The Monster Energy X-raid Team officially unveiled the exciting new Mini All4 Racing at its rollout in Trebur, near Frankfurt, on Friday.
X-raid's Mini All4 Racing will take part in the 33rd Personal Dakar Argentina-Chile from January 1st-16th, 2011. The new car has a power output of 315 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque and has impressed team driver Guerlain Chicherit from the outset.
"The first short test drive was exciting for me and the team and also quite promising," enthused Chicherit. "I'm really looking forward to the test in France next week now. With the powerful engine and unique handling characteristics of the Mini All4 Racing, we have a good chance in the 2011 Dakar." X-raid team director Sven Quandt is also delighted after the rollout of the new model: "Our team has succeeded, despite the very short development time. We have a vehicle off the ground, which will be competitive.
"The Mini All4 Racing offers exceptional handling, greater ease of service and, thanks to our cooperation with BMW Motoren GmbH on the engine side, we have increased engine performance and efficiency." After the somewhat unusual unveiling in snowy conditions.
X-raid's Mini All4 Racing will take part in the 33rd Personal Dakar Argentina-Chile from January 1st-16th, 2011. The new car has a power output of 315 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque and has impressed team driver Guerlain Chicherit from the outset.
"The first short test drive was exciting for me and the team and also quite promising," enthused Chicherit. "I'm really looking forward to the test in France next week now. With the powerful engine and unique handling characteristics of the Mini All4 Racing, we have a good chance in the 2011 Dakar." X-raid team director Sven Quandt is also delighted after the rollout of the new model: "Our team has succeeded, despite the very short development time. We have a vehicle off the ground, which will be competitive.
"The Mini All4 Racing offers exceptional handling, greater ease of service and, thanks to our cooperation with BMW Motoren GmbH on the engine side, we have increased engine performance and efficiency." After the somewhat unusual unveiling in snowy conditions.
The carbon-kevlar bodied Mini is powered by the same variable twin-turbodiesel engine that's fitted to the BMW X3 CC and it churns out in the region of 235kW and 710Nm. What's more, the engine is more powerful than the unit that got the 2010 X3 CCs to fourth and fifth places last January.
According to X-raid, the Mini handles better than the BMW X3 CC as the overall length is shorter and it is lower. The team have also improved its centre of gravity by relocating various smaller components.
The Mini benefits from larger air intakes, a one-piece bonnet and a revised and improved ventilation system using a front air intake and a roof intake.
Downsides, according to the team, are that visibility inside the Mini is not on a par with the BMW X3 CC and entry and exit of the vehicle for the occupants is slightly more difficult.
However, the Mini is more service friendly than the X3 CC, as all the body panels can be removed within minutes to give easier access to important mechanical components. The skin of the Mini, for example, can be changed within less than 30 minutes.
The Mini All4 Racing will undergo extensive testing in France on December 13th-14th. Chicherit and French co-driver Michel Périn will then give the new car its competitive debut on the Dakar Rally, starting on New Year's Day in Buenos Aires.
Technical Specifications
Maximum output: 315 hp
Torque approx.: 516 lb-ft
Displacement: 3000 cc / 183 cu in
Length: 172.3 in / 4377 mm
Width: 78.5 in / 1994 mm
Height: 77.4 in / 1966 mm
Fuel capacity approx.: 420 l
Maximum output: 315 hp
Torque approx.: 516 lb-ft
Displacement: 3000 cc / 183 cu in
Length: 172.3 in / 4377 mm
Width: 78.5 in / 1994 mm
Height: 77.4 in / 1966 mm
Fuel capacity approx.: 420 l
Images taken from Motoringfile, article taken from cardotcom & IOL.
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