Performance MINI

I begin my introduction with some sad news because you hold in your hands the very last issue of Performance MINI. While the magazine has only been around since 2018, it’s continued the legacy of Modern MINI, which served the modern modded MINI community for 92 issues before being transformed into Performance MINI. I want to start by saying thanks to Jamie King for being at the helm of PMINI from the very beginning all the way up to issue 20, and Martyn Collins as the last editor of Modern MINI before its relaunch as Performance MINI. I’ve only been the editor of this magazine for seven issues, but I’ve greatly enjoyed my time as its custodian. Getting stuck into the world of MINI has been a lot of fun,…

Is there such a thing as too much power? You could argue there’s a point where a car becomes so powerful that it becomes difficult to put all that power down and actually enjoy the driving experience. You could argue that you don’t need more than a certain amount of power and that there’s an optimum amount that’s perfect for any given car, road and situation. You could argue that the figure becomes a bit meaningless after a certain point, and beyond that level, you just start chasing numbers. You could argue all of that… But, at the same time, having a lot of power is a lot of fun, and the more you’ve got, the more impressive it is, and the more exciting it is, and that makes Nikos…

TRAX SILVERSTONE 2022 The awesome TRAX Silverstone show is back for 2022, and there’s still time to buy tickets! The date for your diary is Sunday 11 September, and it’s shaping up to be another absolutely awesome event packed full of nothing but the best modified and high-performance machinery from across the UK, with a Performance MINI display featuring some of our most stunning feature cars. Expect huge displays showcasing stunning modified cars from across the country, with something for everyone, a massive Retail Village packed with car-related parts, accessories, clothing and much more. On top of that, there will be fast-paced on-track action, public track time, plus special display paddock parking that ensures your MINI will get plenty of attention in a prime spot. This show is not to…

AUTOGLYM QUIKREFRESH 500ml £14.99 Car care expert Autoglym has just launched QuikRefresh, which has been designed to rapidly restore that perfect ‘just-washed’ finish with minimal effort. It uses microemulsion technology to gently break down and lift light layers of traffic film, dust and water marks from all exterior surfaces. It then holds these contaminants safely in suspension to minimise the risk of scratches and swirls. The product is diluted in a bucket of water, and is specifically designed to be applied to the vehicle with an Autoglym InstaDry microfibre cloth. Autoglym QuikRefresh is compatible with the entire Autoglym range and will support the effectiveness of existing coatings. Suitable for all exterior finishes, the product is designed to deliver a refresher wash but it should not take the place of thorough…

When it comes to modding, there are levels to this hobby. But even at the very top end of the modding scale, where you’ve got the big-power builds, the wide-arch cars, you’ve got those people who take things further still, who go beyond and take their cars to the next level, people like Richard Everitt and his roof-chopped R53. Going wide-body on your MINI takes commitment, but going for a roof chop? That’s something else and it’s just the tip of this incredible iceberg of a build. Before we even start getting under the skin of this R53, it feels like we need to learn a bit more about Richard to understand what kind of person takes on a project on this scale. “When I was a child, we always…

For hot hatch enthusiasts, there was much to like about the ‘New’ R50 MINI Cooper, which was launched alongside the One, back in July 2001. Highlights were the sharp steering and playful chassis, but with just 120hp, this MINI offered ‘warm’ rather than ‘hot’ performance. However, a faster version was always on the cards, and, sure enough, the performance headliner with one of the most iconic Classic Mini performance badges on the boot, Cooper S, was launched in July 2002. Outside, BMW deliberately didn’t change Frank Stephenson’s attractive, 2000s redesign. The big giveaways were the letterbox vent on the bonnet, feeding air directly to the intercooler, and the Classic Mini-style centre twin exhaust, with its two smaller Coke-can finishers. The only other style changes were the chunkier, more aggressive bumpers…