Press release

THOUSANDS OF MINI OWNERS MOTOR INTO PITTSBURG AND COLUMBUS AS PART OF MTTS 2010

Woodcliff Lake, NJ,  August 5, 2010.

For Release: IMMEDIATE

Contact: Nathalie Bauters
MINI Communications Manager
201-930-3166
nathalie.bauters@miniusa.com

PFPR Communications
Yvonne Malmgren, 586-453-2912
yvonne.malmgren@pfpr.com

MINI TAKES THE STATES (MTTS) has officially begun and thousands of MINI vehicles are making their way along the eastern route. The rally will stop August 7th - 9th in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and Columbus, Ohio for special events and MINI-style fun.

"MTTS 2010 is our largest rally endeavor yet, and is sure to be a great experience for everyone involved," said Jim McDowell – Vice President, MINI USA. "MINI owners who are motoring along the route, and friends of the brand who meet us at rally stops, are guaranteed life-memorable experiences as well as new friendships and great stories to take back home."

MTTS rally participants will meet on August 7th at the Neomocolin Woodlands Resort, along the historic National Road - Route 40, for an informal Time-Speed-Distance rally on the way to Pittsburgh. A tour of the Nemocolin historic car museum and airplane hanger, ice cream, snacks and fun also await.

The rallying cars will "pit-stop" Saturday evening at the New Rivers Casino's exclusive Wheelhouse Lounge to enjoy an open buffet known as "The Allegheny," while trying their luck on the table games and slot machines. The evening's festivities are hosted by PittStop MINI Club.

On Sunday, August 8th, the rally continues its journey along the eastern route with an evening "pit-stop" at the MINI Financial Services Regional Services Center near Columbus for a fun-filled drive-in movie night. The featured film, "The Italian Job," will be enjoyed with snacks and beverages under the stars.

MTTS has steadily grown into a motoring enthusiast phenomenon since 2006, with this year's rally including "pit stops" for MINI owners at the legendary Indianapolis 500 Speedway and Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. MTTS caps off with a weekend-long festival in Denver, Colorado, August 13-15, 2010. This year's includes thousands of participants will motor 8,000 combined miles while traveling across 19 states.

Local Event Details:

The Nemocolin Woodlands Resort Time-Speed-Distance rally event takes place on August 7th from 11:00 a.m.-2:45 p.m. at the Nemocolin Woodlands Resort, 1001 Lafayette Drive, Farmington, PA 15437.

The Night at the Rivers Casino event takes place on August 7th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Rivers Casino - 777 Casino Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
 

The MINI Drive-In Movie event takes place on August 8th from 8:30-11 p.m. at the MINI Financial Services Regional Services Center - 555 Britton Parkway, Hilliard, OH 43026.
 

MINI in the US
MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC which has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 143 BMW motorcycle retailers, 99 MINI passenger car dealers, and 31 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at: www.bmwgroupna.com

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Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address: www.press.bmwna.com. Additional information, images and video may be found at www.miniusanews.com. Broadcast quality video footage is available via The NewsMarket at www.thenewsmarket.com.

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