Driving the MINI E at LA Autoshow

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Right after the unveiling of the new MINI E we got to take the MINI E for a short spin around downtown LA. Afterwards we chatted with Jim McDowell, vice president of MINI USA, about the best MINI E pickup lines and Dr. Wolfgang Armbrecht, senior vice president of brand management MINI, about the ideal MINI E driver. more

Premiere of the MINI E at the LA Auto Show

It’s amazing, the MINI E makes no noise! None. This is what we learned today at a press conference at the LA Auto Show where the highly anticipated model had its world debut. To watch someone turn the vehicle on in the middle of the convention center and then see it glide away silently was literally like watching a silent movie. Jarring and yet also kind of peaceful. more

MINI Space Design Competition 2: Winners Announced!

You may have noticed things have been hotting up with our background design competition Urban Oasis. It seems like everyone wanted a piece of the action and the incredible prizes or course. We received nearly 3000 backgrounds! The entries have been astounding and your designs just got better and better. more

Environmental Warriors and Solidarity: The Winners of MDA 2008

‘Ecodesign' and ‘Design Solidarity' are two terms which have recently come into fashion, and they also help to summarize the spirit of this fourth edition of the MINI Design Award. The works of MDA 2008 will be on exhibition in Rome until November 19. more

The Future of the City – MINI Design Award Exhibition 2008 in Rome

From today, the exhibition of MINI Design Award 2008 entrants is open to the general public. Situated in the heart of Trastevere, the exhibition will showcase the works of 33 artists and their interpretations of the competition topic: "The Future of the City: Our Environment. The Value of Water." more

Container Art & Vroom, Urban Oases of Creativity

Containers. You know, those giant metal boxes used for goods transport. They can also be used for emergency accommodation in natural catastrophes, or other extreme situations. They are useful objects, emotionless, and free of any charm, aesthetic appeal or creative potential. At least, that appeared to be the case. And that is precisely the challenge of the Container Art project: How to use these objects, which we otherwise know only from the circumstances outlined above, as urban oases where it is possible to enjoy contemporary works of art. more

MINI Design Award 2008

"Giving value to water!" That is the unquestionably stimulating topic of the 2008 MINI Design Awards, supported by MINI in collaboration with the European Institute of Design (IED). By targeting young Italian designers, the MINI Design Award has the aim of developing talent, and helping talented people gain attention. Thirty-three designers were invited to engage with the topic of this fourth edition of the competition, some selected by winners of previous years, others by the Association of Industrial Design (ADI).
From November 5, this year's works will be presented in Rome in an exhibition which is open to the public. more

Bye, Bye, Roma!

It's starting to feel like goodbye in the MINI Lounge. The weather has improved again, and everyone's a little bit melancholy, given that the festival has now concluded. However, there is also a feeling that much has been accomplished, and a hope that everything has been done well. After the storms of recent days, an English rain accompanies the final stages of the festival, and brings it to its unavoidable end. more

Ciao Fabrizio De André!

Ten years ago, one of the true greats of Italian music left us:  Fabrizio de André. This time of year, many people who revered him back then once again turn their minds to him, both within and outside the borders of Italy. Even cinema legend Wim Wenders celebrated him as one of the greatest contemporary artists, likening him to Bob Dylan. more

From the CineMINI to Morricone

The Auditorium is not home to the entire festival. The enormous cinema event is a festival that involves the entire city, with many events organized over these ten days in October. The events are all related to cinema - some more, some less. And accordingly, the Festival internazionale del Film di Roma also inspires many to discover, or re-discover, a multitude of more or less famous corners of Rome. more

The bad girls of Italian cinema

This is a festival for the bad girls. Perverse teenagers, evil women, prostitutes and sadists who kill animals, or who torment men. The cinema seems to have left behind the old stereotypes, opening itself up to the portrayal of unique personalities and interpersonal dynamics which are typical to today's society. more

Elio Germano and the (creative) youth of today

Creative people. Like Elio Germano, lead actor of Danile Vicari's film Il passato é una terra straniera, the preview of which was held yesterday evening. Elio Germano's face was the first we saw upon our arrival at the MINI Lounge. It's the face of an uncomplicated man with absolutely no airs or graces, wearing jeans and a T-shirt. He attends this Hollywood party in the company of the director, and reveals interesting aspects of how the film was made, such as the extraordinary acting talent of one Michele Riondino: "He has a lot of experience to draw on...I've done more film, but he's done more theater," Elio admits. more