SCOOP: Fresh Start for Third Generation 2013 MINI Hatchback

Our spy photographers have picked up a prototype of the new Mini hatchback Mk3 while it was out testing in Germany. This is the third generation of the Mini since the BMW Group resurrected the brand in 2001.

The Mk3 will sit on a brand new modular platform architecture named "ULK1" that has been designed for both front- and all-wheel drive applications, and will be used on a great variety of Mini and BMW models including a replacement for the recently launched 1-Series hatchback.

The three-door hatchback prototype spied in these photos will be the first ULK1-based Mini to arrive in the market in late 2013, followed by a raft of new body styles such as a convertible and replacements for the Coupe and Roadster among other models.

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New MINI Roadster Hits the Streets of Turkey in its First Promo Video

MINI's marketing team wants to bring an international flair to the new Coupe and Roadster models with its latest advertising campaigns.

Much like the first video of the helmet-roofed Coupe that was shown driving through various parts of Brazil, Iceland and Hong Kong, the Roadster's first action footage takes us on a trip to the streets of Turkey.

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All-New MINI Roadster Makes its Official Debut, wants to Challenge the MX-5 [254 Photos]

With its eyes set on conquering a slice of the convertible market from the popular Mazda MX-5, MINI has revealed the final production version of the Roadster.

The Roadster is the soft-top variant of the Coupe introduced earlier this summer, and is the sixth model to be added to MINI's line-up as well as the first open-top two-seater in the brand's history.

As is the case with the Coupe, the Roadster is based on the current Mini hatchback so it doesn't come to much of a surprise that its dimensions largely mirror those of the Mini Convertible at 3,734mm long, 1,683mm wide and 1,390mm tall.

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MINI Clubman JCW Showcar by Wimmer RS and Mac Audio is a Loud Inside and Out

Mac Audio, a manufacturer of amplifiers and loudspeakers, has tapped German tuning specialist Wimmer RS to create a showcar version of the Mini Clubman John Cooper Works [JCW].

And no, the highlight of the hot hatch is not the blonde model seen in the pictures but the extreme audio system found in the heavily modified interior, which was customized by Mac Audio's own Professional Installation Team headed by Nic König.

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NHTSA Investigates Engine Fire Reports in 36,000 Mini Cooper S Models

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) announced that it has opened a preliminary investigation on the Mini Cooper S from the 2007-2008MY for engine fires.

In a posting on its website, the NHTSA said it received 12 complaints of engine compartment fire in the affected models.

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BMW Group to Launch MINI Brand in India in Early 2012, Prices to Start from Over 25 Lakh or $51k

The BMW Group's MINI brand is getting ready to add another important market to its belt as the Bavarian automaker announced on Monday that it will launch the firm's small premium models in India starting from 2012.

"I am pleased to announce that the Mini will be introduced in India in 2012," said BMW India President Andreas Schaaf. "We had developed a new Mini ten years ago from the scratch. India is the only country where Mini has not been introduced. So, I think, it will be as successful here as in other countries."

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Top Gear Spotted Filming Christmas Special in India [with Video]

In a recent interview with WitneyTV, Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson let slip out that this year's Christmas special episode will take place in India.

Being that all episodes are filmed several months before they hit the airwaves, it doesn't come as a surprise that the British TV show's crew were snagged in Mumbai this month.

Along with a short video clip showing Richard Hammond and a modified classic MINI Cooper that we found on Youtube, the guys over at IndianAutosBlog tipped us off about a set of pictures they took during the filming of the Christmas episode of Top Gear.

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