmaking_under_1.php

Bill Vukovich Syd van der Vyver Fred Wacker David Walker Peter Walker

McLaren drivers out of title race

Is it now a three-way battle for the title? © Getty Images

Fernando Alonso is still the driver in the best position to win the drivers? title according to the Daily Telegraph?s Tom Cary.

?Focus and concentration will be of paramount importance and there is none stronger in this regard than Ferrari?s Fernando Alonso.?

The Guardian?s Oliver Owen thinks that it is Mark Webber?s title to lose now, and that this may be the Australian?s last realistic chance of winning the title.

?He has driven beautifully. Monaco and Silverstone spring to mind. He has been an uncompromising racer, not giving Vettel or Lewis Hamilton an inch in Turkey and Singapore respectively. Most importantly, he has largely avoided the bouts of brain fade that can wreck a season ? his on-track hooning in Melbourne when racing Hamilton being the only exception. But there is a feeling that for Webber it is now or never, that a chance of a tilt at the title may never come again. He is certainly driving as if that is the case and that has been his strength.?

According to The Mirror?s Byron Young, both McLaren drivers are now out of the title hunt after their fourth and fifth place finishes in Suzuka.

?McLaren's title hopes died yesterday in a weekend from Hell at Suzuka. Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth in a Japanese Grand Prix they had to win to have the remotest chance of keeping their title bid alive."

The Sun?s Michael Spearman was of the same opinion, saying ?Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button's title hopes were in tatters after a shocker in Japan.?

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/10/mclaren_drivers_out_of_title_r_1.php

Eric van de Poele Jacques Pollet Ben Pon Dennis Poore Alfonso de Portago

Video : A Lap around Valencia with Mark Webber

Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber takes us on a lap of the Formula One street circuit in Valencia, scene of the upcoming European Grand Prix

Credit : RedBull

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/KcS9pR7JIcI/video-lap-around-valencia-with-mark.html

Brian Naylor Mike Nazaruk Tiff Needell Jac Nelleman Patrick Neve

Webber?s New Book Reveals He Raced End Of 2010 Season With Broken Shoulder

A new book being published by Mark Webber has revealed that the Australian drove the final four rounds of the 2010 season with a broken shoulder following another mountainbike incident. Webber was one of 4 drivers in contention for the world championship last season, racing for Red Bull alongside eventual winner Sebastian Vettel. An extract [...]

Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/webbers-new-book-reveals-he-raced-end-of-2010-season-with-broken-shoulder/

Divina Galica Nanni Galli Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Fred Gamble Howden Ganley

FIA announces new F1 rules

Teams will no longer be punished for using team orders, the FIA has announced.

Ferrari were found guilty of using team orders last season during the German Grand Prix when Felipe Massa was instructed to let his team-mate Fernando Alonso pass him.

Alonso was in the running for the world drivers' championship and picked up more points over his rivals when he ...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/mWzBIvD3BvU/fia-announces-new-f1-rules

Bob Christie Johnny Claes David Clapham Jim Clark† Kevin Cogan

My F1 2010 season review

I've been watching grand prix racing since before World War II and I can honestly say I have never seen a season with more excitement, drama and intrigue than 2010. This is my review of the year in which Sebastian Vettel and his Red Bull team really came of age.

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE THE UK

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/murraywalker/2010/11/my_f1_2010_season_review.html

Wolfgang Seidel Gunther Seiffert Ayrton Senna† Bruno Senna Dorino Serafini

'The point of no confidence is quite near'

The wreckage of Jochen Rindt's car at Barcelona © Getty Images

An excellent insight into the world of F1 as it used to be can be found on the regularly-interesting Letters of Note website. It publishes a hitherto unseen letter from Jochen Rindt to Lotus boss Colin Chapman written shortly after Rindt?s crash at Barcelona which was a result of the wing system on Lotus 49 collapsing at speed.

?Colin. I have been racing F1 for 5 years and I have made one mistake (I rammed Chris Amon in Clermont Ferrand) and I had one accident in Zandvoort due to gear selection failure otherwise I managed to stay out of trouble. This situation changed rapidly since I joined your team. ?Honestly your cars are so quick that we would still be competitive with a few extra pounds used to make the weakest parts stronger, on top of that I think you ought to spend some time checking what your different employes are doing, I sure the wishbones on the F2 car would have looked different. Please give my suggestions some thought, I can only drive a car in which I have some confidence, and I feel the point of no confidence is quite near.?

A little more than a year later Rindt's Lotus suffered mechanical breakdown just before braking into one of the corners. He swerved violently to the left and crashed into a poorly-installed barrier, killing him instantly.

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/09/the_point_of_no_confidence_is.php

Noritake Takahara Kunimitsu Takahashi Patrick Tambay Luigi Taramazzo Gabriele Tarquini

Tom Walkinshaw 1946-2010

Former Benetton, Ligier and Arrows team boss Tom Walkinshaw died this morning at the age of 64. The Scot, who had endured a long battle with cancer, made his last visit to an F1 paddock at Silverstone in July. Walkinshaw … Continue reading →

Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2010/12/12/tom-walkinshaw-1946-2010/

Harald Ertl Nasif Estefano Philippe Etancelin Bob Evans Corrado Fabi

Maldonado Confirmed At Williams For 2011

Williams have confirmed that Pastor Maldonado will be racing for the team next season alongside veteran Rubens Barrichello. Maldonado, the current GP2 champion takes the race seat of recently released Nico Hulkenberg, the man who delivered the team its first pole position for 6 years at Brazil. It will mark the first time in over [...]

Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/maldonado-confirmed-at-williams-for-2011/

Paul Russo Troy Ruttman Peter Ryan Eddie Sachs Bob Said

Lotus-Lotus On the Wall...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/93G8uDxGmEg/lotus-lotus-on-wall.html

Fabrizio Barbazza John Barber Skip Barber Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello

Red Bull under the spotlight

Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel celebrate with Red Bull boss Christian Horner on the podium © Getty Images

Sections of the international media have questioned Red Bull's strategic approach to the world championship. After Sebastian Vettel won the Brazilian Grand Prix from the team's points leader Mark Webber at Interlagos, Der Spiegel noted: "Red Bull gives (Fernando) Alonso wings". Not switching the places means that Spaniard Alonso can take his Ferrari to just second place this weekend in Abu Dhabi and be champion, whereas the alternative strategy would have set up Webber for a straight fight. "It is not easy for Webber to drive in a team that considers him a burden to be up against Vettel," said La Gazzetta dello Sport. Tuttosport noted that it seems "the Austrian team would be happier to lose than to see Webber beat Vettel". "No team orders at Red Bull. Another own goal," headlined La Repubblica. Joan Villadelprat wrote in his El Pais column: "Had Red Bull opted for Webber a few races ago, the Australian would probably now be champion." Red Bull, however, is unrepentant. Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper that "second under proper conditions can often be more valuable than a first". But there is a feeling that the team is not simply giving up the fight for the drivers' title. One columnist in Brazil's Globo wondered if Vettel's radio message in Abu Dhabi might sound something like 'So ... Mark is faster than you'. "I'm always in favour of leaving the fight on the track with equal chances for both sides," said Rubens Barrichello. "But I wonder if they would do that if the situation was in reverse. ?Mark has done a great job this year and he has been told by his team what position he is in," said Lewis Hamilton. "Against adversity he has kept at it. I want to see Mark win." Webber believes that, if a strategy is deployed, it will only be on the "last lap" of the season this weekend. "Sebastian is part of a team," said Niki Lauda, who believes Webber should be backed fully by Red Bull. "If he does anything it should be helping Webber and not just on the last lap." Webber is quoted by Bild newspaper: "It makes sense. Otherwise it would mean that Ferrari's team orders would have paid off for Fernando." Red Bull team boss Christian Horner hints that sense will ultimately prevail. "We have already given too many presents to Fernando this year," he is quoted by Autosprint.

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/red_bull_under_the_spotlight.php

Hans Heyer Damon Hill Graham Hill Phil Hill Peter Hirt

In defence of Tony Fernandes (again)

I know that many readers think that I am overly supportive of Tony Fernandes. I have explained why in great detail in previous blog items and in replies to comments. To save you having to dig that out, I will paraphrase a little. Tony is a businessman. A very good one. He saw an opportunity [...]

Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/in-defence-of-tony-fernandes-again/

Bertrand Gachot Patrick Gaillard Divina Galica Nanni Galli Oscar Alfredo Gálvez

Vettel set for titles aplenty

© Daily Telegraph

Tom Cary says in his column in the Daily Telegraph that the man dubbed ?Baby Schumi? has plenty of time to match or even surpass his compatriot?s record haul of seven world titles after he cinched his first in the Abu Dhabi night.

?Here, after all, is a young man, already dubbed ?Baby Schumi? by Germany?s tabloid press, winning the first of what will presumably be multiple world championships, and all at the tender age of 23. Plenty of time yet to match Schumacher's incredible haul of seven world titles. And yet, their phenomenal ability to drive racing cars apart, there is little similarity between the two men. ?There are still lingering doubts over his racing ability but with such blistering qualifying pace he is nearly always leading from the front anyway. Vettel is set for multiple world championships. Just don?t call him Baby Schumi.?

The Guardian?s Paul Weaver says it was difficult to begrudge Vettel his moment of glory after he won the first of what will be many world titles. He also looks back at some of the season?s highlights.

?An amazing Formula One season produced its final twist here on Sunday when Sebastian Vettel, who had never led the title race, won his first world championship. It is difficult to begrudge him his glory, for he had more poles (10) than any other driver and shared the most wins (five) with Fernando Alonso. There will be red faces as well as red cars and overalls at Ferrari, though, for deciding to bring their man in when they did, only to see him re-emerge into heavy traffic. ?Among the highlights, and every race felt like a highlight after the bore-start in Bahrain, there was that wonderful beginning to his McLaren career by Jenson Button, who won two of his first four races, even though he couldn't keep up the pace, especially in qualifying. ?Hamilton once again drove his heart out, and outperformed a car that looked a little too ordinary at times. He was superb in Montreal. Then there was Webber, the Anglophile Aussie who was the favourite among most neutrals to win the title. There was that spectacular crash when he ran into the back of Heikki Kovalainen and the most famous of his four wins, at Silverstone, when he said to his team at the end of the race: 'Not bad for a No2 driver.' ?But in the end there was only one German who mattered. It was the remarkable Vettel. This will be the first of a clutch of championships for him.?

The Independent?s David Tremayne focuses on the plight of the other title contenders, writing it is easier to feel more sorry for one than the other.

?It was impossible not to feel for both Webber and Alonso. Yet while a frustrated Alonso gestured at Petrov after the race, the Australian, predictably, refused to complain about his pitstop timing. ?A world championship seemed an inevitable part of Sebastian Vettel's future, but it came a little sooner than most expected, after his recent tribulations. You wouldn't bet against several more, and if that record-breaking streak continues, perhaps even Schumacher's achievements will be overshadowed.?

And the Mirror?s Byron Young elaborates further on the petulant behaviour of Fernando Alonso on his slowing down lap after his title dreams ended behind the Renault of Vitaly Petrov.

?Fernando Alonso was hurled into more controversy last night for a wild gesture at the former Lada racer who cost him the title. But the Spaniard brushed off accusations he gave Russian Vitaly Petrov the finger for ruining his title hopes by blocking him for 40 laps as they duelled over sixth place. "The Ferrari ace was caught on television cruising alongside the Renault driver on the slowing down lap and gesticulating from the cockpit. Petrov was unrepentant: "What was I supposed to do? Just get out of his way, pull to the side? I don't think that is how we race. It was important for the team for me to get points."

Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/vettel_set_for_titles_aplenty_1.php

Trevor Blokdyk Mark Blundell Raul Boesel Menato Boffa Bob Bondurant

Video : A Lap around Montreal with Mark Webber

Mark Webber takes us on a lap of Montreal's Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve ahead of the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix


Credit: Red Bull

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/F1InsightAFormula1Blog/~3/Yy4sh3O5SBo/video-lap-around-montreal-with-mark.html

Johnny Herbert Al Herman Hans Herrmann Francois Hesnault Hans Heyer

?DAWGS go bowling for Apples ?N More...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/nofenders/zbjv/~3/TAtEdnrWFEI/dawgs-go-bowling-for-apples-n-more.html

Alfonso de Portago Sam Posey Charles Pozzi Jackie Pretorius Ernesto Prinoth