The Mini CarSharing concept shows how transportation must evolve along with ever-changing cities

The Mini Cooper is ostensibly a proud, Brit-made car designed for the cities… but as cities grow larger, and a growing population adds more pressure on resources, roads, and other infrastructure, transportation needs to evolve. Daniel Pokorný’s Mini City CarSharing concept shows how the tiny humble hatchback can evolve to become an icon of urban commuting.

The goal was to create a fully electric vehicle ideal for car-sharing fleets that could be easily cleaned after every use. The design integrates Mini’s values, combining a minimalist and practical interior with an exterior that highlights contemporary automotive design. Outwardly, it’s unmistakably a Mini. Aside from the fact that the Mini logo is emblazoned across the front, the car boasts of Mini-esque proportions, the signature round headlights, and a design that’s both comfortable yet compact.

The compact car sports large windows to make up for its small size, these quirky proportions lend to the car’s ‘cute’ demeanor, while also providing a nice view to the passengers on the inside. The CarSharing concept comes with an incredibly short bonnet, characterized further by a large air-intake beneath it. Daniel calls this a cognitive element that communicates the electrified nature of the car. With a minimal front overhang, the car’s front is finally made complete with two ring-shaped headlights divided by thin LED stripes, and the Mini logo.

The two-seater hatchback comes with ample boot space for luggage, making it perfect for long commutes or even journeys to and from the airport/station. The rear hatch opens up in two parts, quite like the Mini Rocketman Concept from a decade ago, giving you easy access to the back to add or remove heavy bags. The top even comes with a fin that reads ShareNow, making the car instantly identifiable from a distance… and the roof boasts a transparent design, supported by pillars that resemble the Union Jack, once again hinting at the car’s British origins.

The car’s dashboard is incredibly minimal, with a two-spoke steering wheel, a small digital instrument cluster, and a smartphone dock attached to it. The car immediately recognizes the user based on the smartphone, working almost like an authentication device that then allows the car to customize its settings according to your preferences. Additionally, since the vehicle’s more suited for constant use (given its ride-sharing nature), it features a removable/replaceable battery, so the car doesn’t need any off-time for charging.

Designer: Daniel Pokorný

Electric Mini Cooper SE pre-orders are open in the US

The all-electric Mini Cooper SE will go on sale in the US in March, but if you've already made your mind up about getting one, you can stake your claim now. BMW has opened up pre-orders for the first mass-market EV take on the classic car.

The all-electric Mini Cooper SE will start at $29,900

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DIY Exoskeleton Lifts the Rear of a Mini Cooper

I’m looking forward to the day when exoskeletons will give me super powers. I want to be able to jump up on the roof without needing a ladder, and carry hundreds of pounds without getting a sore back.

James Hobson aka “The Hacksmith” created an exoskeleton that we have talked about before. Last time out, he was using it to curl 170 pounds in the back yard. That was pretty cool, but I’ve seen a dude at the gym that can curl that without an exoskeleton.

His exoskeleton expertise has continued to improve, and he’s now built a rig that can augment his leg strength. He recently tested the new device by using it to help lift up the back of a Mini Cooper that weighs in at about 2500 pounds.

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Sure, he isn’t lifting the entire car, and what he is lifting is reduced significantly thanks to a fulcrum. Whatever, he can still lift a car and two guys without exoskeletons couldn’t get it off the ground.

I could totally live out my Superman fantasies and lift up the back of a car to keep it from driving off while wearing this thing.

[via Hack A Day]

Orange is the New Black’s Lea DeLaria as honorary Grand Marshal in Atlanta Pride Parade


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Mirror Boombox is a Bluetooth Speaker in a Mini Cooper Mirror

If you are looking for a gift to give a guy or gal on your Christmas list that likes cars and music, the Mirror Boombox is the ticket. The company behind the Mirror Boombox is called Iui Design and it crams the Bluetooth innards from a portable speaker into the shell from a Mini Cooper mirror.

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If you have ever seen a Mini running the streets, you may know that the company makes a number of interesting mirror cap designs. The Mirror Boombox can be had in the traditional red, white, and blue Union Jack or a black, grey and white Union Jack. For fans that like to win, you can also get the Mirror Boombox in a checkered flag motif.

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It connects via Bluetooth 3.0 technology and supports NFC pairing. The device also has a mic so it can be used as a speaker phone. The speaker has 8W of power and supports AAC over Bluetooth. The speaker also has the ability to connect to two devices at once and a 3.5mm input. The portable speaker has a battery good for eight hours of playback. And yes, doubles as a mirror.

The Mirror Boombox is available now for $149.99(USD). Mini Cooper sold separately.

New MINI Gets Bigger, But It’s Smaller under the Hood

A new version of the venerable MINI Cooper that has been around for decades will be unveiled this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The new Mini is getting both larger and smaller at the same time. The vehicle will grow physically larger while getting a smaller engine to help improve fuel economy.

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MINI has extended the length of its new car by almost 4 inches. Mini promises that the extra length will be used throughout the cabin, increasing both passenger and cargo space. That extra space will definitely add to the leg room inside what is traditionally a very cramped car. While the car gets longer, it’s standard engine is getting smaller. The MINI hard top will be getting a new three-cylinder engine to improve fuel economy.

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The three-cylinder engine will be a 1.4-liter unit producing 134 hp using a turbocharger. It will be paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission and an optional six-speed automatic. The three-cylinder engine will be able to push the car to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. Drivers wanting more power will be able to opt for the Cooper S using a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 192 hp. MINI will also offer a 116hp diesel model, the Mini Cooper D, which is designed specifically for fuel economy.

You can check out more details on the various other new features and model variants on the BMW/MINI press site.

New Mini Paceman launches March 2013


 German automaker BMW has revealed a new sporty car Mini Paceman to its Mini stable. Furthermore company has announced that all-new MINI Paceman is set for UK launch in March 2013. The Paceman...