BMW's
Mini brand is getting a little bigger soon, with the Countryman bringing a taller stance and some AWD to the party, but that won't be the only exciting addition to the mix. The Countryman will be the first Mini to offer Mini Connected, an infotainment system of the likes of
Sync or
MyFord. This one naturally features iPhone/iPod integration and all that jazz, but most interesting is the so-called "web radio function" that will allow internet radio streams to be beamed right into the car. Stations must be selected from an "extensive" database, so it remains to be seen whether your favorite speed metal stream will be included, but more importantly Mini isn't saying just how those bits and bytes will get to the car. Will a USB modem be required? Will Mini charge a monthly service fee? Maybe you'll just need a really long Ethernet cable? We'll find out when it gets a full unveiling at the Geneva Auto Show next month.
posted February 24th 2010 11:29AM
Great!
I bet it will be unlimited.
You know... 'unlimited' ... meaning, 5GB.
Luckily the car will be FREE!
Yes.... FREE!
... meaning... about $30G.
ahhhhh.... it's fun to use words to mean anything you want.
This looks interesting... Hope this becomes popular...
Disney sues for vague Mickey Mouse likeness in 3...2...1....
Yeah, the look of those gauges does look Mickey Mousy. I don't like them, but I still would drive one!
@Kyle H. Lol. I dont know if you're being sarcastic or not, but I wouldn't mind putting some money on Disney doing just that!
I don't get it. Hook up a smartphone and you got streaming. That's all i want my car stereo to be able to do..integrate with phone.
@cardfan
Most Audis and BMW's do just that
@cardfan
Been doing this for years with my Sprint HTC Mogul and an Alpine x100i.
Oh, and f*ck the Cardinals. Albert's on the juice.
@cardfan
Scions do that.
@gerrrg
Any stereo with an aux-in does that...
mickey?
Screw the internet radio, I want the AWD Mini you speak of :)
I think I read somewhere that it will use the iPhone data connection to get the internet radio.
Uh so yeah I can't imagine data to a car being streamed through iPhone (ATT wireless limits) or even any other wireless connection since you'd conceivably eat up all kinds of data in a month. Maybe satellite is involved somehow?
The Mini Countryman is UGLY! Just like the clubman and convertible. The Cooper Works however... :)
Big O?
@SmashZilla
I think you mean...
*puts watch to face*
Big O!
Man, though, if a picture ever cried out to be made into a Winamp skin, it's this one.
Now if I could only fit inside of one..... *tear*
NOT give me a big ol truck any day I'll run that thing over.
@Jaylittles531
Unless you're 7 feet tall and weigh 350 lbs, you can.
Obviously you've never sat in one, or else the above conditions are unfortunately true.
MINI's are roomier than many full-size SUV's I've sat in. I can stretch my legs straight out in mine, and I'm 6' 1.5" and have about 4" between my head and the roof. Try one!!! :-)
@darex Agreed. I'm 6' tall and can sit comfortably in the back seat of a Mini. I was dumbfounded the first time I climbed in one.
@Jaylittles531
Try getting in the back of a classic mini. Now that's a car worthy of the 'Mini' name. The new ones huuuuge.
@darex
At 6'-7" and 235lbs, I'm also very comfortable in a mini. It's amazing how much cabin room they squeeze into that tiny car.
@darex Penn Jillette (of Penn & Teller fame) drives a Mini, and he's 6'6" and probably over 300 lbs, and he apparently fits just fine.
Looks like Mini has been studying with Cardassian designers. That entire speedo cluster is straight out of DS9.