One thing I love about writing about car gadgets is that every time you think you’ve found the strangest thing ever, and no matter how much you SINCERELY mean that this (whatever this it is you’re writing about) is THE strangest thing ever, within a matter of days along will come something else to trump it.

You’re constantly surprised in this business, and in a way, that’s awesome.

So imagine my shock when I’m reading AskMen’s top ten useless car gadgets list (guys, come on–the Bose Media System doesn’t count as a useless gadget because you’d rather listen to ENGINE NOISE) and I come across a real shocker.

Apparently, curb feelers never went out of style, and they’ve gone digital.  Called the Park Distance Control, it basically helps you figure out when a space is too small to park your Mini in or if you can hack it, and once you can, gives you some help in getting in safely.  As we all remember from driver’s ed, parallel parking is an epic-scale pain in the tukhus.

I can’t imagine anyone, however, having this much trouble parking a Mini Cooper.  Now, some van or pickup or LeBehemoth-class SUV from GM might be a different call, but a Mini Cooper might well be the class of vehicle that LEAST needs parking help.  It’s like putting a second story on your pickup bed.

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Apparently the New Zealand Mini Cooper market is the strongest on earth, because two new models have been announced specifically for that market.  Two limited edition MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 models will be made available for purchase.

Sure, it’s especially good news if you A. love tiny cars beyond all reason and rationality or B. loved the movie The Italian Job like no tomorrow and can’t wait to go pezzing aroudn in their tiny car.

It’ll be a bit of a wait, however, before you can get your hands on one of these, even if you ARE interested in owning one: they’re not intended to come out until April of 2010.

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The Volkswagen Beetle and Mini Cooper have had a resurgence in popularity with the British people for their nostalgic associations as a cult status with hippies and surfers. They have regained ‘cool’ status and are among the top cars of choices for teenagers who have just passed their drivers tests. But the price tag of a new Beetle. for instance, can be prohibitive, particularly in this current harsh economic climate.

However, there are still plenty of Beetles amongst the many used Volkswagen cars on the market today, for just a fraction of the price of a new model. The key is knowing where to look. For those teenagers who dream of owning their own Beetle, a hunt through the used VW cars online, will return hundreds of results from across the country, complete with detailed info and images.

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Here is an easy way to get your hands on a Mini Cooper. Krispy Kreme, a famous maker of doughnuts today, is giving doughnut fans an even bigger reason to celebrate with the launch of a new sweepstakes that offers customers the opportunity to drive away in a set of MINI Cooper wheels.

The minis sweepstakes will give one lucky person a chance to ride in style in a brand-new 2009 MINI Cooper. Beginning April 27 through May 31, customers can enter to win by receiving an entry code with any mini doughnut purchase at participating Krispy Kreme stores. Krispy Kreme fans can also go online at www.KrispyKreme.com to enter the sweepstakes with no purchase necessary. The grand prize winner will be selected on or about June 15, 2009.

Krispy Kreme’s new tasty mini treats, which add to the company’s legendary doughnut lineup, are about half the size of traditional doughnuts and are available in three delicious varieties: Signature Original Glazed, Chocolate Iced rings and Chocolate Iced rings with sprinkles. Minis make just the right addition to any party or gathering with family or friends. Pick up a few to enjoy solo or share them with colleagues at the office–it’s an ideal way to stretch anyone’s doughnut dollar.

(Source) Press

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Seeing a Mini Cooper with a trailer in tow would be absolutely ridiculous, right? According to Mini, no. The automaker has recently announced that they have teamed up with luxury trailer maker Airstream to produce a trailer to match the Mini Cooper S Clubman.

As you can see above this is no ordinary trailer, the side folds out to reveal a bed and a bunch of seating arrangements designed by Fritz. The trailer itself ain’t so mini clocking in at a full 22 feet.

The special edition Mini Cooper S Clubman isn’t very ordinary itself featuring neoprene covered seats, dashboard and side paneling, a surfboard rack on top, and enough room in the trunk to fit a whole slew of scuba gear. Sounds cool huh? Too bad it’s only a concept at this point.

Press release after the break. (more…)

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With a design slightly smaller than a Mini Cooper, the Zero can run a range of 88 miles on a single full charge. The Zero will weigh just 1,200 pounds, an incredibly light figure for a car carrying 312 pounds worth of lithium ion batteries.

While the charging time leaves a lot to be desired (A full charge takes up to 9 hours!), an 80% charge can be done in 50 minutes. Quite a weird discrepancy if you ask me.

Amusingly, there’s no specified 0-60 time because the Zero can’t do it; its top speed is just 56 mph, although it can hit 30 mph in five seconds, putting it somewhat behind the average Vespa according to the report. So it’s not a performance car.

It sure looks great, though. Tazzari is targeting a rather high 20,000 Euro price point for the thing, and plans to sell the eco-friendly vehicle in Europe and in the Caribbean starting later this year.

(Source) AutoblogGreen

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Mini Copper Convertible

2009 will hopefully bring a lot of good things, better things than 2008, and two of them will almost certainly be new models of convertible Mini Coopers. Both will share the same engines as their hardtop counterparts—one with a 118-hp, 1.6-liter I-4 in the Cooper Convertible, and another with a 172-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter I-4 in the Mini Cooper S Convertible.

Both engines are more powerful than those in earlier models, though some fans will miss Cooper S’ supercharged 1.6-liter I-4 – especially when it comes down to turbo lag. Details include a three-position top and a new automated roll bar, which pops up once the vehicle stability control senses an imminent rollover. MSRP for the 2009 Mini Cooper convertibles will run between $24,900 and $27,450.

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