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CNN Live Sunday
Mini Cooper Wins at Detroit Auto Show
Aired January 05, 2003 - 17:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Are you an Austin Powers fan? Then maybe you are interested in one of the top picks for best rides in the country. There is a British import called the mini cooper -- and, no, my family did not create it. The car was inspired apparently by the mini skirt. I have a hard time believing that, though. It is just one of the cars CNN's Jeff Flock is getting to see at the Detroit Auto Show -- Jeff.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, it is your day if you like the cooper, and I'll tell you why in just a moment, but first here we are at the auto show. Perhaps you see these folks. Most of these guys are reporters combing over vehicles like this new Dodge Derango. And you can see, with people all over it. But you can't even buy this yet. It will be out later this year.
But one of the best cars of 2003, the Oscars, essentially, were announced today and we have got all the winners. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Volvo XC 90.
FLOCK (on camera): The winner is the Volvo and it beats out a lot more flashy competition. John McEnroe (ph) is one of the founders of these awards. What is behind you right here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have got the Honda Element, very different, very quirky, but very versatile in going after a very young kind of buyer.
FLOCK: Speaking of flashy, nothing is more flashy than this H2, right, the Hummer?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hummer H2 is the flashiest out there, like the tagline says, there is nothing like it on the planet, but it rides and drives really well.
FLOCK: Now, what is the deal on the Nissan? It's sort of like a sport utility/wagon mix?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nissan Mirad (ph). Very interesting style and very different from anything that's out here. Kind of a late entry, but it made it to the finalists' list. Everyone liked it.
FLOCK: And the winner is Volvo. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Volvo XC 90. First time that they've come into the segment. Not quite a sports u (ph), but kind of a mixture of a wagon together, first time they're in the segment and look, they already won the award.
FLOCK: The least flashy of all.
Now, cars.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The mini cooper, Cooper S.
FLOCK: And John, this is the one that everyone was rooting for, right, this Mini? Why do people love it so much?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because it's small, it's cute, it's different. You know, with everyone looking at sports utilities these days, this is the antithesis of that. A lot of fun to drive.
FLOCK: And similar in this regard, what is this one? This is one the finalists.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, Nissan 350Z. Amongst the hard-core enthusiasts, this is the car of the year for the, because this has got a lot of performance at a very affordable price.
FLOCK: Last but not least, a big win, in some sense even though they didn't win the big award for Nissan, because they got two in the finalists. What is this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Infiniti G35. Very smooth, sophisticated sedan, again, very good to drive, lots of room for everybody, really a nice, handsome vehicle.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FLOCK: And Anderson, one of the big things in addition to the cooper is the SUVs, and they're really working on new different design options. These seats kind of fold out, you know, if you can't get inside and get into the back, the seat pops up all the way up. Different things like that. That's what is on display out here, the coolest, latest, most fun cars of the year.
We'll be here for a couple, three days taking a look at it for you. That's the latest from Detroit, back to you.
COOPER: Jeff, how much does a cooper run? I know, like I saw the Hummer 2, which I am sort of obsessed about, and that is like $52,000 or something like base sticker price. What does the cooper run?
FLOCK: Out of our league, or out of my league. I don't know about yourself. But the cooper, I think, for both of us works at about 14 grand, I think. I have to double check it, but it is certainly a lot more affordable and pretty fun to drive.
COOPER: But head to head the Hummer would crush the cooper, wouldn't it?
FLOCK: Yes, I think so. I think so. Let's not do that.
COOPER: All right. Jeff Flock, thanks very much at the auto show.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 5, 2003 - 17:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Are you an Austin Powers fan? Then maybe you are interested in one of the top picks for best rides in the country. There is a British import called the mini cooper -- and, no, my family did not create it. The car was inspired apparently by the mini skirt. I have a hard time believing that, though. It is just one of the cars CNN's Jeff Flock is getting to see at the Detroit Auto Show -- Jeff.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, it is your day if you like the cooper, and I'll tell you why in just a moment, but first here we are at the auto show. Perhaps you see these folks. Most of these guys are reporters combing over vehicles like this new Dodge Derango. And you can see, with people all over it. But you can't even buy this yet. It will be out later this year.
But one of the best cars of 2003, the Oscars, essentially, were announced today and we have got all the winners. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Volvo XC 90.
FLOCK (on camera): The winner is the Volvo and it beats out a lot more flashy competition. John McEnroe (ph) is one of the founders of these awards. What is behind you right here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have got the Honda Element, very different, very quirky, but very versatile in going after a very young kind of buyer.
FLOCK: Speaking of flashy, nothing is more flashy than this H2, right, the Hummer?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hummer H2 is the flashiest out there, like the tagline says, there is nothing like it on the planet, but it rides and drives really well.
FLOCK: Now, what is the deal on the Nissan? It's sort of like a sport utility/wagon mix?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nissan Mirad (ph). Very interesting style and very different from anything that's out here. Kind of a late entry, but it made it to the finalists' list. Everyone liked it.
FLOCK: And the winner is Volvo. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Volvo XC 90. First time that they've come into the segment. Not quite a sports u (ph), but kind of a mixture of a wagon together, first time they're in the segment and look, they already won the award.
FLOCK: The least flashy of all.
Now, cars.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The mini cooper, Cooper S.
FLOCK: And John, this is the one that everyone was rooting for, right, this Mini? Why do people love it so much?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because it's small, it's cute, it's different. You know, with everyone looking at sports utilities these days, this is the antithesis of that. A lot of fun to drive.
FLOCK: And similar in this regard, what is this one? This is one the finalists.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, Nissan 350Z. Amongst the hard-core enthusiasts, this is the car of the year for the, because this has got a lot of performance at a very affordable price.
FLOCK: Last but not least, a big win, in some sense even though they didn't win the big award for Nissan, because they got two in the finalists. What is this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Infiniti G35. Very smooth, sophisticated sedan, again, very good to drive, lots of room for everybody, really a nice, handsome vehicle.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FLOCK: And Anderson, one of the big things in addition to the cooper is the SUVs, and they're really working on new different design options. These seats kind of fold out, you know, if you can't get inside and get into the back, the seat pops up all the way up. Different things like that. That's what is on display out here, the coolest, latest, most fun cars of the year.
We'll be here for a couple, three days taking a look at it for you. That's the latest from Detroit, back to you.
COOPER: Jeff, how much does a cooper run? I know, like I saw the Hummer 2, which I am sort of obsessed about, and that is like $52,000 or something like base sticker price. What does the cooper run?
FLOCK: Out of our league, or out of my league. I don't know about yourself. But the cooper, I think, for both of us works at about 14 grand, I think. I have to double check it, but it is certainly a lot more affordable and pretty fun to drive.
COOPER: But head to head the Hummer would crush the cooper, wouldn't it?
FLOCK: Yes, I think so. I think so. Let's not do that.
COOPER: All right. Jeff Flock, thanks very much at the auto show.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
