MINI Considering Adding New Models

If you include the Paceman (and at this point, there’s really no reason not to), the total count of MINI vehicle offerings is now up to an impressive seven, but we’ve got no delusions about the fact that those seven offerings sort of come with an asterisk. After all, pretty much everything we sell here at MINI of Chicago is really just a variation of the original MINI Cooper. Some are bigger, some have a drop-top, some are sportier, but at their heart these things really are just slightly-altered versions of the iconic car that’s carried our name for years. … Continue Reading

MINI John Cooper Works Convertible Makes Surprising List

If someone cut you a check for $100,000 and said, “Go out there and buy any car you want!” chances are pretty good you’d immediately start dreaming big, with high-priced Italian sports cars likely at the top of your short list of dream vehicles. But what if that same someone gave you the $100,000 and said, “Go out there and buy any car you want, but make sure it’s a car you could actually use on a day-to-day basis!” This would sort of change the game a little bit. … Continue Reading

2013 MINI Cooper Paceman Coming Early 2013

For those of you that have followed the MINI brand for a long time, you know that we tend to come up with variations on the original rather than constantly come up with totally new models from year to year, and so far that’s worked out pretty well for us. Coming in early 2013, however, the 2013 MINI Cooper Paceman will make its U.S. debut as a production model, and while it really does look quite a bit like its six brothers and sisters, there are a few design elements that set it apart and really make it look as if it’s a brand new model. … Continue Reading

MINI Cooper JCW GP Is Fastest Cooper Ever Made

About a month ago, we spent a little bit of time talking about the imminent release of MINI’s new John Cooper Works GP, which will be the fastest MINI Cooper ever produced. A month ago, however, we just had some vague numbers about reduced drag and how the improved aerodynamics would really help the vehicle get up and go. … Continue Reading

MINI Cars Rock On With MOG!

No matter what kind of car you drive, how old it is, what color it is, or what kind of engine is under the hood, almost everybody will agree that if the thing doesn’t have a working radio, it’s no good. People need some kind of entertainment while they’re driving, and most people prefer music. Luckily, in today’s world, there are loads of great options for getting the most out of the great music that’s out there, and for MINI of Chicago customers, there probably isn’t anything better than MOG. … Continue Reading

MINI Clubvan Among Most Anticipated Cars of 2013

Forbes recently put out a list of the fifteen hottest new cars slated to debut in 2013, and as you’d expect on this kind of list, most of the automobiles mentioned were subcompacts and hatchbacks from a myriad of different automakers looking to one-up the other. But there was one outlier on the list that didn’t really fall into either of those two auto classes. In fact, the last car on the list isn’t even a vehicle that most consumers are going to buy for everyday use. Despite all that, the MINI Clubvan compact delivery van has Forbes excited, but we’ve been excited about it since it debuted as a concept car at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show. … Continue Reading

John Cooper Works GP Shows Off Aerodynamics

People don’t generally look at a MINI Cooper and think to themselves, “That’s got to be the fastest car I’ve ever seen!” and we understand why. Normally, a Cooper is an excellent car for commuters living in a major city—great fuel efficiency, easy to park, stylish—but once in a while we get our engineers to come up with something that’s more than that. This time around, the John Cooper Works GP is faster than it ever has been before. … Continue Reading

MINI Cooper Goes Teeny-Tiny For Olympic Track & Field

The 2012 Olympic Games in London have been, put as simply as possible, pretty awesome so far. Gabby Douglas and the women’s U.S. Olympic team have been golden, swimmers like Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin have dazzled us with their dolphin-like speed and grace, and now we’re starting to see a little bit of the magic that track and field has to offer, as well.

But you know who’s been the star of that last batch of events? A little, teeny-tiny MINI Cooper. … Continue Reading

How To Maximize Your MINI’s Resale Value

Buying a car is not like buying a house. A home is usually considered an investment, where time actually appreciates the value of that investment, but cars lose value as they get older. It’s a sad, but simple truth, however there are still some ways to maximize the eventual trade-in or re-sale value of your MINI cars, and we here at MINI of Chicago would like to go ahead and share a couple of those tips with you today: … Continue Reading

Diesel Option Coming for MINI?

Life is full of choices and life is full of risks, but sometimes making the choice to take a risk on something can be rather anxiety-inducing. Do I really need to bet $300 on red? Is it really worth risking the friendship to tell this girl I have feelings for her? With limited resources in the U.S., is it really worth it for MINI to develop a diesel version of the Cooper for American consumers?

Choices, choices, choices. Risks, risks, risks. … Continue Reading