Munich. Everyone who visits New York City for the
first time has one big problem: Where to start in the metropolis of
eight million? The city covers more than 1 200 square kilometres, is
one of the most important trading centres in the world and offers a
colourful selection of around 500 galleries, more than 200 museums,
about 150 theatres as well as no less than 18 000 restaurants. The
answer is easier if you choose to visit during the Christmas season:
Manhattan. Because probably nowhere else in the world is the time
before the holidays celebrated as much as there, where millions of
lights enchant the city already at the beginning of December. The more
than luxuriant sea of lights is a tradition, just like the streets
packed with street cruisers, yellow taxis, stretch limousines and
pick-ups. The sightseeing tour in the all-electric MINI Cooper SE
(power consumption combined: 17.6 – 15.2 kWh/100 km according to WLTP,
16.9 – 14.9 kWh/100 km according to NEDC, CO2 emissions combined: 0
g/km) creates a relaxing contrast. Virtually silent and locally
emission-free, the MINI Electric offers a glimpse of the urban
mobility of the future all on its own in New York.
Even in Manhattan, the MINI Cooper SE moves cleverly between sporty
temperament and stylish restraint. Its 135 kW/184 hp electric motor
accelerates it to 60 km/h in just 3.9 seconds at traffic lights.
Sustained driving pleasure is thus guaranteed. And wherever things are
a little quieter, pedestrians and cyclists are alerted to its approach
by a drive sound specially developed for the MINI Electric and
broadcast via exterior loudspeakers at low speed.
An ideal starting point for the somewhat different city tour is
Central Park – and there the famous ice rink in the southern part of
the green space. Wollman Rink has been the backdrop for many Hollywood
films such as Love Story and is as popular with New Yorkers as it is
with tourists. It is an experience to be on the ice amidst the
skyscrapers with a view of the Christmas skyline of Manhattan and then
to explore the wintry park on foot.
A visit to New York in December naturally includes extensive
Christmas shopping. The city is decorated everywhere, the shop windows
glitter, tell stories and make the eyes light up. The Macy’s
department stores’ (151 West 34th Street) is particularly splendid.
There, not only the beautifully decorated shop windows, but above all
Santa Claus himself awaits visitors young and old. In the famous Santa
Land on Macy’s eighth floor, everyone can make their Christmas wishes.
Via the famous 5th Avenue and West 59th Street, we then go directly
to Columbus Circle. The Christmas market there is one of the most
atmospheric in New York. The shops in the southwest corner of the park
are colourfully lit. Twelve stars more than four metres high hang from
the 30-metre-high ceiling of the Time Warner Center. The light show
“Under the Stars” is a real New York tradition. The
Christmas market on Union Square, on the other hand, is almost
European, where numerous New York artists and craftsmen show their
talent and creativity amidst stalls with food, drinks and sweets.
On the way to more shopping hotspots, the MINI Electric rolls along
The Plaza at the intersection of 5th Avenue and East 59th Street. The
hotel with the imposing French-style façade has served as a hostel for
wealthy and famous guests for more than 100 years. Nearly 30 years
ago, it was one of the locations of the successful cinema comedy
“Kevin – Alone in New York”. Donald Trump, then owner of The
Plaza, plays a small supporting role in it.
Whether you’re a parent, grandparent or godmother, if you have a wish
list written by a child in your pocket on your New York tour, you’ll
inevitably be drawn to the FAO Schwarz toy shop. Once the largest toy
shop in the world, it was located on 5th Avenue until 2015 and
reopened in Rockefeller Plaza in 2018. Much of the old charm remains,
including the “Big Piano” on the floor, made famous by Tom
Hanks’ dance in the film “Big”. The assortment is huge, and
some people buy more than will eventually fit under the Christmas
tree. There is plenty of room for this in the luggage compartment of
the MINI Cooper SE. It can be expanded from 211 to 731 litres. Thanks
to the high-voltage battery located deep in the vehicle floor, the
MINI Electric offers exactly the same stowage volume as the
conventionally powered MINI 3-door.
Close to the New York’s Toy Paradise, at 1260 6th Avenue, there is
Radio City Music Hall. This is where the world-famous Radio City
Christmas Spectacular is performed, one of the most iconic Christmas
shows in New York. It includes everything that belongs to the great
celebration: from Father Christmas to the Nutcracker to the birth of
Christ. And right next door at Rockefeller Center is probably the most
famous Christmas tree in the world. This year it is a 25-metre tall
spruce from the state of Maryland. On its top sits a large star,
designed by star designer Daniel Libeskind. More than 50,000 coloured
lights illuminate the tree.
At this sight, hardly anyone might think of the associated
electricity bill. But after all, not everything that is fun can be as
efficient as a MINI Electric. Its motor works very frugally, and in
addition, electricity can be fed back into the high-voltage battery
again and again during the drive in push and braking phases. The
driver can individually determine the intensity of the braking energy
recuperation via a toggle switch. The higher of the two recuperation
modes ensures a particularly strong expression of the characteristic
one-pedal feeling. When the accelerator pedal is released, electricity
is fed back into the high-voltage battery and the vehicle is braked at
the same time.
What’s more, the LED headlights and LED rear lights in the
characteristic Union Jack design also require very little energy. The
same applies to the MINI Cooper SE’s automatic climate control. Its
interior is heated with the aid of a heat pump that absorbs waste heat
from the engine, the drive control unit and the high-voltage battery
as well as from the outside air and uses it to generate cosy
temperatures. It is characterised by particularly favourable
efficiency and uses up to 75 percent less energy than a conventional
electric heating system while providing a high level of climate
comfort in winter operation.
A fitting end to the pre-Christmas sightseeing tour is a visit to the
newest observation deck in New York: The Summit One Vanderbilt (45 E
42nd Street). It is located very close to Bryant Park and Grand
Central Station and has been open to guests since October 2021. From a
height of 427 metres, there is a wonderful view of the nearby Empire
State Building, the East River and Central Park. Speaking of the
Empire State Building, the music-to-light show there is worth seeing.
The already impressive illumination of the Empire State Building is
synchronised every night to songs by stars – and at Christmas you can
expect some particularly festive music.
In case of queries, please contact:
Corporate Communications
Julian Kisch, Press Spokesperson Product Communications MINI
Tel.: +49-89-382-38072
E-mail: julian.kisch@mini.com
Andreas Lampka, Head of Communications MINI
Tel.: +49-89-382-23662
E-mail: andreas.lampka@mini.com
Jennifer Treiber-Ruckenbrod, Head of Communications MINI and BMW Motorrad
Tel.: +49-89-382-35108
E-mail: jennifer.ruckenbrod@bmwgroup.com
The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the
BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles
and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility
services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production
and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global
sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2020, the BMW Group sold over 2.3 million passenger vehicles
and more than 169,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax
in the financial year 2020 was € 5.222 billion on revenues amounting
to € 98.990 billion. As of 31 December 2020, the BMW Group had a
workforce of 120,726 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the
future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and
efficient resource management central to its strategic direction,
from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase
of all products.
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