Fans of Britain's favourite small car have a lot to look forward to at this year's Mini in the Park, which takes place at the Santa Pod raceway, Bedfordshire this Sunday, August 13th. As well as live action, including the Adrenaline Tour live action stunt show, there will be live demonstrations from the famous 'Turbonator' Jet Mini and a Mini-only 'Run what Ya Brung' on Santa Pod's famous drag strip. One of the highlights of this year's show will be the MITP Pride of Ownership display. Visitors will also have the chance to enter a competition to win a classic Mini, sponsored by specialist insurers Carole Nash. The 1996 Mini Equinox is one of only 750 ever made, and has a distinctive 'Moon and Stars' interior theme. Non-club members will also be able to enjoy the show, with a special Mini-only parking area reserved for their prized cars, a special award for the best 'non-club' Mini attending the event and the famous drag strip open to non-club members as well.

The BMW Group announced that the new battery-electric MINI will be a variant of the brand's core 3-door Hatch model, going into production in 2019. This is part of the manufacturer's strategy that all their brands and model be electrified, with a full-electric or plug-in hybrid drivetrain being offered in addition to the combustion engine option. Today, the BMW Group offers the widest range of electrified vehicles of any car manufacturer in the world, with nine models already on the market. By 2025, the BMW Group expects electrified vehicles to account for between 15-25% of sales. The new, fully-electric MINI is one of a series of electrified models to be launched by the BMW and MINI brands in the coming years. The battery electric MINI's electric drivetrain will be built at the BMW Group's e-mobility centre at Plants Dingolfing and Landshut in Bavaria before being integrated into the car at Plant Oxford, which is the main production location for the MINI 3-door Hatch.

The thoughts of an electric version of the iconic Mini racing through the streets of Milan as in the famous scenes from Italian Job is coming ever closer as the development process for the model is now almost complete. At first glance, you wouldn't recognise the test car Mini as a hybrid model, everything looks familiar outside and in the cockpit. But underneath there is not only a combustion engine but an electric motor that gives purely electric propulsion for the first time in a Mini. There is an intelligent energy management system that controls how the two work together, so it's not just efficient, but great fun to drive too. In fact the hybrid Mini uses the electric motor's torque to the driver's advantage, using it to create an acceleration that outdoes its more traditional versions. Another benefit is in the decision for the electric motor to transmit its power to the rear wheels, whilst the combustion engine does the same to the front wheels. This gives a greater stability and precise steering when cornering. There will be more to come about these innovative developments. Check out the online information at www.press.bmwgroup.co.uk; www.mini.co.uk; www.twitter.com/miniuk; www.facebook.com/miniuk; www.youtube.com/miniuk