MINI Starts Accepting Applications for All-Electric MINI E, Monthly Lease Set at $850

We just received an e-mail from MINI USA informing us that the company has opened the application phase for the all-electric MINI E field trial. Unfortunately none of us could apply as we don't live in the designated New York City, New Jersey or LA Metro areas. But even if we did, you'd have to be extremely lucky to be among the 500 people that MINI will hand-pick to lease the vehicle for a year. For those of you that meet the criteria and would like to participate, we must warn you that MINI says the application form is relatively long and could take at least an hour to complete. If chosen, MINI will ask you to sign a closed-end 1-year, $850 per month lease.Click here for more information and pictures of the 204HP all-electric MINI E that made its debut at the LA Auto Show.

[Link: MINI E Application]

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2009 MINI One Clubman: New Entry-Level Model to Debut in Geneva

MINI is one of the first automakers to reveal details on the cars they plan to introduce at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show on March 3, 2009. BMW Group's subsidiary will reveal a new entry-level model in the Clubman range called One. Like the MINI One hatchback, the more practical Clubman One is powered by a 1.4-litre, four cylinder petrol engine producing 95HP. A short-shifting 6-speed manual transmission is standard, while buyers can also opt for a 6-speed auto with manual-shift capability.

Equipped with a Brake Energy Regeneration system, Auto Start Stop and Shift Point Display as standard, the base Clubman achieves a combined fuel consumption figure of 52.3 mpg UK (43.5 mpg U.S. or 5.4 lt /100 km). Although less powerful than the Cooper, the Clubman One will retain the same steering and suspension set-up as its sportier sibling.

The MINI One Clubman will go on sale across Europe by the end of March and it will be available new exterior color combinations including silver or black variants with the same colour C-pillars (previously the C-Pillar was always supplied in a contrasting shade). Prices in the UK have been set at £13,290 OTR. Comparatively, the 120HP Clubman Cooper starts at £14,515.

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2009 MINI Cooper S Convertible John Cooper Works Set for Geneva Debut

Fans of the new MINI Convertible will be excited to learn that according to Carscoop's sources, the British firm will launch the all-new John Cooper Works version of the drop-top model in Geneva. Like its hardtop sibling, the JCW MINI Cooper S Convertible's 1.6 litre twin-scroll turbo engine receives a power increase to 211 hp, from the standard unit's 172 hp. Maximum torque is also extended from 240 Nm to 260 Nm (192 lb-ft) and is available from 1,850 rpm to 5,600 rpm. By means of overboost the torque can be increased to 280 Nm (207 lb-ft).

Elsewhere, the MINI Convertible will feature upgraded brakes and suspension as wellas a series of visual upgrades including John Cooper Works branding on the front grille and tailgate, a subtle aerodynamic kit and a set of 17-inch alloy wheels (18's optional).

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Geneva Preview: MINI John Cooper Works Convertible 211HP

The hottest drop-top variant of the new MINI Cooper has been officially revealed ahead its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in the beginning of March. Not surprisingly, the MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible features the same performance engineering and chassis modifications as the hatch model including a more powerful version of the 1.6-litre twin scroll-turbocharged engine that produces 211 hp and up to 280 Nm peak torque with Overboost deployed.

The engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox which has been strengthened to handle the extra available power. The MINI JCW Convertible goes from zero to 60 (96 km/h) in 6.9 sec or 0.4 sec slower than the hatch, and onto a top speed of 146 mph (235 km/h) while returning a combined 39.8 mpg UK that translates to 33.2 mpg US and 7.1 lt / 100km.

Other modifications concern the uprated brake system with bright red Brembo performance calipers, a series of electronic aids such as the EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution), CBC (Cornering Brake Control), EDLC (Electronic Differential Lock Control), DSC (Dynamic Stability Control incorporating Hill Assist) and DTC (Dynamic Traction Control).

Like the hatch, the JCW Convertible also features a sport button located in front of the gear stick that activates a bespoke engine control map producing boost earlier in the rev range and sharpening steering and throttle response.

Visually, the JCW Convertible subtly stands out thanks to an aero kit and a set of unique cross-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels while inside, it features a bespoke John Cooper Works Alcantara steering wheel, sport seats, JCW floor mats and glossy piano black interior.

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2010 Chrysler 300 - Official Images and Details

Along with the forth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler LLC's official document on the firm's new viability plan also included a computer generated image (GCI) of the 2010 Chrysler 300 sedan. The rendering suggests that the new 300 will retain the most characteristic design cues of the current model like the "gangster"-style roofline and Bentley-like eggcrate grille. Furthermore, Chrysler LLC's document reveals that aside from the V8 Hemi, the 2010 300's powertrain options will include an "all-new fuel-efficient six-cylinder engine"

Source: Carscoop

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Alfa Romeo Giulia Photoshoped on Chrysler 200C RWD Concept

In the world of Photoshop, there are no boundaries other than one's imagination. Take this proposal for the Alfa Romeo's 159 successor called Giulia for example; the guys over at CWW Automotive Design based the chop on Chrysler's latest concept car, the mid-size 200C study that was presented at this year's Detroit Show.

Pure fantasy? Maybe in what concerns the design, but if Chrysler LLC and the Fiat Group end up joining forces and if the American automaker manages to stand on its feet, the 200C that uses a shortened version of the 300's RWD platform could find its way into production and at the same time serve as a base for a next-generation Giulia offering Alfa their first rear-wheel drive sedan in nearly two decades.

Too many 'ifs' if you ask us, but dreaming never hurt anybody.

Via: CWW

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Deja Vu: Chrysler Brings Detroit Show EV Concepts to Geneva

To the surprise of no one, cash-strapped Chrysler LLC won't be performing any global premieres at next week's Geneva Motor Show. Instead, the American automaker will showcase its electric vehicle future (that is, if it makes it through the economic crisis) with the European premieres of the Chrysler 200C EV concept vehicle and Dodge Circuit EV prototype, both of which made their debut at January's Detroit Auto Show.

The stylishly-penned Chrysler 200C EV mid-size sedan concept comes equipped the firm's ENVI electric-drive system that combines a small gasoline engine and integrated electric generator. According to Chrysler, the rear-wheel drive 200C has 64 kilometers (40 miles) of all-electric range, and a total-driving range of 644-kilometer (400-mile).

The Lotus Elise-based Dodge Circuit EV is a sport proposition that boasts a range of 241 to 322 kilometers (150 to 200 miles) with zero gasoline consumption and zero tailpipe emissions.

Via:Carscoop

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Chrysler: A Roller-Coaster Tale of Corporate Hits and Misses

The 1980's: Chrysler's heyday. Lee Iacocca said, "If you can find a better car, buy it." Nowadays that's one hell of a dangerous ad campaign to try. Counting the number of manufacturers presently building cars better than Chrysler involves counting toes... not a good sign. Chrysler; My God, what happened? For the past thirty years the smallest of the Big Three has endured a roller-coaster ride of successes and failures. Looking at the Cerberus-owned Chrysler of today and the Chrysler of 1979, not much has changed.

1979 saw Chrysler begging the government for money, and now we see that history does indeed appear to be cyclical. Over three decades the company has not done much more than get sucked toward bankruptcy, come back up for a brief moment, and then immediately get sucked under again like that poor girl in the opening scene of Jaws.

It is hard to pinpoint the exact "uh-oh" moment for Chrysler; there are a few. After what appeared to be the end of troubled times with the introduction of the LH-Series cars (nicknamed the Last Hope), Daimler-Benz swooped in to buy Chrysler (for a moment forget that "merger of equals" mumbo-jumbo). This entire period, however, was a bit of a mess for both parties. While Chrysler offered relatively attractive models at the time, poor fuel economy and poorer quality of materials led to lackluster sales.

Then Mercedes tried rummaging through its own closet, first for parts and then entire platforms. Even this could not rejuvenate Chrysler in consumers' eyes, leading to Chrysler's unceremonious sale into the hands of its current owners, Cerberus Capital Management. Under Cerberus one could argue that Chrysler is at rock bottom, still hemorrhaging money and now with no magic closet to rummage through other than its own. Where did everything go wrong?

Ages ago Chrysler was a brand known for its radical designs. The boys from Chrysler would appear on the show circuit brandishing their weapons of choice: insane concepts never meant to appear on public roads. Then, when dared to build these absurdities, they actually did! The executives (apparently fans of Field of Dreams) realized that if they built them, buyers would come. That was fifteen years ago, and I can still remember going down to the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealership as a child to sit in a Viper or Prowler. These were the cars that brought people into showrooms.

Today, the thought of walking into a Chrysler dealership is just depressing. The excitement options have dwindled, along with the money to build them. Chrysler LLC'S best-selling product is a Dodge Ram, and the brand's best–selling vehicle a minivan. Thrilling. This is a company not only with boring models, but a company that has seemed to lose its originality as well.

Once upon a time the question on everyone's mind was, "What craziness is Chrysler bringing to the show this year?" Now, all that goes through peoples' minds at a Chrysler booth is a collective groan of disappointment. One such groan came last year, when Chrysler rolled out some not-so-revolutionary electric vehicles based on – gasp - a Town & Country minivan, a Jeep Wrangler, and a Europa borrowed from Lotus. Hardly the cream of the automotive crop.

If it makes it through the next year, Cerberus will need to get some new ideas. As in, yesterday. The lesson to learn from the bungled and ill-received Sebring/Avenger failure is this: when trying to make a vehicle appealing to consumers, design by committee is not an option. No offense to the top-tier management-types versed in finance and economics, but you did not go to design school. Stick to your quarterly reports and let the professionals do their jobs. In fact, think of the design studio as a shark-infested pool. Do not go in the water.

But there is a ray of light yet; the Italians are coming! Hopefully this supposed partnership with Fiat will buy Chrysler some time (and that small car platform everyone is dreaming about), something it desperately needs to bring some flavor back into its brands. Chrysler, it's time to get out of the boardroom and hit the pavement. It's time to find out what consumers are looking for and to bring it to them. Trust me. If you build it, they will come.

By Phil Alex,Via Carscoop

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