Is there any Mini related news coming out of the NAIAS (North American International Auto Show, aka the Detroit Auto Show)?
-Nigel Trak

 

The big news was the premiere of the R57 Convertible. They also had the 001 Electric MINI there on display.

You can read more and check out some of my photos here:
http://www.motoringfile.com/2009/01/...icial-release/

 

Here's the only news I could find from the official NAIAS site.

New Mini is "Fun in Any Climate"
3:50 pm
Emerging from a block of ice on the NAIAS 2009 show floor came the new Mini Convertible. Designed to be "fun in any climate," the car features a meter that measures time spent driving with the top down. The car's 4-cylinder engine comes in two horsepower options and both are considered to be far more efficient than previous models.
In addition to the convertible, Mini also introduced its new fully electric, zero emission vehicle. The Mini E offers a 150 mile range and is designed for urban use. The car will be consumer tested in Los Angeles, New York and Berlin.

Above from "Live from the floor" for Sunday, January 11th.
-Nigel Trak

 

Thanks Rally-nice pics. So the convertible has yet a new shade of yellow?
-Nigel Trak

 

Yup, it's a new yellow. Interchange yellow. It shares some similarities to the original Liquid yellow IMO.

 

Here are a few more links:

German newswire
http://www.blogspan.net/presse/brands-and-products-mini-at-the-2009-detroit-naias/mitteilung/20322/comment-page-1/

video of Mini show
http://www.motoringfile.com/2009/01/14/mini-at-naias-09-video/

Car and Driver
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/auto_shows/2009_detroit_auto_show_naias_auto_shows/production_debuts/2009_mini_cooper_cooper_s_convertible_official_pho tos_and_info

NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/automobiles/autoshow/mini-convertible.html

The Auto Channel
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/01/09/354687.html

JALOPNIK
http://jalopnik.com/5099767/2009-mini-cooper-cooper-s-convertible-officially-reveal-whopping-price-jump

Will there be any NAM activities at the NAIAS: perhaps a rumble with the BMW guys?
-Nigel