For weeks, Mini had tried to stage an interesting race between the Mini Cooper S and the Porsche 911 Carrera S. Unfortunately, despite Mini’s blatant antagonizing, Porsche North America initially declined the race, and at one point it seemed that Hyundai was about to take their place.
Luckily, Porsche did show up for the challenge at Road Atlanta. And, despite admirable efforts by the Cooper, it was the 911 that ultimately came out on top (no surprise to Los Angeles Porsche dealers!).
See how the race went down below.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Well DUH! Did anyone actually think the mini stood a chance?
Why would a Mini Cooper even try to take on a Porsche…and then still somehow make fun of them after losing?
Stupid race is stupid.
Words Mini Cooper should live by; ‘If you’re not first, you’re last’
2 seconds ? Looks like the Porsche was off the gas through most of the last part of it. Seems a little biased to me and although I think the Mini is a nice car I’m kinda glad they got spanked. Perhaps they should have tested the results first before getting wooped. Oh yeah by the way that “$39,000″ per second” NICE WAY TO SAY WOOPS…THATS ALL WE GOT !”
Mini knew that they could not beat a Porsche, but they definitely
won some free and wide P.R. Mini is a great and fun car.
Certainly no Porsche, but now they are being compared to a
Porsche and not a Mazda 3 or a Civic.
Everyone’s a winner here.
HA “speeds of 125mph that’s not safe for a stock car” he’s absolutely full of garbage. Top Gear tests Porsches (all cars really) way in excess of 100, 125 mph. They didn’t put the two cars on a full test track because if they did the Porsche would have the opportunity to fully open up.
The marketing is simple. Mini wasn’t as fast, but still proved to be fast. Their differentiation/targeted advantage is that a Mini is less expensive. The angle being you can still get a good performing car, but for much less money. Free advertising & smart marketing.
Mini lost the actual race but that was far from the point of the whole ‘mini vs porsche’ thing. Set aside your feelings about either car for a moment and give Mini credit for at least not being afraid to be smart-asses.
My fave had to be the Rocky 4 video. This one killed me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ebE-EeNA4c
That’s in fact a great marketing scene built by mini, you see, they knew it would be a very small difference even if losing, than the price difference would more than give mini an edge price/benefit wise… better yet would be if they challenged a lambo cos it would even win considering this very tiny course…
it was a MARKETING STUNT, plain and simple. but so what? it was meant to ATTRACT ATTENTION to the brand in a FUN way. i mean come on – what would you prefer another gd tv spot?
mini wins with stunts like the porsche race, the snow globes, and the mini countryman driving around cities with a mini classic on top (the latest). these gags get them talked about which means FREE PUBLICITY.
aint capitalism grand?
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