Companies hire PR firms in order to create the perfect stunt. Regardless of how outlandish or risky they may be, many ultimately pay out big. However, once in awhile one doesn’t fair too well, causing a considerable backlash for the company and its representation. Such an unfortunate incident occurred when BMW’s Mini Cooper brand asked Sassenbach Advertising to represent them, ultimately selecting a questionable method to gain popularity.

The public relations nightmare was rooted in Germany’s custom of letting people assign names to weather systems. Charging a relatively small fee, the PR firm paid a mere £190 to name the weather front “Cooper” and “Minnie.” Buisnessweek writer Carol Matlack wrote that the Meteorological Institute at the University of Berlin maintains the long list of names chosen for high and low pressure systems. Based on information the company referred to the high-pressure system that occurred on January 24^th as “The Cooper.”

Those that remember the events surrounding that cold snap know that the weather turned deadly. Indeed by early February nearly 100 people in countries such as Ukraine, Romania and notably Poland tied or were hospitalized due to cold temperatures reaching -33C.  As many as 950 people were treated for frostbite and hypothermia in the Ukraine alone. Indeed, as the weather continuing for the next little while, many weather stations are still referring to the storm as “The Cooper.”

The meteorological institute had implemented this “adopt a vortex” scheme a decade ago in order to raise money for the Berlin’s Free University weather monitoring system. However, it should be noted that this type of naming is certainly not out of the ordinary. Indeed, the United States Weather Service has been naming hurricanes since the 1950’s.

While the intentions were innocent enough, the PR firm was regretting their decision soon after. The carmaker immediately apologized for connotation that individuals believe the name might have had. Indeed, they stated that they could not influence which names occurred when. Tantamount to suggesting that they couldn’t control the weather, the damage was already done.

To add insult to injury the low-pressure system called “Minnie” is still registered and may affect us in the upcoming year. While it is unlikely to cause any deaths, one does not think that it can get any worse than this.

MINI’s hottest new model – the MINI Roadster – has been reduced by up to £80 a month with prices now starting from just £269.95 + VAT a month with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.

Sporting a clever semi-automatic soft-top canvas roof and whopping 240-litre boot, the MINI Roadster is a stylish alternative to the Mazda MX-5 and comes jam packed with tons of trademark  MINI features including a large centrally-mounted speedometer, heated door mirrors, rear parking sensors, air conditioning and DAB radio.

Under the bonnet, the MINI Roadster is available with a 122bhp Cooper, 184bhp Cooper S or 211bhp John Cooper Works drivetrain with the Cooper SD returning a respectable 62.8mpg from its 2-litre diesel engine.

You can now save up to £80 a month on selected MINI Roadster models when you lease with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.

Our cheapest deal is on the MINI Roadster 1.6 Cooper with prices starting from just £269.95 + VAT a month. Standard features on this model include:

• Bluetooth Function with USB Audio

• Cosmos Cloth Upholstery

• Manual Air Conditioning

• DAB Digital Radio

• 15″ Alloy Wheels

To find out more about the new MINI Roadster and to get an instant quotation on any model in the MINI range, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

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No car manufacturer can create a flawless vehicle. Once in awhile a certainly defect creeps up that alters its safety and ultimately causes the company to recall the model. Costing a tremendous amount of money as well as causing some embarrassment for the company, BMW’s Mini’s have unfortunately been recalled due to potential fire risk faults in its water pump.

A rather large recall, the company is looking to fix nearly 235,000 vehicles of which nearly 30,000 are located here in the UK. The Guardian noted that a number of models have been affected by this change, particularly the Cooper S as well as the John Cooper Works models made between 2006 and 2011.

The move was announced by BMW who, as Mini’s parent company, are responsible for the inner workings of the company. Their announcement was prompted after the company was notified of four separate cases where fires have resulted from the electric water pump. The company had explained that under high operating pressures there is a problem with the electro-migration on the circuit board installed within the pump itself. Because of this there can be some failure associated with the water pump breaking, smouldering, even catching on fire.

A problem that could not be ignored, the company has therefore taken the necessary steps in remedying the difficult situation.  Reporters have noted that all owners that have registered their vehicles have been notified about the problem. They have been invited to take their vehicles to their nearest Mini dealership in order to begin the exchange process. The company estimated that it should not take more than an hour or two to make the exchange. Furthermore, the company has noted that turbocharged engines that are affected have an additional water pump so the problem is not completely dire.

The mini plant located in Oxford makes around 200,000 vehicles each year. BMW has noted that there is a very low incidence of faults in these cars. Representatives have state that a great deal of time and effort is places to make these cars as effective and safe as possible. This, according to them, is an extreme circumstance that is rarely if ever repeated. While no injury’s or accidents have been reported due to this problem, the company is hopeful that the letter scheme will sort out any potential problems that might result from the issue.

BMW, the owners of the Mini brand, is finally recalling 235,000 of its Cooper S and John Cooper Works models worldwide  due to an electrical fault which can cause vehicles to burst into flames, despite insisting at first that there was ‘no particular problem’.

The problem, which affects cars built between March 2006 and January 2011 features around the turbocharger cooling system. This has a circuit board that controls it, and this is what is prone to malfunction. If it fails, the car’s water pump can start to smoulder, leading sometimes to a fire in the engine.

This happened to 25-yeard-old auditor Karina Collins who was driving her Mini Cooper on the M4 last August when the car suddenly lost power.

‘The bonnet popped open from all of the flames. The front was on fire, and there were flames round the doors,’ she said. (After pulling over) ‘I was struggling to get the seatbelt off and the doors unlocked and felt like I was stuck in there. Eventually I ran out and along the hard shoulder.

‘The tyres were exploding and other bits were falling off. I left everything in the vehicle, including my computer and handbag. If there had been a child in the back – it doesn’t bear thinking about.’

Just one of seven known complaints from drivers in the UK who claimed their cars had burst into flames, either when parked or unattended, or as they drove along. In the one case being investigated, a 2007 Mini Cooper S spontaneously caught fire whilst parked in a driveway, while in another, an identical model burst into flames moments after the owner had parked up.

Nearly 30,000 cars in the UK are understood to be affected and recall notices are being sent out in the next couple of weeks asking owners to go to their dealer and get a new water pump fitted. But Mini insist that the cars are still safe to drive and said there was a ‘very low incidence’ of the fault occurring.

‘In more extreme cases, it could create a heat build-up in the wiring and some smouldering,’ a spokesman for Mini said. ‘Potentially it could cause a fire. We are not aware of any accidents or injuries connected with this. The important thing is that when people receive the letter, they simply go to their dealer and get a new water pump fitted if there is a problem.’

Karina Collins won’t be. ‘I certainly wouldn’t fancy driving in another Mini. I’ve lost trust in the brand.’

If you’re looking for a car ASAP and love a bargain, don’t miss out on these fantastic last minute car leasing offers from Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.

Take advantage of great deals on popular models such as the Ford Fiesta, Nissan Juke and MINI Hatchback.

We’re also offering a FREE Xmas gift worth up to £50 with every order placed before 23rd December.

First up is an amazing deal on the Ford Fiesta 3 Door 1.6TDCi Zetec ECOnetic available to lease from just £134.95 + VAT a month with FREE Metallic Paint in Panther Black, Silver or Vision Blue. Stylish, cheap to run and packed full of character, the new Ford Fiesta ECOnetic is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its sector with the 1.6-litre turbodiesel emitting just 98g/km of CO2. A limited number of cars are in stock for January delivery.

If you’re looking for a new car that’s jam packed with Bluetooth, Sat Nav, reverse parking aid and 17” alloy wheels, you won’t want to miss out on our amazing deal on the Nissan Juke 1.5 dCi Tekna. Prices start from just £159.95 + VAT p/m with cars in stock for quick delivery. The nippy 1.5 dCi engine also packs out an impressive 109 bhp & CO2 of just 134g/km, offering comfort, style & performance.

Finally, the popular Mini Hatchback 1.6 One Pepper is in stock to lease from just £174.95 + VAT a month. Jam packed with the latest technology and featuring MINI’s unmistakable style, the MINI Hatchback is one of the most popular and desirable superminis on the market. Standard features on the 1.6 One Pepper model include Bluetooth, DAB digital radio, auxiliary input socket and 15” alloy wheels.

To take advantage of one of these fantastic stock car leasing deals, simply call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts today on 0844 482 9595 or follow the links to find out more.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

The brand-new and super-hot MINI Roadster is now available to lease with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts with prices starting from £269.95 + VAT a month.

Hot on the heels of the MINI Coupe, the new MINI Roadster is set to compete with the popular Mazda MX-5 when it hits UK showrooms next spring.

The Roadster is the second model in the MINI line-up to sport a soft-top canvas roof which opens and closes semi-automatically, folding flat behind the seats so it doesn’t impact on the Roadster’s sleek style.

Inside, the Roadster’s cabin features MINI’s trademark large centrally-mounted speedometer along with an impressive standard equipment list including heated door mirrors, rear parking sensors, air conditioning, DAB radio and an MP3-compatible CD player with AUX connections.

Under the bonnet, engine choices include the 122bhp Cooper, 184bhp Cooper S and 211bhp John Cooper Works models. The most fuel efficient model in the range is the Cooper SD, which returns 62.8mpg from its 2-litre diesel engine. It is also the CO2 champion of the range, with emissions rated at 118g/km.

But perhaps the most impressive feature of the new MINI Roadster is its whopping 240-litre boot which, when coupled with the high-opening tailgate, low boot sill and ski hatch, makes it more practical than most of its rivals!

The all-new MINI Roadster has been added to the Nationwide Vehicle Contracts website with prices starting from just £269.95 + VAT a month for the 1.6 Cooper.

To find out more about the new MINI Roadster and to get an instant quotation on any model in the MINI range, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

If you’re looking for a super-cool car that offers all the practicality and driving capability of a 4×4 with the comfort and style of a true supermini, look no further than the MINI Countryman!

Longer, wider and taller than your average MINI, the new Countryman is the first MINI model to boast four doors, seating for five adults and an ALL4 four-wheel drive system.

Offering 190 litres more luggage space than the MINI Hatch and an interior big enough to cope with all the necessities of modern life, the all-new MINI Countryman seems to have it all… and here at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, we love it!

For a strictly limited time, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has a fantastic car leasing offer on the MINI Countryman 1.6 Cooper D ALL4. Prices start from just £219.95 + VAT – fantastic value for a car of this specification.

The Cooper D model also comes well-equipped with the following features as standard:

• Bluetooth Function with USB Audio
• Air Conditioning
• Cosmos Cloth Upholstery
• Dynamic Traction Control
• Rear Park Distance Control
• DAB Digital Radio
• 16″ 5 Star Alloy Wheels

To take advantage of this amazing MINI car leasing offer, call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0844 482 9595 or follow the above links.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

The MINI range might be famed for its quirky and compact style but there’s certainly nothing MINI about our latest reductions!

For a strictly limited time, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has some massive reductions available across the MINI range with fantastic offers available on the MINI Countryman, MINI Clubman, MINI Convertible and MINI Hatchback.

First up is a great deal on the MINI Countryman 1.6 Cooper D available to lease from just £199.95 + VAT a month. Longer, wider and taller than your average MINI, the all-new MINI Countryman offers the practicality and versatility of an off-road vehicle with the comfort and style of a true supermini. The Cooper D model boasts tons of equipment including Bluetooth, air conditioning, rear parking sensors, DAB digital radio and 16’’ alloy wheels.

The popular MINI Hatchback 1.6 Cooper D boasts fantastic value for money with prices starting from just £164.95 + VAT a month. Jam packed with the latest technology and featuring MINI’s unmistakable style, the MINI Hatchback Cooper D is one of the most popular and desirable superminis on the market. Standard features on the 1.6 Cooper D model include Bluetooth, DAB radio, auxiliary input socket, air conditioning and 15’’ alloy wheels.

Finally, if you love the wind in your hair then you won’t want to miss our fantastic offer on the MINI Convertible 1.6 One available to lease from just £214.95 + VAT  a month. Boasting all the style and charisma of the standard MINI but with the added benefit of a fully-retractable canvas roof, the new MINI Convertible is the ideal compact convertible for city living.

To take advantage of these fantastic MINI savings before it’s too late, simply follow the above links or call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts on 0844 482 9595.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.