Today I got the latest issue was Road and Track in the mail. In the June issue, there's a comparison test with a 2007 yellow Cooper S.

Hmmm, I wondered if it's the same exact car featured in a Car and Driver comparison test in their May issue. So checked the photos from both magazines and yep, same license plate.

Then it hit me. I remembered on Motoring File that they were taking a press car from MINI USA to Deal's Gap and that car just happens to be a yellow Cooper S. So I checked out the pics from Deal's Gap and voila, it's the same license plate .

 

Yeah, the "press cars" tend to make the rounds.

 

Wish they'd make the "press car" maintenance and repair history known! I bet those things get BEAT ON.

 

I wonder if this is the same car

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...topanel..1.*#3

Too bad they put their own plates on. But looking at the interior trim, this could be the same car.

 

It's like the village bicycle.

 

If it is the same press car, only Gabe took the time to pimp it out with his own OZ Ultraleggera's/Kumho's. And, might I add, they looked schweeet.

 

Gracias! There was no way I could go to the Dragon with the all-seasons that came on the car. I can't believe MINI hadn't already switched these out for summer tires. No wonder the car didn't get the best reviews. The Kumhos transformed it.



(from Killboy.com - hi-res coming...)

 

I'm really diggin' the new yellow. I'm still on the fence about whether or not I should keep my current Cooper S once the warranty expires. But if I do decide to trade up, I think the Mellow Yellow with the black roof would be my first choice. Hopefully by then there MINI would introduce a mid-cycle refresh.

I hope Mellow Yellow would stick around in a couple of years.

 

I love the new yellow. It's a much deeper, richer tone than my Liquid Yellow. I hope Mini keeps this color for a while.

 

Wow, almost riding the rim on teh front left in a couple of those shots!

 

A repeat of my comment elsewhere, but instead of Mellow Yellow, I think they should have called it "Double Yellow" - as in the centerline.

 

MF HQ Fontana:



. . . note Gabe's best grille badge on cheek.

 

Sweet pic!!!

 

is it just me or does it seem that the tires are so low profile that the car is riding on the actual rims?

BTW, that car looks sweet with those ultraleggeras im looking forward to adding those to my MCS!

 

Updated the photo with the hi-res I bought from Killboy.com. More below:







Super hi-res here: flickr.com/photos/bridger/sets/72157600171675014/

 

Nice Gabe! Thanks for posting!

 

Hmm...I was looking around on eBay and I noticed this MCS, Link looks similar to the press car, but with bonnet stripes and some Thunderbolts. Possibly the same car?

 

Not enough miles MINI USA pre-specced a bunch of demos and press cars with the same options so there are probably a handful that are similar.

 

Gabe, Did you get any of the 3rd. to 2nd. downshift groaning on your test?

 

Nope - the car was perfect.

 

Ahh...Thanks!