First Drive: 2011 MINI Countryman

Tamara Warren has an interesting gig — driving MINIs across the USA for MINI Takes the States, and then blogging about it. One of the perks of the journey was a first drive of the 2011 MINI Countryman. Here are her thoughts: After nearly 1000 miles of MINI driving across America, I have a solid grasp on the finer points of the zippy Clubman handling, which gives me comparative reference for the Countryman. I also have the unique perspective... Read More

MINI TAKES THE STATES: Road Rules

The road to Denver is paved with fun. The first exclamation point of the East coast dropped in at the Indiana Motor Speedway where Atlanta, New Jersey and Chicago became one on Monday. The MINI movement from three regions joined up for a massive mingling that transformed MINI Takes the States into a MINI takeover. In blazing midday heat, drivers lingered, taking refuge under tall trees, sipping water, getting massages. They patiently waited... Read More

MINI TAKES THE STATE: All My Purple Life

Tamara Warren is traveling with MINI this week on a cross-country roadtrip. Here’s the latest from her road diaries:“When I first met Scoopie, I knew she was one of a kind and she was mine,” Audrey Abernathy said with affection. She wasn’t referring to a pet, but to her 2006 MINI Cooper S. The name Scoopie, she explained, was derived from a play on the S Cooper. Clad in matching shades of purple from head to toe, Abernathy and Scoopie... Read More

Road Diaries: Mini Takes the States

Tamara Warren is traveling with Mini and company all week long for Mini Takes The States, documenting her journey, and contemplating the nature of Mini ownership,  as she makes the long distance trek from Brooklyn to Denver, by Mini Cooper. The excitement was palpable as MINIs lined up in anticipation for the launch of 2010 MINI Takes the States at BMW’s North American Headquarters in Wood Cliff, New Jersey on Friday morning. A lot of that... Read More