Mini Archives

Third Dakar Rally victory for Carlos Sainz, with a different team again

Carlos Sainz collected his third his Dakar Rally victory, this time with yet another team. Having previously triumphed with Peugeot (2019) and Volkswagen (2016), he presented MINI with its fifth overall victory in what is described as the toughest race in the world.

For MINI and MINI Motorsport partner X-raid, this was the first success since their winning run together, which lasted from 2012 to 2015. Sainz, with co-driver Lucas Cruz (also from Spain), drove a John Cooper Works Buggy. He finished 6 minutes 21 seconds ahead of last year’s winner, Nasser Al-Attiyah after completing roughly 7,500 kms through Saudi Arabia’s deserts.

Dakar record winner Stephane Peterhansel and his co-driver Paulo Fiuza finished third, 9 minutes 58 seconds behind Sainz and Cruz, to round off an impressive performance from the two JCW Buggies. The two JCW Buggy crews each won 4 stages, while MINI vehicles went fastest on a total of 9 of the 12 days. Seven of the 9 MINI crews that started the rally reached the finish in Al-Quiddia, 4 of them in the top 10.

The 42nd edition of the Dakar Rally this year was held in Saudi Arabia for the first time. The route took competitors from the shores of the Red Sea in Jeddah, around the canyons and mountains of the western part of Saudi Arabia, over the dunes of the Empty Quarter and all the way to the Qiddiya Sports and Culture Complex near the capital Riyadh.

237 out of the 342 vehicles (59.3%) that started the rally in Jeddah were classified as finishers. A further 19 vehicles withdrew from the race but reached Qiddiya under Dakar Experience rules. Over the 7,500-km route through deserts, there were 12 competitive stages which totalled approximately 5,000 kms.

2020 DAKAR RALLY
OVERALL WINNERS IN CAR CATEGORY
1. CARLOS SAINZ/LUCAS CRUZ – Bahrain JCW X-Raid Team
2. NASSER AL-ATTIYAH/MATTHIEU BAUMEL – Toyota Gazoo Racing
3. STEPHANE PETERHANSEL/PAULO FIUZA – Bahrain JCW X-Raid Team
4. YAZEED AL RAJHI/KONSTANTIN ZHILTSOV – Overdrive Toyota
5. GINIEL DE VILLIERS/ALEX HARO BRAVO – Toyota Gazoo Racing
6. ORLANDO TERRANOVA/BERNARDO GRAUE – X-Raid MINI JCW Team
7. BERNHARD TEN BRINKE/TOM COLSOUL – Toyota Gazoo Racing
8. MATHIEU SERRADORI/FABIAN LURQUIN – SRT Racing
9. YASIR SEAIDAN/KUZMICH ALEXY – Race World Team
10. WEI HAN/MIN LIAO – Geely Auto Shell Lubricant Team

MINI team ready for new challenges in 2020 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabian desert

The 2020 Dakar Rally will take place on the Arabian Peninsula for the first time from tomorrow (January 5) till January 17. Among the entries are a total of nine MINI racing cars, of which two are Dakar icons in the MINI JCW buggy.

Dakar record winner Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel and co-driver Paulo Fiuza are aiming for his 14th overall Dakar success. The two-time winner and former World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz will also be in the further developed MINI JCW buggy and the support of MINI Motorsport partner X-raid.

The 2020 Dakar Rally will have 12 competitive stages which will total around 5,000 kms through desert. The event will cover some 7,500 kms from Jeddah via the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, to Al-Quiddia.

“After many years in South America, 2020 will see us not only go to a completely new region but also ‘back to the ‘roots’ again. Long special tests, many kilometres and lots of new experiences: that’s what awaits us in Saudi Arabia. It will be a tough Dakar for sure, and hopefully our MINI vehicles will prove their reliability as always,” said Sainz.

“It will be a new challenge for everyone. A few weeks ago, I saw new landscapes and completely different routes in the small Baja around Riyadh, very quickly, but beautiful. I look forward to it!” said Peterhansel.

Peterhansel has an amazing record of winning the Dakar 13 times – 6 times on a motorcycle and 7 times in 4-wheelers. This includes the first joint victory of MINI and X-raid 2012 in MINI ALL4 Racing and the title defence the following year. He actually wanted to contest the Dakar 2020 for the first time with his wife, Andrea, who had previously been a successful rally driver. She had earlier navigated her husband to the FIA World Cup title for cross-country rallies in 2019.

Two other MINI JCW rallycars will be used by X-raid driver Vladimir Vasilyev with Vitaly Yevtyekhov and Saudi Arabian hero Yasir Seaidan with co-driver Alexey Kuzmich. Outside the X-raid team, Denis Krotov/Dmitry Tsyro and Vaidotas Zala/Saulius Jurgelenas will be working hard to finish with good results in their MINI JCW Rallycars.

Dakar 2020 — The 2020 Dakar Rally is running for the first time in Saudi Arabia. It will have 12 competitive stages which will total around 5,000 kms through desert. The event will cover some 7,500 kms from Jeddah via the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, to Al-Quiddia.

2020 MINI John Cooper Works has 306hp! From RM358,888

Three BMW dealerships to host BMW Year-End Expo 2019

Quill Automobiles, Ingress Auto and Wheelcorp Premium, which represent the BMW and MINI brands in the Klang Valley, will transform The Marquee at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre into the largest BMW and MINI dealership in the city centre this weekend (December 6 – 8). Billed as ‘a one-of-a-kind event’, the BMW Year-End Expo 2019 will have over 90 vehicles on display from both brands from 10 am to 7 pm each day.

As would be expected, the dealers will have special offers for those who want to shop for a new car to have in the porch or garage this Christmas or for the new year. The offers will include a special 6 Years and 5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty programme; special financing rates from 0.33% (terms and conditions apply); and complimentary one-year BMW Comprehensive Motor Insurance.

They will also be able to find out about BMW M Performance Parts which enhance the sportiness of a BMW and of course, check out the lifestyle items from BMW and MINI.

Ride-Drive event gives potential customers experience of MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid

To provide current and potential owners with an experience of the latest MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid, Auto Bavaria recently organised ‘The Auto Bavaria MINI Ride’. The by-invitation only event enabled its participants the unique experience of stage cycling with the support of the MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid, very much like at an international multiple stage bicycle race.

The MINI Ride event began at dawn with participants meeting at Auto Bavaria showrooms across the Klang Valley and beginning their journey driving the new MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid with their personal bicycles mounted on top. They headed to the start location of the ride at Plaza Batai in the Damansara Heights area of Kuala Lumpur, gaining personal impressions of the car.

To provide the riders the proper energy and hydration needed for the maximum elevation climb from Plaza Batai towards TTDI Park, the MINI Ride participants were treated to fruits, juices and energy bars at start starting point. Led by a pacer, they then rode to a maximum elevation of 137 metres in between the route from Plaza Batai to TTDI and a 1-km MINI sprint challenge stop at TTDI park before cycling back down to the Yellow Brick Road cafe for brunch.

Then it was back into the Countryman Plug-In Hybrid for the drive back to an Auto Bavaria showroom where they received more insights on its features and capabilities. For those who have active lifestyle, especially cyclists, the user-friendliness in mounting and carrying bikes as well as having the ability to provide the cargo space to carry all the necessary gear for the day out were appreciated.

As a plug-in hybrid, the car has a powertrain with an electric motor as well as a petrol engine. The lithium-ion battery pack can be recharged at home using the 240V household socket or a dedicated electric car charging point. With a fully charged battery pack, the claimed electric-only driving range can be up to 42 kms, with a total mixed driving range of up to 500 kms on a full tank of fuel. The advantage of a hybrid over an all-electric vehicle is that you can still run on the petrol engine if the battery pack cannot be recharged so there doesn’t need to be ‘range anxiety’.

In 2018, Malaysia was the first country in Southeast Asia to locally assemble the MINI Countryman at the BMW assembly facility in Kedah. Following its successful launch and in line with BMW Group Malaysia’s strategy for electromobility, the company then introduced the Plug-In Hybrid variant which is priced at RM268,888 (excluding insurance).

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2020 MINI John Cooper Works has 306hp! From RM358,888

MINI Malaysia just unveiled their latest 2020 MINI Clubman earlier this morning and to make things even more special, they decided to launch TWO more new models in the form of the 2020 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman and Clubman. Its biggest updates? They now come with a whopping 306hp under the hood. (more…)

2020 MINI Clubman unveiled – RM298,888

MINI Malaysia took to the stage today to unveil their latest 2020 MINI Clubman for the local market. Major updates on the new MINI Clubman can be seen inside and out that offers an elevated MINI experience for fellow fans and enthusiasts of this compact premium automotive brand. (more…)

Buy a new MINI before the end of 2019 and enjoy The Great British Deal!

With just 2 months left to 2019, MINI Malaysia is giving customers a chance to benefit from the brand’s 60^th anniversary year celebrations. Commenting on the latest promotions, Harald Hoelzl, MD of BMW Group Malaysia said: “2019 marks yet another milestone for us at MINI as we celebrate our 60^th year anniversary, and we want to extend that celebration to MINIacs across Malaysia who have helped grow our brand to where we are today. Taking the premium ownership experience to yet another level, we are introducing a limited-time offering for new owners of vehicles from the MINI portfolio.”

With The Great British Deal offered at all MINI dealerships, customers who purchase a new MINI can enjoy significantly lower monthly instalments, starting from RM2,388 with MINI Balloon Financing, at a lowered interest rate starting from 0.77% for MINI vehicles purchased from now to December 31, 2019. New owners will also enjoy insurance rebate of RM2,000 off MINI vehicles with the MINI Financing plan.

All newly-registered MINI vehicles come with a 4-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service; 24-Hour Roadside Assistance and MINI Black Card membership.

And every customer who purchases any MINI model during the campaign period, an automatic contest entry will be entered for one lucky owner to win an all-expense-paid trip to Great Britain for two.

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New Corporate Mobility Solutions programme for BMW Group Malaysia’s corporate customers

BMW Group Malaysia’s Corporate Programme has been enhanced with a new Corporate Mobility Solutions (CMS) programme. The new enhancement to the programme is designed to elevate the premium ownership experience for both BMW and MINI corporate customers.

“BMW Group Malaysia has long been recognised for our excellence in providing premium ownership experience to all our customers, be it for individuals or corporate customers. We are the leaders that drive innovation in the industry, as the BMW Group Corporate Programme has been furnishing our corporate customers for many years now with premium financing solutions. With the addition of the CMS programme, we have once again changed the game, elevating our offering to our premium corporate partners,” said the MD of BMW Group Malaysia, Harald Hoelzl.

“We are no strangers to innovation when it comes to elevating customer experiences in every aspect, whether through vehicle ownership, aftersales services or mobility in financing. With the CMS programme, BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia is raising the bar ever higher to provide only the best for our customers in the corporate segment,” added Tobias Eismann, CEO and Managing Director of BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia (BMW Credit (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. and BMW Lease (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.). “Our leading fleet management services is further enhanced with exclusive incentives and benefits, proving that we will always go above and beyond to deliver Sheer Driving Pleasure.”

360° premium ownership experience
The BMW Group Corporate Programme is designed to provide a 360° premium ownership experience to individuals and their companies by introducing exclusive incentives for eligible corporations, mobility solutions to meet all business and private needs, as well as a comprehensive aftersales coverage for peace of mind ownership.

The programme also features BMW ConnectedDrive services that include BMW Concierge Services, Connected Navigation, Remote Software Upgrade and Apple CarPlay, along with exclusive BMW Moments privileges.

The Corporate Mobility Solutions (CMS) – an enhancement of the BMW Group Corporate Programme – is a joint initiative between BMW Group Malaysia and BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia to further elevate the benefits offered by the BMW Group Corporate Programme. CMS features fleet management for businesses along with risk and cost reduction, as well as tailor-made mobility solutions to accommodate to all business and private needs.

*The new Corporate Mobility Solutions programme includes THE MINI brand as well.*

The initiative also integrates products from BMW Group Financial Services to grow and strengthen their position as a leader of mobility solutions in its class. Sais to be a game-changer in mobility innovation, the CMS is developed to equip BMW Group Dealers with a wide range of support to provide top quality financing and fleet management services for corporate customers.

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This is the all-electric 2020 MINI Cooper SE

MINI will be putting on quite an ‘electrifying’ show at the IAA Cars 2019 where they plan to globally unveil a number of new electrified models but the one that caught our attention the most is their new all-electric 2020 MINI Cooper SE which marks a new era for the brand’s pure electric mobility. (more…)

MINIfest is back again to celebrate the MINI’s 60th anniversary

The Mini came on the scene 60 years ago and over 6 decades, the passion has endured for the little car that was loved by just about every class in society. Thousands of events have been held all over the world to celebrate anniversaries and this year, the MINIfest returns in Malaysia for the second time to celebrate the MINI’s 60th anniversary.

The event will be held on Saturday, September 7 2019 (12 noon to 7 pm) at the Indoor Arena of Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort, Jalan Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur. It’s going to be a fun day for MINIacs as MINI Malaysia has planned a host of exciting activities, all MINI-themed.

MINI-styled marketplace
Don’t worry about filling up your stomach before going because there will be a special MINI-styled marketplace with delicious food from a variety of popular food trucks. Live music performances will keep the atmosphere lively all day long, and there will be thrilling rides and games. Early birds will also receive exclusive giveaways.

The highlight of MINIfest The 60 Years Special will be the new anniversary-exclusive MINI 60 Years Edition (pictured above) on display, along with MINI Classic cars. Test drives will also be available throughout the day for 10 different versions. These include the Cooper S 3-Door, Cooper S 5-Door, John Cooper Works Clubman as well as the Cooper S Countryman Pure that was unveiled this year.

Click here for more information and updates on MINIfest The 60 Years Special. Pre-registering will get you into the site faster so do so online.

Click here for other news and articles about MINI in PISTON.MY

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Mini

Third Dakar Rally victory for Carlos Sainz, with a different team again

MINI team ready for new challenges in 2020 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabian desert

Three BMW dealerships to host BMW Year-End Expo 2019

Ride-Drive event gives potential customers experience of MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid

2020 MINI John Cooper Works has 306hp! From RM358,888

2020 MINI Clubman unveiled – RM298,888

Buy a new MINI before the end of 2019 and enjoy The Great British Deal!

New Corporate Mobility Solutions programme for BMW Group Malaysia’s corporate customers

This is the all-electric 2020 MINI Cooper SE

MINIfest is back again to celebrate the MINI’s 60th anniversary

MINI makes The Rally Professor happy for Christmas

BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia extends services to customers

MINI Vision Urbanaut concept

BMW Premium Selection goes digital

MINI Countryman Powered by X-Raid

Two limited editions of MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports added to range

Only 15 units of MINI Electric First Edition available for Malaysian market

The Mini Moke makes a comeback in Britain

All-electric MINI makes its debut in Malaysia, priced from RM218,380

MINI Malaysia’s Add Independence campaign has offers for Countryman model

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