All-New 2007 MINI Hardtops Even More Fuel Efficient According to Recent EPA Testing.

MINI Cooper with Manual Transmission Tops 40 Miles per Gallon 

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- In light of increasing fuel prices, many manufacturers are striving to produce vehicles with an average fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon. The fact that the all-new 2007 MINI Cooper achieves 40 miles per gallon according to the latest EPA testing should be welcomed by car buyers across the US. And that the MINI Cooper delivers this miserly fuel economy with no effect on its performance and driving capabilities is an added advantage.

MINI USA's growth in sales over the past 5 years to just over 170,000 cars and the overall growth trend of the small-car market demonstrates how the industry is responding to the need for increased efficiency. MINI is a prime example that buyers do not need to sacrifice performance, quality and fun when opting for a smaller, more efficient vehicle.

On average the new generation 2007 MINI hardtops realize an increase of 4 miles per gallon over their predecessors. The 2007 MINI Cooper with a 6-speed manual transmission achieves a fuel economy of 32/40 City/Highway with a combined average of 35 MPG. The same car with an automatic transmission offers preliminary values of 30/37 City/Highway MPG with a combined average of 33 MPG.

For the turbocharged 2007 MINI Cooper S with a 6-speed manual transmission the following EPA fuel economy values are 29/36 City/Highway with a combined MPG of 32 MPG. And for the MINI Cooper S with the 6-speed performance automatic transmission the preliminary values are 27/34 City/Highway with a combined average of 30 MPG.

As an important factor in improved fuel economy, the all-new 2007 MINI hardtops have a new family of lighter weight aluminum alloy engines that incorporate more efficient technology. Both in normally aspirated and turbocharged versions, the engines feature variable valve train technology. In addition, the engines feature a volume-flow controlled oil pump that delivers only the necessary oil needed at that give time. These are just some of the examples of how MINI has increased overall efficiencies.

"MINIs offer loads of fun style and substance but they also happen to offer a high level of fuel efficiency in a premium-small-car." said Rich Steinberg, manager of US product strategy. "With the all-new 2007 MINI hardtops we have been able to improve our fuel efficiency without compromising what makes MINI fun."

MINI in the US

MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC which has been present in the United States since 1975. ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the ROLLS-ROYCE brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 339 BMW passenger car centers, 334 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 143 BMW motorcycle retailers, 80 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:

  http://www.bmwgroupna.com/
  http://www.bmwusa.com/
  http://www.bmwmotorradusa.com/
  http://www.miniusa.com/
  http://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/

CONTACT: Andrew S. Cutler, MINI Communications Manager, of BMW of North America, [phone], [e-mail]

Web site: http://www.bmwgroupna.com/ http://www.bmwusa.com/ http://www.bmwmotorradusa.com/ http://www.miniusa.com/ http://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/