Autoweek reviews the GP

Posted on by Ian C.

AutoWeekFeaturesGP.jpg

… a host of detailed improvements (including a new supercharger, re-mapped engine management and revised cooling) that increase output to 214 hp at 7100 rpm. A standard Cooper S makes just 168 hp, and the Cooper S Works – upon which this car is heavily based – makes 207 hp. Torque is up, too, at 184 lb-ft at 4600 rpm. The 4 lb-ft increase over the Cooper S Works may not seem like much, but it has a dramatic effect on how the new car drives …
… pumped-up bodywork gives the game away. Beyond injecting a touch of aggressiveness into the Mini’s appearance, its maker claims the kit significantly alters the GP’s aerodynamic properties, reducing lift while improving airflow to the engine for increased cooling …
… the GP sacrifices its rear seat and some sound deadening material from the rear of the floorpan. Their absence drops the weight by 120 pounds, bringing it down to just 2508 pounds …

Go here for the full online review

Not convinced about the accuracy of some of the details, such as the 120 pound weight loss, and the claim that “more than one-third of a limited total production run is bound for North America” – that would be 667 or more, compared with the 415 actually coming (Canada doesn’t get the GP) … but apart from that, a great review and well worth grabbing a copy of the magazine!

(also mentioned by MotoringFile today)

The new MINI ad campaign

Posted on by Ian C.

So, I’ve given a couple of hints recently about the new MINI USA ad campaign, which is aimed primarily at existing MINI owners and presumably intends (a) to emphasise the MINI community and (b) to create intrique in non-MINI owners …
The concept is that all MINI owners should receive a package which includes “a book“; of course this book is not all it seems, and includes some “tools” needed to read messages that no-one else can read!

If you are “clever” enough to discover the secret compartment, you’ll find the tools you need to read adverts … The MINIUSA website carries details of the campaigns, including which magazines have the advert; I first learned of the campaign via this NorthAmericanMotoring thread, and bought the August 2006 issue of Blender – even before I received my “black box”.

Once you have the decoder kit and an advert, you can read a hidden message in the advert, which sends you to a website (which looks like this), containing lots of fun stuff to entertain, and eventually leads you to another promotion of MINI Takes The States!

NO, I’m still not going to reveal the secret website … but if you have your “black box” but no advert, you can download and print this scan from the Blender Advert (1.6MB) – make sure to print it at 300dpi and it will work as well as the original to read the secret message!
For those who don’t yet have their “black box”, try viewing the scan, especially the bottom half, with your eyes half closed 😉