Sportiest ever MINI set to go on sale this year

The sportiest road-registered MINI ever made, the John Cooper Works GP, is set to go on sale later this year with a limited run of 2,000 cars. It is currently completing a programme of testing in preparation for series production, part of which has involved setting a lap of the Nürburgring's Nordschleife circuit of 8 minutes 23 seconds, beating its predecessor by almost 19 seconds. The car maker has said that underpinning the performance characteristics of the MINI John Cooper Works GP is...

MINI partners Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour

British carmaker MINI has signed a sponsorship deal with Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2012. The agreement will see sub-brand John Cooper Works involved at the six spectacular events set for 2012 which showcases some of the world’s best freestyle motocross. As Ralf Schepull, Head of MINI Brand Communication, explains the sporty John Cooper Works is an ideal partner. “Red Bull and the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2012 are a perfect fit for the John Cooper Works brand,” says Schepull....

MINI workers reject ‘strings attached’ pay deal

Workers at the MINI plant in Oxford have overwhelmingly rejected a pay offer that trade union Unite describes as having strings attached. With 97% of workers consulted rejecting the deal, it raises the prospect of the first strike action at MINI since 1984. The rejected offer included a basic pay increase of 2.21 per cent. Unite says the remaining elements of the deal included an increase of 1.79 per cent for working an extra 30.1 hours a year. However, rather than giving the workers the...

Alphabet launches alternative company car scheme

Alphabet, a fleet funding company which is part of the BMW Group, is launching a new scheme in the UK today that provides companies with on-demand, technology-driven, business and personal mobility. The service, called AlphaCity, features easy self-booking for employees and controlled keyless access to cars and enables Alphabet to monitor and record the vehicles’ usage and create reports and itemised invoices for customers broken down by cost centre, if requested. “AlphaCity will offer our...

MINI’s best of British support welcomed

The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, has visited the BMW Group Munich headquarters and welcomed MINI's support to promote the best of Britain around the world. His visit comes just a couple of weeks after MINI entered into partnership with the GREAT initiative, an international campaign to maximise the tourism and business opportunities of the UK hosting the 2012 Games, and the Diamond Jubilee, by showcasing all that is best about the UK to key...