The MINI Countryman is coming in 2011 to East Bay MINI

Learn about the MINI Countryman from East Bay MINI. It's coming soon...

As a Crossover, the MINI Countryman bridges the gap between the classic MINI concept and a Sports Activity Vehicle. The MINI Countryman is a completely new MINI. But its likeness to the rest of its family is immediately apparent. And true to MINI’s motto – it’s MINI on the outside, Maxi on the inside. It offers more space and greater flexibility, as well as standard MINI fun. The extra interior space is made possible by the wheelbase of the car, which has grown – and by the additional height of the body.

There are four individual seats, but you can exchange the two rear seats for a three-seat option. The luggage compartment is very spacious. With the two rear seats folded down and the tailgate opens up wide which is great for loading overiszed items like your bulldog. The slightly elevated seating in the MINI Countryman makes it easy to enter and exit the vehicle and it also allows for improved road vision.

Unique to this model is the innovative MINI Centre Rail. This aluminium track stretches from the front to the rear of the interior and offers storage for personal items. For all of those gadget fans: The Centre Rail has neatly integrated electrical and USB connections for seamless integration of smartphones, such as the iPhone, and other devices. This innovative system will be available as an option with the MINI Countryman. It also has the first in-car web radio, which means the cosmopolitan MINI driver can listen to radio stations from all over the world.

The MINI Countryman is the first MINI which offers all-wheel-drive. The MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper D will be available with the optional permanent all-wheel-drive system, which we call MINI ALL4. Call or visit East Bay MINI to find out how you can get your hands on a MINI Countryman in 2011.

Did You Know from East Bay MINI

DID YOU KNOW...




>MINI was named "best brand" in Kelly Blue Book's 2006 Best Relsale Value Awards


>With so many personalization options available, there are over 150 trillion possible MINI configurations. We actually did the math and our heads still hurt


>Every new MINI comes with no cost, full maintenance for 3 years or 36,000 miles.


>The MINI Cooper S was awarded "2007 International Engine of the Year" in the 1.4 to 1.8 liter category.


>All MINI have air-conditioned glove boxes


>British Racing Green (also know as Brunswick) was name the offical international racing color of Great Britian in 1903.


>The MINI Cooper was anme Edmunds.com editors "most wanted coupe under 30K" for 2007


>The Xenon headlamps of a MINI will automatically adjusts their height according to the vehciles pitch


>Every new MINI comes with 24-hour roadside assitance during the first 4 years of ownership


>There are over one million MINI owners motoring around the world


>The 2008 MINI Cooper Hardtop is a bonafide sipper, getting 37 MGP on the highway (with manual transmission)


>It's customary for MINI Owners to acknowledge each other with a friendly wave while out motoring.


>Unlike most cars in its class, MINIs come with equal length drive-shafts, helping the car stay straight even druing hard accelerations.


>MINI's much like British bulldogos, are known for the ferociously strong bonds they develop with their owners.


>The accelerator in the 2008 MINI Cooper and Cooper S Hardtops is 100% electric, delivering almost instant acceleration when you want it.

Save $4,429 on a 2009 MINI Cooper S Convertible

2009 MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE

LET'S SAVE $4,429

WAS $38,129

NOW $33,700*

EXTERIOR: Interchange Yellow

INTERIOR: Interchange Yellow Cloth

OPTIONS: cold weather pacakge, sport package, door mirror caps in chrome, foglights, openometer, premium package, sport button, on-board computer, bluetooth and USB/iPod adapter and more.

*All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emissions testing charge. Valid on stock #9384. Offer expires 3/31/10. One at this offer. Stock #9384. VIN GT88045

East Bay MINI's 2009 Recognition Celebration

Every year East Bay MINI recognizes key employess that went above and beyond their job duty. East Bay BMW is proud to announce the 2009 Employees and Deparment of the Year:

James Herren, Business Development Manager receiving and presenting Philip Maxson, Business Development Representative the 2009 East Bay MINI Department of the Year award.

Jim Burke and Alan Elias, Service Advisors. Award presented by Eric Gordon, Service Manager

Paul Fox, Motoring Advisor of the Year, receiving award from Donna Tafoya, General Manager

Javier Gomez, Parts Advisor, receiving award from Luis Romano, Parts Manager.

Mark Badero, Service Technician. Award presented by Eric Gordon, Service Manager.

Orlando Ramirez, Detailer (not photographed)

Mark Martin Races Hendrickcars.com No. 5 this Sunday

Hendrickcars.com is the primary partner for the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet and Mark Martin this Sunday, March 7, 2010 at Atlanta Motor Speedway after a two-week sponsorship with JR Motorsports on the #88 Chevrolet (finished 7th 2/20 in Fontana and crashed early on 2/27 at Las Vegas). Mark Martin has had two 4th place finishes in the last two races and finished second in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings.

Martin began his racing career at the age of 15 in his home state of Arkansas. Competing on dirt tracks, he won in only his third start and that same year – 1974 – won the Arkansas State Championship. In 1976, Martin left his dirt days behind and moved to pavement racetracks.

In 1977, Martin started competing in the American Speed Association (ASA). He earned rookie of the year honors that year and went on to win the championship the following three seasons.

Hendrick’s admiration grew for Martin’s on-track skills as well as his ability to motivate and inspire his crew members. Hendrick decided to pursue the NASCAR veteran, and in July 2008, Martin announced that he would return to full-time Sprint Cup competition to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.

Martin did not disappoint in his first season with the powerhouse team and posted one of his career-best seasons with five victories, 14 top-five finishes and 21 top-10s. He also notched a career-best seven pole positions.

In his return to full-time racing, Martin challenged for the 2009 Sprint Cup championship. He opened the Chase as the points leader and maintained the top spot during the first three races of the postseason. During the final race of the season, Martin was the only contender with a mathematical shot to reach Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson, who ultimately scored his fourth straight Cup title.

Martin finished the season with several honors and notably was recognized as NASCAR Illustrated’s Person of the Year presented by Old Spice. He also earned the Sporting News’ Dale Earnhardt Tough Driver award. Martin was named to the All American Team selected by the Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association and was nominated for the SPEED Performer of the Year title.

Late in the 2009 season, Mark Martin announced that he would return fulltime to Hendrick Motorsports through the 2011 season to drive the No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet.

Meet the MINI Link through an iPhone App

Introducing the MINI LINK.

MINI Link is the iPhone app for MINI Owners and all MINI enthusiasts. It's a map based app that allows MINI motorists to detect and connect with each other on the road, and share all sorts of roadside recommendations and fun helpful tips such as:



>Want to meet up with some other MINI Owners.
>Know Where to get a Great Deal on Gas
>Know of a Great Diner Off the Beaten Path?
>Want to Say Hi to Your Fellow MINI Motorists



Go to the App Store for more information.

East Bay MINI Donates a Camera to Matt Kelly

On December 18, 2009, Matt Kelly was severely injured when he was struck by a semi while riding his bicycle in San Diego. Matt Kelly, a musician and photographer who grew up in Pleasanton, CA was admitted to the hospital in critical condition. After several blood transfusions and countless surgeries, he was stabilized. To the relief of his friends and family, he pulled through and was recently discharged from the hospital. He faces a long and difficult path to regain his ability to walk again.

His friends and family organized a benefit show to help defer the sizable expense of medication and physical therapy. East Bay MINI was pleased to contribute by donating a professional DSLR cameras to Matt. An astounding photographer in his own right, Matt was thrilled to receive a gift that will allow him to stay creative and document his life while he is confined to beds and wheelchairs.

You can follow Matt's recovery at his sister’s blog: http://www.matthewscottkelly.blogspot.com/

To make a donation of your own you can visit: http://www.friendsofmattkelly.com/Site/Main_Page.html