We speak to the latest winner of a brand new car on MadBid. Andrew from Reading bagged himself a Brand New Mini First for just £967.59 that’s 91% off the RRP. We caught up with Andrew when he was collecting his new car from the prestigious Mini Dealership on Park Lane, London.

Where do you live?

I live about an hour away from London in Reading

What do you do?

I look after children with disabilities.

Can you walk me through the winning moments?

I was actually at work and had topped my account up before I left and set auto-bid before I left, whilst I was at work, I received a text telling me I had won the car, I couldn’t believe it!

What was your strategy?

I didn’t really have a strategy in all honesty, I just made sure I knew how the site worked and kept an eye on other bidders and it worked for me!

How did you hear about MadBid?

I was just surfing the web and looking at cars and other bits when I came across MadBid. I had a look at the site and watched the How it Works Video and decided to have a go myself, I firstly bid on a few items but then decided to bid on the Mini, I just kept going and watching other players and I won. Hard to believe it, but it was, my first win!

What do you think of MadBid?

I think it’s great, it has a lot of quality products available and can save people an absolute fortune. It’s easy to use and is very simple. I for one will certainly be using Madbid a lot more in the future.

What are you going to do with the car?

Well, firstly I have got to find my way home, I should have bid on a Sat Nav aswell! I am going to keep the car, I was looking for a new car anyway and now I’ve put my old car up for sale, which will cover the cost of the mini and the insurance.

What advice would you give to newcomers on the MadBid site?

Definitely bid on the rookie auctions first of all and watch the How it Works video. Watch other bidders and get a feel for the site. Then start bidding on the items you want, auto-bid is a great tool but use it wisely.

MINI has announced that it is adding a world-first in-car entertainment system to its new Countryman model.

Known as MINI Connected, the USB interface will allow maximum integration of the iPhone into the in-car audio system.

This technology will mark the basis for smartphone functions in the car, including telecommunications, entertainment and online applications.

All of the controls through MINI Connected will be controlled using the car’s existing operating system, which is fitted with the optional Visual Boost radio.

Web radio will also be available through MINI Connected, meaning that the driver has a choice of radio stations streamed to the vehicle from anywhere in the world.

The new technology will also relay vehicle and driving information, such as safety and comfort-related advice, which might include guidance on the air conditioning system or prompts to fasten a seatbelt.

Going on sale in September, the MINI Countryman will cost £16,000, and will be the firm’s first four-wheel drive car.

The success of the Mini car has helped BMW record a global sales rise of 17 per cent on the year in January, according to new figures.

Total sales for the BMW Group, which includes Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles, rose to 82,120 cars.

BMW also revealed that sales of its Mini models rose 20 per cent, with 12,181 being sold around the world last month.

Ian Robertson, board member for BMW, said that models such as the new 5 Series and the Mini Countryman will help the group deliver a single digit growth percentage range for 2010, while it also hopes to sell more than 1.3 million vehicles this year.

Phil Lanning, writing in the Sun, said that the Countryman, Mini’s biggest ever car, will be the firm’s most practical thanks to more interior space and four individual seats, with the two in the back also folding flat to allow storage.

The BMW Group, manufacturers of the Mini range of cars, has been recognised in a leading eco-motoring award ceremony.

Green-car-guide.com gave the German car-maker the Greenest Manufacturer of the Year 2009 award, having recognised that it has made the biggest impact in bringing lower emission cars to British people in the last year. It is the second time that the car giant has won the title in three years.

The judges said that BMW’s fuel-saving and emission-reducing EfficientDynamics technologies were part of the reason why they had won the award.

BMW and Mini cars also received praise, as the manufacturers did not compromise styling or driving enjoyment in order to achieve their green improvements.

Paul Clarke, founder and managing editor of Green-car-guide.com, said that BMW Group offers an ideal range of vehicles to meet the criteria of the award.

Mini recently unveiled pictures of its new Countryman model, becoming the firm’s fourth variant. It goes on sale in Europe later this year.

New models of BMW Minis are set to benefit from a range of new technical and personalisation options this year.

A new petrol engine will be fitted to all First, One, Cooper and Cooper S models in the Hatch, Convertible and Clubman rangers, giving more power and torque, while also making the vehicle greener by reducing emissions and fuel consumption.

The entry-level Mini First will benefit from a brand new 1.6 litre, four-cylinder engine, which will produce 75bhp, while it will also now reach a top speed of 109 mph. Its zero-to-62mph time has also been reduced to 13.2 seconds.

Mini fans will also be able to benefit from a range of customisation possibilities so they can have their new car just as they want it.

Rainbow colour options are being introduced by the manufacturer, while an extension to the Graphite Special Edition model range has also been announced.

BMW Mini also recently unveiled its new Countryman, a four-door competitor to the VW Polo and Golf.

BMW, the manufacturers of the Mini car, joined Mitsubishi in kicking off a trial of their flagship electric vehicles this week.

As part of a scheme which is being backed by the Technology Strategy Board, the vehicles were launched to participants in the trial, which is intended to provide data for the government’s wider green automobile plans.

Customers picked up 40 of the new Mini E, which is based on the current hatchback model, with the back-seat being converted to store batteries.

The 35kWh lithium-ion battery powers the 201bhp electric motor, which gives a similar performance level to the one which is in the current petrol models.

Prime minister Gordon Brown praised BMW for the hard work that it has put into the initiative.

"I congratulate BMW and Mini for their ground-breaking electric Mini project and I welcome the extensive user field trial that has now begun," he added.

BMW also said that its new Beachcomber concept model will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in mid-January.

Designed for those who enjoy outdoor pursuits, the Beachcomber is based on the Countryman, with a few tweaks to its body and design.

BMW, the manufacturers of the Mini car, joined Mitsubishi in kicking off a trial of their flagship electric vehicles this week.

As part of a scheme which is being backed by the Technology Strategy Board, the vehicles were launched to participants in the trial, which is intended to provide data for the government’s wider green automobile plans.

Customers picked up 40 of the new Mini E, which is based on the current hatchback model, with the back-seat being converted to store batteries.

The 35kWh lithium-ion battery powers the 201bhp electric motor, which gives a similar performance level to the one which is in the current petrol models.

Prime minister Gordon Brown praised BMW for the hard work that it has put into the initiative.

"I congratulate BMW and Mini for their ground-breaking electric Mini project and I welcome the extensive user field trial that has now begun," he added.

BMW also said that its new Beachcomber concept model will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in mid-January.

Designed for those who enjoy outdoor pursuits, the Beachcomber is based on the Countryman, with a few tweaks to its body and design.

The new "fiery" Mini continues the legend of the firm, according to an impressive review.

Labelled as the John Cooper Works (JCW) Mini, the Belfast Telegraph said the new model is a perfect fit in one of the most evocative names in British motorsport.

Based on the 173bhp, 1.6 litre engine used in the standard Cooper S, the JCW also benefits from revisions to the cylinder head, pistons and turbocharger to give a hefty power output of 210bhp.

Featuring a tweaked exhaust system, the JCW "leaves you in no doubt that there’s some race car DNA under the surface", according to the newspaper.

Improved sports suspension is also included, giving the car "razor sharp" handling without being unbearably harsh on the road.

The JCW model is available in three different versions, including the standard coupe, convertible and clubman, while Mini are also planning to release a new Roadster model in 2011.

Ford is preparing to release its new greener ECOnetic model and has started taking orders for the car.

The vehicle is an important step for the car giant as it is the first production of a European model to feature start/stop engine technology, which can be used to improve fuel economy from 70.6mpg to 74.2mpg.

Fans of the Focus will be able to get the new model with or without the start/stop feature, with both versions sharing the same fuel efficient 1.6 litre Duratorq TDCi which emits less CO2 than previous models.

Other technological improvements in the new Focus include the new Eco Mode, which lets the driver know when the optimal time to change gear is, while both versions of the car also benefit from regenerative energy braking.

Dr Thilo Seibert, manager of CO2 technologies for Ford of Europe, said that the new machine offers customers affordable eco-technology and latest-level drive technology.

The top speed of the machine is claimed to be 119mph, while it also takes less than 11 seconds to get from zero to 60mph.

Mini fans will be able to get their hands on a new Rolls Royce inspired model in 2011.

The British carmakers, which are both owned by BMW, will start making the new model next year featuring additional luxury touches from Rolls Royce.

A Mini source told Autocar that the new designs will be "totally individual" and the project is looking to create "niche vehicles" for its customers.

It is believed that few changes will be made to the Mini’s overall exterior or engine specification, but the interior will receive a makeover.

A new luxury interior trim will be included while the vehicles will also be coated in a special paint, although the colour has not been decided on.

Production of the classic Mini ceased in 2000 with BMW taking over the brand to make a number of new models, including a convertible version and the Clubman.