If it weren't for the AC-thing and the airbag-thing I'd be right there w/ ya!!!

 

Yeah, not doubting the "a magnitude better grip" comment. Being a car design/tech newb, I am just having trouble figuring out how. I have lightened my car more than 20 lbs for STS autox trim but until i put some wider wheels, stickier tires and a bunch of negative camber, the levels of grip did not change, nor did my autox times. Maybe its the lower center of gravity, and there too its hard to know how much grip that would add - plenty of people have lowered their MINIs an inch or two and didn't see that much improvement in overall grip. My guess is that its still the tires that MINI claims were designed for the car and/or potentially some better negative camber out of the box that are the big contributors for this increased grip.

The tires being designed specifically for the MINI is an interesting topic for me, cause after trying 5 or 6 various tires on my car I still beleive that the 175/65/15 continental tires that came stock on my MC were by far the best match for the car. They don't have the same level of grip as the azenis or the Rcomps I have, but the steering feedback, the steering reflexes and the communication to the driver is way better than any street tire I have tried so far. I believe the Contis were specifically designed for the MC. Could the runflats being designed specifically for the new MCS and sport MC have the same effect?

 

Well said and I couldn't agree with you more. Bravo!

 

Could be... but after touring thier plant in Germany I learned that Dunlop is also on their 4th or 5th generation of run flat tires. There have been considerable improvements just in the last couple years in overall weight, grip and wear charactoristics.

 

I think this is a new one. My apologies if it isn't.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...opanel..1.*#24

 

Nope, all new, and yet another reason I am SO glad my name's already on a waiting list.

Appearance naysayers aside, the press (both "regular" automobile journalists and Mini enthusiasts) seem to be pretty unanimous in their high regard for the 07s, particularly the S line. I'm glad to see Edmunds is on board also. Great way to frame the story, with the cop angle.

When is March gonna get here?

 

It probably makes a lot of sense from the PR and advertising standpoint to have only the S available for public and journalist review, but I find it a bit annoying/odd that the regular MC hasn't yet been released by BMW. I understand that the MCS is more exciting and will probably get BMW more enthusiast kudos, but given that the car has been redesigned from the ground up, there would probably be plenty to write about with the base model as well. I am very interested in reading just how torquey the new MC engine is.

Oh and this statement from edmunds is very bold: "every mechanical change has been for the better"

 

I agree...I'd love to see something on the Cooper, but it does make sense that the MCS would get more attention at this point. The Cooper has always been a bit of a sleeper, and all the more loved for it!!!

 

Some nice new interior shots in the Edmunds article. I guess this is lounge leather, white(forget real name) colorline and piano black trim?

 

A write-up from Car magazine is here. Positive...not much new info, but reinforces much of what we've seen.

 

Wow!!.. Those seats look great...and comfortable.