Last Friday (5 March), saw the staff at Vines don their best hats for ‘Wear a hat to work day’ to raise money for the brain tumour awareness charity, Taylan’s Project.
To show its support for Brain Tumour Awareness Month, all Vines staff across the seven dealerships were encouraged to wear a hat to work and donate £3 to Taylan’s Project. They managed to raise an impressive £714.66.
Fun was had throughout the day as staff enjoyed cakes and treats whilst enjoying their colleagues dressed in silly hats, and in full fancy dress in some cases.
To help increase the charity pot further, Vines are donating £1 per test drive taken throughout March and is encouraging drivers to come down and try out any car from the BMW or MINI ranges*.
Taylan’s Project was set up in 2009 to help raise money for the charity Brain Tumour Research, following the sad passing of 7 year old Taylan Rawlinson due to a rare and inoperable brain tumour.
Taylan’s Project is encouraging other companies to help raise much needed funds by organising their own events. Visit www.taylansproject.co.uk to find out how you can also raise funds. If you would like to make a donation in support, please visit www.justgiving.com/taylansproject
MINI Geneva Motor Show MINI at the 80th Geneva Motor Show 2010
At a Glance:
World debut: MINI Countryman.
The MINI model family is growing once again, with the MINI Countryman making its first appearance at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Measuring more than four metres in length, featuring four doors at the side, four fully-fledged seats and optional MINI ALL4 all-wheel drive, the brand’s fourth model offers that typical MINI feeling in a new dimension. Its extra, variable space inside and the elevated driving position give the MINI Countryman an absolutely unique look, while still retaining that distinctive character of a MINI both in its design and driving behaviour. As the first premium car of its kind, the MINI Countryman has everything it takes to win over additional target groups for that driving pleasure so typical of the brand.
World debut: MINI One Convertible.Open-air driving pleasure in that unique MINI style is now becoming
even more economical, with the new MINI One Convertible entering the market powered by the latest generation of MINI’s four-cylinder petrol engine. Displacing 1.6 litres and delivering maximum output of 72 kW/98 hp, this power unit again offers all the agility so typical of MINI, combined with average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 5.7 litres/100 kilometres (49.6 mpg imp) and a CO2 rating of 133 grams per kilometre. As a further highlight, the MINI One Convertible comes
as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox and is available as an option with six-speed automatic transmission.
World debut: MINI One MINIMALIST.New petrol engines for the MINI, the MINI Clubman and the MINI Convertible ensure even greater agility – and, thanks to MINIMALISM – even lower CO2 ratings. A further important point is that the MINI Cooper S, the MINI Cooper, the MINI One, and the MINI John Cooper Works all fulfil the EU5 emission standard.
The MINI One MINIMALIST, in turn, offers maximum all-round economy, the entry-level model available with either a 55 kW/75 hp or 72 kW/98 hp four-cylinder setting new standards in terms of all-round economy and low emissions. Both variants make do with average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of just 5.1 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 55.4 mpg imp) and a CO2 emission rating of 119 grams per kilometre.
The full BMW Group Press Release can be seen here>>>
Vines MINI have branches in Gatwick, Redhill and Guildford. You can keep up with news, stories and events by following Vines MINI on Twitter.
More driving enjoyment with new connectivity solution: MINI Connected. Mission Control Apple iPhone In Car Web Radio
New technology unique to MINI opens up a whole new dimension of in-car entertainment – system debut at the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show.
World-first in-car entertainment solution with innovative, unique-to-MINI technology for integration of the Apple iPhone.
Safe, convenient, intuitive control of all functions via the MINI operating system.
World debut of in-car web radio; unique possibilities for customisation and integration of additional functions.
MINI Connected brings enhanced user functionality and customisation to the MINI-exclusive Mission Control function.
MINI has chosen the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show to launch an all-new, world-first in-car entertainment solution: MINI Connected. Through intelligent connectivity between the driver, his MINI and the outside world, MINI Connected offers new options for further enhancing the hallmark driving fun associated with the brand. Some of these new possibilities will be presented in Geneva. MINI Connected will be launched simultaneously with the MINI Countryman, as an optional specification.
With MINI Connected, MINI is the world’s first carmaker to offer a newly developed USB interface whose unique functionality allows maximum integration of the iPhone into the in-car audio and infotainment system. This MINI-exclusive technology provides the basis for new and unprecedented integration of smartphone functions, taking the in-car integration of modern smartphone telecommunications, entertainment and online functions to a whole new level.
All the functions integrated in the MINI courtesy of the Apple iPhone are activated and controlled using the vehicle’s own operating system. When the system is fitted in conjunction with the – likewise new – MINI Visual Boost radio, the full range of MINI Connected functions can be used. The radio’s high-resolution colour display, which is integrated in the Centre Speedo, and the centre console-mounted MINI joystick provide the ideal basis for convenient, simple and intuitive operation. Information and instructions follow the MINI’s particular display logic, while the familiar MINI operating structure allows drivers to select and activate any function with minimal distraction from the road and traffic. To customise the system, applications can be selected or deselected quickly and conveniently using the vehicle controls.
World-first: the MINI Connected web radio function.
The web radio function will be showcased in Geneva as a typical example of the extended possibilities opened up by MINI Connected. In a “hooked up” MINI – linked to the outside world via MINI Connected – the driver will be able to have his choice of radio station streamed to him anywhere in the world, provided the station is available in the extensive station database. The desired station is selected using the familiar controls on the MINI audio system, ensuring highly safe and convenient operation even while on the road. MINI is the world’s first carmaker to offer such a function as an option for production vehicles.
In addition, MINI Connected allows a variety of other services and functions to be integrated into the car as well. The innovative iPhone interface provides unique data exchange capabilities, allowing a huge range of infotainment, navigation and communication functions to be used on board the vehicle. MINI Connected also allows functions to be enhanced or personalised to the driver’s individual preferences.
The diversity and flexibility offered by MINI Connected across a host of different functions is new in the car industry. The unique, future-adaptable MINI Connected technology will guarantee customers instant access to future innovations in the fields of entertainment, communication, navigation and information.
Exclusive to MINI: Mission Control.
MINI Connected also incorporates the Mission Control module, which made its debut in the MINI 50 Camden anniversary model. Mission Control evaluates a vast range of vehicle, driving situation and vehicle environment-related signals and supplies the driver with relevant information and instructions in customary MINI style. Mission Control gives the driver an even stronger sense of interacting directly with the vehicle, reinforcing the whole concept of the MINI as a car with character and personality.
The vehicle-related signals are used to generate constantly changing, situation-dependent messages. The dialogue may take the form of safety and comfort-related advice – for example prompts to fasten a seatbelt or guidance on the air conditioning system – or may provide information relating to the current driving situation and operating status (for example outside temperatures or fuel tank level). The wide repertoire of messages, which marks a significant advance over previous systems, makes for a continually varied dialogue between the MINI and its driver, even in familiar and frequently recurring everyday driving situations. And thanks to MINI Connected, Mission Control now offers extensive functional enhancement and personalisation options including, for example, a choice of language versions and driving modes.
Vines MINI have branches in Gatwick, Redhill and Guildford. You can keep up with news, stories and events by following Vines MINI on Twitter.
