Flying Over Silverstone Circuit in the UK During MINI United 2009

An outstanding view of the goings on at MINI United 2009, Silverstone Circuit, UK

Folks, MINI United is just around the corner and I'm making my plans to attend (sans car this year!). Go ahead and visit MINIUSA.com and MINI United.com for event and programming information. White Roof Radio also has an interview up with Gina Koutros of MINI USA that outlines the benefits for the American group heading over to Silverstone Circuit in the UK. Should be a blast!

It's MINI's 50th birthday. You aren't going to miss it, are you?

My Site and a Status Update

It's been a month since I've posted anything new on the site and I thought it fair to give an update. To be quite honest I haven't been able to give the time to post as often as I'd like here on Robert's Random Ramblings. I have been very active on Facebook where I have found the site to be brilliant in reconnecting me with old and new friends as well as allowing me to post articles and stories of interest very quickly. Granted, my Facebook page has a broad range of topics of interest to me; automobiles and motorcycles are high on the list. However, I am also commenting and posting articles on political, social, and cultural topics as well.

If you enjoy the blog, please do come over and visit me on Facebook. Just click on the Facebook link.

I won't be taking down Robert's Random Ramblings. No, I'll leave it up and occasionally stop by to respond to comments and hopefully post something of interest now and then.

Thanks for reading!

Abarth 500 SS

Well, Fiat keeps the interest in the 500 high by tinkering with the fabulous little car. It's a page from the MINI JCW book, but if this page is any indication I'd be interested in the whole book! Hopefully we'll see this car stateside!

Abarth 500 SS

PRESS RELEASE: ESSEESSE – SUPREMELY SPORTING

Owners who want to take their Abarth 500 even closer to the tuning firm's ‘racer for the road' ideal, can plump for the esseesse specification. The word esseesse means ‘SS' in Italian and lives up to its name by giving the car a supremely sporting twist.

The £2500 conversion has to be carried out within 12 months or 20,000km of the car's first registration and can only be undertaken by Abarth's skilled network of technicians. Their first job is to upgrade the engine's Electronic Control Unit so that the 1.4-litre turbo pumps out 160bhp at 5750rpm – more than double the power output of the regular Fiat model and very much in keeping with historic Abarth practice. To help with this power upgrade, a new air filter made by Italian specialist BMC is fitted.

To match the additional power, drilled and ventilated 284mm x 22mm brake discs are fitted at the front, together with new pads, while 240mm x 11mm drilled discs replace the already powerful standard items at the rear. Uprated Abarth springs are fitted front and rear too, and so that the esseesse looks even racier, the regular 16-inch wheels are replaced with 17-inch white or titanium colour alloy rims and 205/40 R17 tyres.

A tyre pressure monitoring system and unique key cover are the final touches in this transformation to the ultimate road-going Abarth 500.

Even though this upgrade relies heavily on modern technology, the esseesse kit stays loyal to the legend of Abarth by being delivered to customers in a high quality wooden crate. Once its contents have been emptied, the crate then becomes the property of the customer as a charming memento.

Maserati MC Corse Takes the Granturismo S to the Track

Maserati MC Corse Concept
Higher performance and less weight than the S = racer to be reckoned with

Maserati has produced an FIA racecar based on the Granturismo S. Not content to rest on its laurels as having one of the most beautiful and fast coupes on the market, Maserati is preparing to assault the track with the MC Corse. Various bits from the MC Sportline catalog in the form of carbon fiber body and interior updates will be available for Granturismo owners in the near future as well.

Interior carbon fiber bits for the Granturismo and Granturismo S

Granturismo with MC Sportline Exterior Enhancements

Wheels, carbon fiber mirrors, doorhandles plus more aerodynamic sideskirts and front splitter offered by the MC Sportline. Not shown is the more aggressive carbon fiber trunklid spoiler, basically a larger version of the integrated spoiler on the Granturismo S.

Worldwide Economic Downturn Affects MINI

MINI has withstood the current economic turmoil very well with sales still strong in 2008. However, now even MINI is finding it necessary to shed jobs, cut shifts, and idle the factory to cope with the decrease in global demand.



Let's hope that MINI doesn't take a huge hit that will affect its long-term stability.

MINI USA Confirms that Diesel is Under Consideration

USA Today posted an article that confirms that diesel powered MINI's are actively under consideration for distribution in the US market. However, the diesel motor would have to be a new powerplant that is not currently in the MINI D lineup.

For the full story visit:

USA Today: MINI Considers Diesel for the USA

Automotive Bliss: The Maserati Granturismo S

Fiat 500 a Step Closer to Reality in USA

Looks like we are a large step closer to seeing Fiat Puntos, 500s, and other interesting small Italian cars on US roads:

Original "Italian Job" Film Ending Solved?

Still haven't had a lot of time to get this site updated but I came across this little nugget on CNN and thought I'd share. If you're a fan of the original 1960's film "The Italian Job" (yes MINI Coopers figured prominently in that film) then the ending must have left you guessing. Well, guess no more...