In Newsweek-
http://www.msnbc.com/news/926847.asp
From the article:
So far, summer’s best product placement—the too-cute Mini Coopers in “The Italian Job”—didn’t cost the car company a penny. BMW just turned over the keys to 32 of its British bulldogs, and agreed to let the studio demolish them during the elaborate chase scenes. The criminals are trying to steal gold, but the Mini hijacks the movie—running down stairs, sneaking onto subway tracks, outmaneuvering helicopters. (Charlize Theron is considerably less active.) Just three weeks after the movie’s premiere, Mini folks estimate that sales have spiked more than 20 percent. What aspiring baddie wouldn’t pay $20,000 for the ultimate getaway car? “We like to think they’re fleeing from everyday life,” says a spokesman. “They’re not necessarily fleeing the scene of a crime.” Sure, buddy. Sure.
—Kate Stroup and Sean M. Smith

After the movie premiere, I warned the sales staff at my local MINI dealership that I thought there might be much more interest in the cars after people see the MINIs in action.

Thanks to Gabriel for posting this article at
http://www.bridger.us/mini/
It's one of my favorite MINI sites

 

And after a month in the theaters...still in the top 5!

1. 'The Hulk,' $62.6 million
2. 'Finding Nemo,' $20.5 million
3. '2 Fast 2 Furious,' $10.3 million
4. 'Bruce Almighty,' $10 million
5. 'The Italian Job,' $7.2 million
6. 'Rugrats Go Wild,' $6.7 million
7. 'Alex & Emma,' $6.2 million
8. 'Hollywood Homicide,' $5.8 million
9. 'Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd,' $4.3 million
10. 'The Matrix Reloaded,' $4.05 million

 

I don't get it? If virtually every car coming off the line is spoken for and production numbers are not increasing, how can sales "spike by 20%"?

 

I was told by my dealer that MINI has indeed stepped up production, specifically for the MCS.

 

These days movies with cars in them have become thinly disguised commercials. MINIs in The Italian Job. Mitsubishis in 2F2F. Cadillacs in The Matrix Reloaded. Not that I mind, as long as the movie is entertaining and the chase scenes rock.