Mini to use Goodwood like JCW

The Goodwood name look set to become Mini’s flagship brand for high-end, customer-specified luxury versions, company sources have revealed.

The long-awaited super-luxury ‘Mini Inspired by Goodwood’ was unveiled at the recent Shanghai show, a venue that reflects the likely importance of the Chinese market as a sales destination for the car.

The Goodwood badge is set to be used on other luxurious Minis in the same way that the John Cooper Works badge represents its high-performance models.

Limited to a run of 1000, the Goodwood will go on sale from spring 2012 and will, say BMW sources, cost 47,000 euro in mainland Europe, which is expected to translate to around £42,000.

The Goodwood comes in a single specification in either the Rolls shade of Diamond Black metallic or Mini’s Reef Blue metallic. Oddly, the cars will not be individually numbered but instead have a console plaque with the legend ‘One of 1000’.

Read more on the Rolls-Royce Mini

Mini says the Goodwood has been designed “in close collaboration” with the Rolls design team at the Goodwood factory and reflects “typical British understatement”. Overseen by Rolls-Royce designer Alan Sheppard, the Goodwood interior uses the same materials and suppliers as the interiors of Rolls’ own cars.

The entire dashboard, centre console and seats are finished in Rolls Cornsilk leather and the dash’s wood veneers come from Rolls. The Rolls-Royce typeface is also used on the instruments.

Under the skin, the Goodwood gets the 1.6-litre, twin-scroll turbocharged, 181bhp Cooper S engine and either a six-speed manual or a six-speed auto ’box. Adaptive xenon lights and a Harman Kardon hi-fi are standard.

Mini One 1.6D

Its character is very much in keeping with any Mini petrol engine

Lower-powered version of the new 1.6-litre BMW diesel engine producing 89bhp and 159lb ft of torque

One D feels sprightly enough to avoid leaving its driver frustrated

Even in basic One spec, it still retains all that Mini charm

One D is comfortable inside, thanks in part to its 16-inch alloy wheels

Mini One D
Price: £14,175; Top speed: 114mph; 0-62mph: 11.4sec; Economy: 74.3mpg (combined); CO2: 99g/km; Kerb weight: 1090kg; Engine: 4 cyls, 1560cc, turbodiesel; Power: 89bhp at 4000rpm; Torque: 159lb ft at 1750rpm; Gearbox: 6-spd manual

The World Rally Mini Participate

PARIS-Mini is one of the most iconic cars in the world. When the time of the 1960's first, the cute is very popular. When it issued retro model BMW since 2002. the cute also very popular.

Start 2011. the cute would show a different personality. BMW, Mini brand owners, decided to cut the cute in the highest world rally event "World Rally Championship" (WRC). Although the news that the Mini will join the rally in circulation since last July, the ferocious form that cute launched at the Paris Motor Show. France, this weekend.

Mini version of the rally car is not just participate. BMW. directly have big ambitions. Namely, a world champion, therefore, to appear in the WRC, Mini contracting company famous British racing, Prodri ve. Between 1990 and 2008, three times already Prodrive won the world rally championship, while lowering the Japanese Subaru car.

Recently announced fall into the WRC, the Mini is called immediately got a response, positive. "World rally championship is the highest rally event, which will be the best place to demonstrate the spirit of our brand competition. Our car development program on schedule, and preparation to face the world championship already full step on the gas," said Ian Robertson, one of the top brass of BMW AG, as quoted by Autosport.

To base will rally car, the BMW Mini Countryman choose a car. Next year, 1600 cc turbo-engined car that will compete against the Ford Fiesta and the ability Citroen DS3.

Mini and Prodrive have not announced a complete line of drivers. But, as a famous brand from England, only natural that one British driver. Namely, Kris Meeke.

David Richards, Prodrive boss, insists that the Mini has the ambition to be world champion. But, they will travel the road in stages. "We will use 2011 as a year of learning, gather as much experience as possible to ensure we can live very competitive in the next year," he said.

Richards believes the decline Mini will provide a lot of attention for the WRC and the brand itself. "This project is an opportunity to realize the fun. Mini is a brand that has many followers, who still remembered the last time you used a race (tens of years ago. Red). We are very pleased and proud to be a partner when the Mini back racing," he said.

Mini brand last time involved to intensify the world rally in 1967, when the tiny car to victory in Monte Carlo, 1,000 Lakes Rally, and the Acropolis Rally. Pretty soon, victory will probably go back further scandalize the world.

(Source: Java post 10/2/10)