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Paddy Hopkirk takes the wheel as the electric MINI E joins the 2010 Bridgestone Brighton to London Eco-Rally
Tue Jul 06 18:11:00 CEST 2010 Press Release
On the 7th July MINI E will join some of the world’s cleanest cars in the 2010 Bridgestone London Brighton Eco-Rally. Driven by classic Mini rally legend Paddy Hopkirk, Williams F1 driver Nico Hulkenburg and TV presenter Lisa Rogers, The MINI E will be part of a ‘green convoy’ leaving Brighton’s seafront, driving to London’s Hyde Park. Throughout the route the convoy will take in some of the country’s past and future energy sources.
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BMW Group
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Sarah Heaney
BMW Group
Paddy Hopkirk takes the wheel as the electric MINI E joins the 2010 Bridgestone Brighton to London Eco-Rally
On the 7th July MINI E will join some of the world’s cleanest cars in the 2010 Bridgestone London Brighton Eco-Rally. Driven by classic Mini rally legend Paddy Hopkirk, Williams F1 driver Nico Hulkenburg and TV presenter Lisa Rogers, The MINI E will be part of a ‘green convoy’ leaving Brighton’s seafront, driving to London’s Hyde Park. Throughout the route the convoy will take in some of the country’s past and future energy sources.
The Bridgestone Eco-Rally was set up four years ago, to showcase the very latest in low and zero carbon technology. This year the event promises to be the most successful yet with support from Formula 1’s Ross Braun and Patrick Head, as well as well known car enthusiasts like TV presenters Vicki Butler Henderson and Kevin McCloud.
The MINI E is the first product of BMW’s Project i – a program designed to research and develop transport strategies and new types of vehicles for sustainable mobility. The MINI E is being tested on British roads by a mixture of private, corporate and public sector drivers – all of whom will give valuable feedback to the project consortium and UK government. Phase One of the MINI E UK trial finished last month, and the drivers recruited to take part in the second phase will take to the roads in September this year. The findings from these trials will ultimately be used in the engineering and infrastructure support of mass-produced electric vehicles and establish the social and economic issues and aspects of running an electric car.
During everyday usage, the MINI E can travel around 100 miles (up to 155 miles in ideal conditions*) on a single charge, depending on driving style and conditions, and of course, has the all the characteristic performance for which the MINI is famous. It can sprint from 0-62mph in just 8.5 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 95mph.
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For further information please contact:
Sarah
Heaney MINI
Media Relations Manager
Tel: 01344
480110 Email: Sarah.Heaney@mini.co.uk
Wieland Bruch Product Communications Manager
Tel: 01344 480113 Email: Wieland.Bruch@bmw.co.uk
Graham Biggs Corporate Communications Director
Tel: 01344 480109 Email: Graham.Biggs@bmw.co.uk
For images: www.press.bmwgroup.co.uk
For more information on the Eco Rally visit: www.eco-rally.org
The BMW Group
The BMW Group is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 24 production facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
The BMW Group achieved a global sales volume of approximately 1.29 million automobiles and over 87,000 motorcycles for the 2009 financial year. The pre-tax profit for 2009 was euro 413 million, revenues totalled euro 50.68 billion. At 31 December 2009, the company employed a global workforce of approximately 96,000 associates.
The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last five years.
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