Owners of the sleek Mini Cooper have made the “MINI Cooper Takes the States” event a summer tradition. The 15-day, 19 state cross-country road trip allows families to bond and lovers of the MINI Cooper to connect for memories that will last a lifetime. During the launch party in Atlanta, Steve Saward of MINI Cooper USA discussed the significance of the national road trip. –a.r.
Why has the MINI Cooper Takes the States event grown so rapidly?
MINI Cooper is a brand that inspires a lot of people. It was such a popular event that we did it again in 2008 and we did it this year. Many owners from all over the country were invited to go wherever they wanted to go to participate in the event. For those of us with MINIS, it’s a good way to get out of the office for a week.
Steve Saward
What makes the MINI Cooper so unique?
Even though the cars look the same, everyone puts a personal spin on their MINI. It’s a lot of fun for us to see the different styles. It’s a brand that really inspires a lot of passion and enthusiasm.
How have owners documented their journey?
We’ve got our own MySpace page and we are obviously blogging. The car owners are blogging a lot and uploading photos and short films that are posted to the Web. Some of the cars are already set up with video cameras. We put a compilation together that we share with our dealers because they actually like to share the experience with us. In a few months from now, if you go to any MINI showroom, you will probably see MINI Cooper Takes the States videos.
What makes the MINI Cooper eco-friendly?
The MINI is about having fun while being environmentally responsible. Our cars get great fuel economy. Although it’s small, it’s comfortable enough to drive across the country. It has a great safety rating and you can add luxury features on it that you can’t put on most small cars. It also continues the tradition. The original MINI was developed in the mid-1950s. It was a result of the Suez Canal Crisis. There was a lack of oil and a feeling that we need[ed] to be sensitive. So the MINI was created to be fuel efficient.
