If you were planning on hitting one of the 82 U.S. MINI dealers to get your hands on a fuel-efficient Cooper or Clubman, it looks like you'll need to look at plan B. Skyrocketing fuel prices has lifted demand of the little British icons to the point that, with the except of pre-orders, all 2008 models are pretty much sold out. The MINI's cute looks and thrifty petrol-sipping discipline have made the retro hatch more attractive than ever.

Read

Back in the 70s, the first great oil shock threatened to obliterate the fun in driving. This time around, that's not the case. Modern electronic management systems and highly efficient engines are allowing engineers to create drivetrains that provide outstanding fuel economy and performance. Combine those two elements with a great chassis and you can have a blast behind the wheel -- without draining your wallet or your conscience.

Read

Back in April we brought you initial news of the special-edition MINI Clubman designed by British lingerie house Agent Provocateur, and gladly brought you updates with more photos and made cracks at the expense of Max Mosley along the way. The vehicle has now been sold on eBay in Austria as an AIDS fundraiser – which, as one of our commenters noted, seems a little at odds with the overtly sexual theme of the vehicle – for a whopping €45k (equivalent to about $70,000) after no fewer than 77 bids were placed over the course of the ten-day auction.

Read

Fans of the new MINI Cross-man SUV are getting ready to make a French connection! The eagerly awaited off-roader’s public debut will be at the Paris Motor Show in October.

Read

With last week's news that BMW will begin producing the new X1 at its Leipzig facility, it was just a matter of time before the Bavarian boys gave us an indication as to when its compact CUV would be unveiled. As suspected, the wraps will be pulled off an X1 concept at the Paris Motor Show this September, but as is often the case with BMW, the "concept" is almost exactly what we'll see when it goes on sale in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Read

You’ll find Pioneer sound systems in vehicles of all shapes and sizes, but this is something entirely different. To garner some attention and demonstrate its latest multimedia equipment, Pioneer has created a one-of-a-kind MINI pick-up in pure Cooper-mino style.

Read

Has the best just got better? MINI has improved its Cherished approved used car scheme, and the revamped website has just gone live. Now, customers can search for second-hand models in more detail and compare shortlisted choices on screen. The clever site can even send you alerts by text or E-mail when a vehicle matching your requirements becomes available in a showroom.

Read

The MINI is toughening up – with this new 4x4 model, on sale next year. Sitting above the Clubman estate variant, it will further develop the MINI line-up, and compete with other lifestyle SUVs such as the Ford Kuga.
The model will also rival forthcoming prestige brand 4x4s like the BMW X1, with which it shares underpinnings.
Bosses haven’t decided on a name yet, but Auto Express has learned that Crossman is leading the charge as the favoured badge at this stage.

Read

Look out MINI! Hot on the heels of the Alfa Romeo MiTo (Top story, Issue 1,004) comes another Italian model with the big-selling British supermini firmly in its sights. This official sketch shows exactly what to expect from Lancia’s next-generation Ypsilon. After a 14-year absence, the luxury Italian brand will hit the comeback trail in the UK next year, with the new Delta family car. And according to official documents uncovered by Auto Express, this stylish MINI rival will be the next addition to the line-up.

Read

The new MINI Cooper S Clubman made its official used car market debut in a special sale staged at BCA Nottingham. Buyers representing 54 BMW dealerships attended the event, with a further 24 dealers bidding over the internet via BCA Live Online. Seven examples of the MINI Cooper S Clubman were offered and sold for an average of £18,150, well in excess of CAP Clean.

Read

About a month ago Hybrid Technologies sent out press release that they were slashing the price of their electric vehicle conversions. For some time now, they have been offering up MINI Coopers, Chrysler PT Cruisers and even Crossfires among others. The flaw in the plan however was the pricing. There have been questions about actual performance and how many vehicles the company has actually delivered. The one independent test that we are aware was a battery powered Chrysler PT Cruiser the company provided for testing as a New York City Taxi.

Read

The Oscar Mayer Weinermobile is one of America's automotive icons. The giant hot dogs have rolled around the country since the original appeared in 1936 promoting the brand's products. There have been numerous generations over the last seven decades built on a variety of truck and motorhome chassis. It now appears that rising fuel prices have even forced the weiner to shrink. The newest Weinermobile is built on top of a MINI Cooper S and an ABC news crew got it on camera this week. Unfortunately, ABC hasn't caught on to that whole embeddable video thing so you'll have to head over there to check out the video report.

Read

The 1.5cc V-Twin uses butane gas and works superbly. You simply top it up, spin the flywheel and it pops into life. All the parts are clearly visible, and it’s a great way to see how a basic motor operates.

Read

You know these names and have read about what these vehicles are and what they promise. Now, you can kick back and spend some time getting better acquainted with how these vehicles look. The gallery for the Sintesi
is below. Check out over 75 more photos after the jump.

Read

You’ll find Pioneer sound systems in vehicles of all shapes and sizes, but this is something entirely different. To garner some attention and demonstrate its latest multimedia equipment, Pioneer has created a one-of-a-kind MINI pick-up in pure Cooper-mino style.

Read