The MINI Hardtop’s individuality and original style make it one of the most popular and enjoyable cars to drive. With the 2017 model release coming up shortly, here are the top 4 cool facts that you need to know:

1. Standard features will include an impressive 6.5-inch center screen on the dashboard, stylish faux leather seats, Bluetooth and 8 airbags. For the more adventurous of MINI drivers, customizations are also available: the popular and much loved Union Jack convertible rooftop and, if faux leather seats aren’t your thing, there is a choice of 8 different tasteful upholsteries available for the interior.

2. With a turbocharged 1.5-litre 3-cylinder base engine, the Hardtop has 124 horsepower, making this one speedy and fun little car to drive. What’s more, the 2017 Hardtop is available in either 6 gear manual or automatic transmission, with the manual transmission being the top choice for many drivers since it allows for more control – and enjoyability – whilst driving.

3. The 2017 Mini Cooper is available in four equally striking yet different models. In ascending order to most expensive: the classic Hardtop 2 door, the Hardtop 4 door, the larger Clubman, and the soft top and more stylish convertible. The timeless 2 door has grown in size over the years and will now measure in at 150.4 inches long. This means that, although still compact, there is enough head room for a person measuring 6 foot and 3 inches. However, the Clubman – a noticeable 18 inches longer than the 2 door – is perfect for those who love the style of the MINI but simply need a much bigger vehicle.

4. Finally, the Cooper received the highest safety rating available from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2016 when it was awarded a Top Safety Pick +, as well as being awarded four stars for safety by the US federal government’s NHTSA, proving that, on top of being one of the most fashionable and iconic cars around, the MINI is also extremely practical.

Here at SimplyCarBuyers, the MINI Hardtop is an old favorite – consistently stylish and fun, yet safety approved and a fantastic drive. We will always love this classic car and we know many of you do too! Keep posted for all the latest updates.

At SimplyCarBuyers, we like to keep you up-to-date with the latest information for car buyers, as well as car news on a brand-by-brand, country-by-country basis. In light of the recent domination of America in the news, and Donald Trump’s heralding of what will surely be a new dawn for libertarians and their and enormous cars, it is interesting to note the most popular cars being sold in America before his inauguration.

#10 Nissan Rogue

With sales up 13.5% from September 2015 to 2016, the Nissan Rogue benefits from either front or four-wheel drive, and seats five with ease. At 33 miles to the gallon, it costs around $31 grand.

#9 Honda Accord

Being sold from $25-$35,000, the new Accord is Honda’s largest car, offering 32 miles to the gallon on the highway, less than that in the city.

#8 Honda Civic

Superior fuel economy and a range of comfortable and useful interior features have kept the sales of the Honda Civic on track, getting 40 miles to the gallon on the open road.

#7 Toyota RAV4

An iconic compact SUV, this Toyota is a useful family vehicle, though its maximum mpg rating leaves something to be desired at 30.

#6 Toyota Camry

With its sleek looks, features and excellent fuel economy, the Toyota Camry is marketed toward the average car buyer rather than the family. It’s spacious yet compact.

#5 Honda CR-V

Spacious, practical and versatile, the Honda CR-V continues the Japanese domination of the American market, offering a family 4×4 with great fuel efficiency at 44mpg.

#4 Toyota Corolla

A bold, compact and reliable car aimed at zipping through the morning commute, the Corolla boasts an excellent 33 miles to the gallon.

#3 Chevrolet Silverado

Big, bold and unashamed, this Chevrolet is both enormous and powerful, with plenty of space to keep your belongings, or another small car.

#2 Ram 1500-3500

Another enormous vehicle that laughs in the face of subtlety, this Ram pickup manages 24 miles to the gallon, somehow.

#1 Ford F-Series

A final American vehicle of a countdown that saw a resurgence in US-manufactured behemoths, sales of this vehicle are up 3% from last year, and it will cost a maximum of $60,000 with all the available features. Its capacity is 24 miles to the gallon, though we’re not sure that fuel efficiency is really the focus on this model.

San Fransisco, California, is now at the forefront of a new scheme of car rental geared towards Uber drivers. In partnership with Maven, the car sharing the branch of General Motors (ironically a huge sponsor of Uber’s main competitors, Lyft), Uber is offering the opportunity to rent either a Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Malibu, or Chevrolet Trax, for $179 a week, including insurance. Although this fee doesn’t include other fees or tax it is still being considered as great value for money for drivers.

The new program will be called ‘Uber Vehicle Solutions’, and is set to add another string to Maven’s car sharing bow. General Motor’s extensive fleet will give many people opportunities to work and utilize a vehicle for personal use.

This flexible new system can all be controlled through an app on the driver’s smartphone, which will allow the driver to choose their car, their choice of pick up location, and length of rental period. There are not even any limitations on the mileage that can be racked up in that time.

This system is set to be a fantastic alternative to car ownership as drivers are able to use the cars for personal use, as well as make money through Uber fares. It’s also a good way for drivers to rent a car with the intention of keeping their Uber miles off their personal vehicle and maintain value.

The move towards ‘social driving’ has been looked into before by the likes of General Motors, with their Express Drive program, which allows car owners to rent their vehicle to Lyft drivers on short term loan. The rates from Uber Vehicle Solutions seem to be in line with other short-term car rental schemes and show a steady move towards this being the norm.

The scheme will be piloted for 90 days and will keep its operations solely in the San Fransisco area for the time being, but it’ll certainly be interesting to see how this takes off. Maven’s recent expansion into the Los Angeles area of California shows they’re not planning on slowing down anytime soon. Is car renting the future of car ownership?

They can save you money on fuel, are better for the environment, and with an increasing number of models becoming available, are now trendier than ever. But is it all plain sailing for hybrid cars – after all, if they’re so good, wouldn’t everyone be driving a hybrid car? In this blog we take a look at the positive sides of purchasing a ‘car for the future’, and look at why you might sell a hybrid car if you aren’t happy with it.

Positives

Incentive to drive efficiently

When you accelerate gradually in a hybrid car, this often uses only the electric engine. For drivers that usually love putting the pedal to the metal, this can encourage them to drive slower and more efficiently.

Suited to the city

For urban residents, a hybrid car can present the perfect solution. Whenever you stop, you are theoretically charging by electricity generation, which gives you power to use at low speeds in typically congested areas.

It’s oh so quiet

If you like the feeling of slipping down the road almost unnoticed, hybrid cars are discernibly slower than cars which are running a gasoline engine.

Nice and warm

Models such as the Toyota Prius are able to keep the car warm on those cold winter mornings by storing coolant in a Thermos-type container. This means you won’t be putting your cold engine under unnecessary pressure when starting it.

Negatives

Increase in fuel prices = rise in hybrid prices

As the cost of filling up surges, hybrid cars become more of an attractive option for drivers looking to buy a car, and when something becomes popular, naturally prices begin to rise.

Lack of larger vehicles

There is a distinct lack of hybrid options in the SUV market, and for those of us with a family, that value the option of a third row of seats, this can be a decisive factor. Toyota’s Highlander Hybrid SUV is one of the alternatives, however, although it has been pulled up for the comparatively low mileage it offers compared to smaller hybrids.

Weak battery

It has been reported that an ‘aftermarket’ battery that can be purchased for a hybrid car actually lasts a lot longer than the one which comes with the vehicle. Mistakes such as leaving an interior light on could leave you completely drained.

Mazda’s MX-5 creations are generally a highlight, unapologetic Miata junkies that we are. This year’s cars are just as exciting as the past years’,  Both SEMA MX-5s were designed and built in-house at Mazda’s Irvine design studio.

This year’s Speedster is way lighter than it was before. Mazda carved 100 pounds out of it, to make it a staggering 350 pounds less than a production soft top model. It’s also been repainted in a color called “White Ether”, which  looks like the “Blue Ether” paint job on last year’s highly reflective Speedster minus the blue tint. Mazda will probably never sell a roofless Miata or anything this lightweight, but maybe it should.

RF Kuro concept, the first RF-based SEMA show car. It doesn’t seem terribly extreme!  It’s wearing a matte charcoal paint, which explains the “Kuro” moniker – kuro means “charcoal” in Japanese. A set of 17-inch RAYS forged wheels and MX-5 Cup suspension, and that’s about it.

Of course, both concepts will be fully revealed at the show next month in Las Vegas. Stay tuned for a dose of concept Miata hotness.