Pimp my rickshaw
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: May 2006
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From: QC/FRANCE
Pimp my rickshaw
The rickshaw: a staple of Chinese mobility for over a century. The MINI Clubman: not so much. The solution: combine the two. That’s exactly what Beijing MINI decided to do to promote the MINI Clubman’s launch in China.
MINI’s rickshaw – which has been dubbed ‘the other rickshaw’ – launched earlier this month in the hopes of capturing some local headlines. Despite the Olympics presence in China, the campaign has landed the other rickshaw in several local media publications and has even managed to garner some international attention.
The Clubman rickshaws started out life as standard issue Clubmans, but were sent to Hong Kong to undergo the conversion to pedal power. From there, they were sent to Beijing to start the campaign and “bring good luck to the Beijing Olympics,” according to China Car Times.
Although probably not as fun to drive as the regular Clubman, MINI could be onto something with this new zero-emissions drivetrain…
MINI’s rickshaw – which has been dubbed ‘the other rickshaw’ – launched earlier this month in the hopes of capturing some local headlines. Despite the Olympics presence in China, the campaign has landed the other rickshaw in several local media publications and has even managed to garner some international attention.
The Clubman rickshaws started out life as standard issue Clubmans, but were sent to Hong Kong to undergo the conversion to pedal power. From there, they were sent to Beijing to start the campaign and “bring good luck to the Beijing Olympics,” according to China Car Times.
Although probably not as fun to drive as the regular Clubman, MINI could be onto something with this new zero-emissions drivetrain…
Last edited by JessePS; Aug 8, 2008 at 07:02 PM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,864
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From: Massachusetts
So they destroy brand new Clubman's?? Nice. 
I don't know how much these Chinese human engines get paid but if they are making less than what gas costs (based on equal time/mileage) then I feel pretty bad for these guys.
For example, you can travel about 35 miles on a gallon of gas in a Mini. I'll guess that a rickshaw driver would take 4-8 hours in a busy city to travel that distance. So for 4-8 hours of work, the guy would have to get paid less than the cost of a gallon of gas to be economically beneficial.
Did I analize it too much?
I don't know how much these Chinese human engines get paid but if they are making less than what gas costs (based on equal time/mileage) then I feel pretty bad for these guys.
For example, you can travel about 35 miles on a gallon of gas in a Mini. I'll guess that a rickshaw driver would take 4-8 hours in a busy city to travel that distance. So for 4-8 hours of work, the guy would have to get paid less than the cost of a gallon of gas to be economically beneficial.
Did I analize it too much?
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