Resuscitated and reinvented by BMW in 2001, the Mini Cooper line has grown and proliferated beyond the expectations of its parent company, and far beyond the vision of Sir Alec Issigonis, who designed the 1959 original.

Herb Chambers Mini of Boston

The 2012 Mini Roadster is the sixth and most recent addition to the modern Mini lineup, a soft-top front-wheel-drive two-seater that’s a first-ever model for the brand, BMW revival or original.

It brings affordable sports car fun to a segment that previously consisted of just one car.

All the revivalist Mini variants were developed from the 2001 three-door Hardtop.

However, the Roadster, as well as the recently introduced Mini Cooper Coupe, is more directly descended from the 2+2 Convertible.

Coupe and Roadster were designed simultaneously, but the Coupe preceded the Roadster in the U.S. market by about four months.

The Mini Roadster substitutes a conventional folding soft top for the Coupe’s hard roof, yielding a look that’s a little more conventional and distinctly more appealing.

With the soft top stowed in the well behind the seats and the rear decklid spoiler deployed (automatic at 50 mph or more, but manually operable as well), the Roadster becomes a brawny little sports car with the active persona of a Jack Russell terrier.

Like other entries in the Mini Cooper collection, the Roadster offers three levels of engine power, all delivered by the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. With direct fuel injection and variable valve timing, it’s on the cutting edge of current internal combustion technology. The basic version is naturally aspirated, whereas turbocharging adds thrust to the variations offered in the higher-performing S and John Cooper Works (JCW) models.

Two transmissions are available for the basic and S versions, a 6-speed manual and an optional 6-speed automatic. The latter offers a manual operating mode, but is a conventional automatic. The more powerful JCW model is limited to a manual transmission.

Respectable fuel economy is a strong suit for all Minis, and the Roadster is no exception. Standard and S models both carry EPA ratings of 27 mpg City, 35 mpg Highway or 26/34 mpg City/Highway for the Mini Roadster S automatic. The numbers fall only slightly with the JCW version, to 25/33 mpg.

The Mini Roadster’s soft top is stretched over a span of sheetmetal at its leading edge, which serves as a tonneau cover when the top is snugged down behind the seats. Top stowage doesn’t subtract from trunk capacity, which is respectable by small roadster standards. The top secures to the windshield header with a single latch, and is easily raised and lowered by hand, though a power option is available.

Even in larger scale versions such as the Clubman wagon and Countryman crossover, Minis place a high priority on fun-to-drive, and the Roadster arguably delivers more of it than anything else in the growing lineup. It’s quick on its feet, responsive, and eager, and the snug two-seat cockpit provides the sense of intimacy, driver engagement, and open air motoring that make roadsters so entertaining.

There are caveats, practicality foremost among them. Like any small two-seat convertible, the Mini Roadster’s strong suit is driving entertainment. Considered as an all-around automotive implement, though, the elements that make it appealing as a driver’s toy limit its usefulness for more mundane motoring chores such as hauling multiple passengers, bulky cargo, or both.

The suspension tuning that makes the car a blast to drive on a smooth stretch of twisty country road renders its ride quality distinctly unpleasant when the pavement is punctuated by warts, potholes, and sharp bumps. Also, wind noise stifles conversation above about 60 mph with the top up.

Nevertheless, the Mini Roadster rolls onto the sports car stage as an appealing new entry at the affordable end of the two-seat spectrum, with the same blend of sassy styling and snappy handling that separates all Minis from the herd.

Model Lineup

The 2012 Mini Roadster is presented in three trim levels based on engine performance: the Mini Roadster ($24,350), the turbocharged Roadster S ($27,350), and the high-performance JCW ($34,500). (All prices are Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices, which do not include destination charge and may change at any time without notice. Destination charges add $700.) A 6-speed manual gearbox is standard; a 6-speed Steptronic automatic transmission is available for the base and S models ($1250).

Standard equipment in the Mini Roadster includes air conditioning, an AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3-compatibility and a one-year satellite radio subscription, power windows and mirrors, a trip computer, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels with run-flat all-season tires, ABS, stability control, front and seat-mounted side airbags, reinforced windshield framing, and two fixed rollover hoops behind the seats.

Besides a healthy horsepower increase, the Roadster S adds a fancier set of 16-inch wheels, sportier seats, and foglights. Opting for the JCW adds even more pace, plus 17-inch wheels, aero body add-ons, piano black interior surface trim, and traction control.

A huge range of styling options allows owners to personalize their cars, and it’s a major component of Mini’s appeal. The choices cover upholstery style, material and color; exterior graphics; trim pieces; exterior paint, including contrasting colors for the roof. Functional options include high-end extras like adaptive Xenon headlights, and rear obstacle warning, a helpful feature when the Roadster’s top is up. Leather seat options range from $1000 to $2250. A power top is an option ($750), and a wind-blocker is available ($250) for top-down motoring.

Safety features include front and seat-mounted side airbags, the rear rollover hoops, a reinforced windshield frame, electronic stability control, and antilock brakes standard. Dynamic Traction Control with electronic locking differential and rear park assist are optional.

Walkaround

Although it has only two seats, the Mini Roadster has the same wheelbase and foundations as the four-seat Mini Cooper convertible. Its width-to-length-to-height proportions give it a scrappy, action-ready look. The summit of its soft top is about three-quarters of an inch lower than that of the 2+2 Convertible, and a smidge lower than the Coupe, making it the lowest roofline of all Minis.

While the rear deck seems to end abruptly, there’s more room in the trunk, 8.5 cubic feet, than in the cargo compartment of the Convertible (6.0 cubic feet), though the Convertible’s rear seats fold forward to expand capacity. The Roadster’s trunk features a square pass-through opening that allows occupants to stash small items without having to stop and go around to open the deck lid.

The front end is unmistakably Mini, and the steeply raked windshield, shared with the Mini Coupe, contributes to the Mini Roadster’s sports car chops, as do the twin stainless steel rollover hoops behind the seats. They’re in fixed position here, as distinct from the pop-up hoops in the Mini Convertible. As with the Coupe, the a wing pops up from the rear decklid when the Roadster hits 50 mph, re-stowing itself below 37 mph. The wing generates rear downforce, lending stability as speeds climb, but in our opinion its contribution to the car’s appearance is just as significant. The wing can also be deployed at the driver’s command, mitigating the chopped-off look of the rear end.

A set of 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels is standard on the basic and S versions of the Coupe, with 17-inch wheels optional and standard on the JCW.

Interior Features

Inside, the Roadster maintains the retro Mini look that’s part of the brand’s success. The center of the dashboard is dominated by a speedometer the size of a serving platter, with the speed indicator tracking around its rim and the center devoted to an info screen, as well as a nav system in Minis so equipped. The tachometer straddles the steering column, which is adjustable for both steering wheel rake and reach.

There is a substantial quantity of plastic, but the interior materials are of high quality. Like the speedometer and tachometer, a bevy of toggle switches help the Mini retain touch with its distinguished past. The standard seats are comfortable, although the S and JCW models offer more lateral support and a sportier feel. There’s a good range of adjustability, manual in all models, and several upholstery options.

The Mini forsakes a conventional ignition key for a round plastic fob that docks in a slot next to the steering column, and the driver fires the engine by pressing an adjacent a start/stop button. The advantage of this system is hard to perceive. This could also be said for the standard ambient LED lighting in the door panels and footwells. The driver can change the color across a spectrum from soft orange to crisp blue.

Heating and air conditioning controls reside beneath the speedo, well marked and easy to use in the basic Roadster, and automatic climate control is available.

Audio controls aren’t quite as straightforward. The tuning knob is centered with most other audio buttons at the bottom of the speedometer, but the volume control is lower, closer to the HVAC controls. The standard audio system is good, but inevitably Mini offers a premium upgrade, one of a vast, almost bewildering array of optional features available for all models.

Elbow room is limited, but head and leg room are plentiful, even for tall occupants. Like most convertibles, the Mini has substantial blind spots in the rear quarters with its top up, and the smallish glass rear window limits vision directly astern.

If there’s any disappointment inside, it’s with the single-layer top, whose support bows are exposed. It seals well, but at speeds above 60 mph or so, wind noise becomes obtrusive.

Of course, the Mini product planners equate open top motoring with fun, and seem to think the only time it’s acceptable to cover the cockpit is during monsoon weather. To that end, the Roadster, like the Convertible, is equipped with a gauge called an Openometer, which measures the time the car has been operated with top down, as an index of enjoyment. A piece of kit that might be useful for top-down motoring is a wind blocker, a Mini accessory that straddles the rollover hoops and mitigates but does not eliminate cockpit turbulence when the top is down.

Driving Impressions

Removing roof structure to create a convertible inevitably requires compensatory stiffening in the chassis and body shell. As a consequence, the Roadster weighs in about 90 pounds heavier than the Coupe, model for model, though it’s lighter than the Convertible. This may diminish acceleration by a tenth of a second or so, but the effect will be basically undetectable to owners and in any case the sense of speed always seems higher in an open car.

The chassis stiffening measures, while extensive, don’t quite bring the Roadster’s structural rigidity up to the level of the steel-roofed Minis. There are occasional quivers in the chassis, dashboard, and steering column on rough or bumpy pavement, present in all models but more apparent in the S and JCW versions, with their stiffer suspension tuning. However, the chassis tremors are minor and don’t seem to have any real effect on the Roadster’s brisk responses.

Ride quality is another matter. Firm suspension components, combined with the standard run-flat tires (there is no spare tire), add up to limited suspension compliance, sending notification of every bump, ripple, or freeway expansion joint directly to the occupants.

Ride quality can be markedly improved by discarding the run-flats in favor of a conventional tire. Many Mini owners have made the switch, and the difference in ride comfort is dramatic.

Ride issues notwithstanding, the Roadster’s responses are pure Mini: eager and athletic. The electromechanical steering is sports car quick with good road feel, the brakes are powerful with excellent pedal feel, the manual transmission delivers positive shift engagements, and throttle response is brisk, turbo and non-turbo alike.

The 6-speed Steptronic automatic includes a manual operating function via a set of paddle shifters. Though not as quick as the dual-clutch automated manual offered in some BMWs, it’s reasonably satisfying. The 6-speed manual transmission makes the most of the engine’s output, particularly in the non-turbo Roadster, and also makes the driving more fun. Which is the whole point of this car. So we recommend the manual.

Aside from suspension tuning, the principal distinction between the three trim levels is power. The naturally aspirated version of the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is rated for 121 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. With the standard 6-speed manual transmission 0-to-60 mph takes a little over eight seconds, and a little longer with the optional 6-speed automatic. That’s not notably quick nor notably slow.

The pace picks up with the turbo versions. In the S model, the engine produces 181 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of maximum torque, and 0-to-60 drops to a quick 6.7 seconds, according to Mini. The hot rod JCW, with its revised cylinder head and higher turbo boost, produces 208 horsepower and 192 pound-feet. It’s capable of hitting 60 in just over six seconds, with a top speed of almost 150 mph.

Summary

The Mini Cooper Roadster is agile, visually unique, and in S or JCW trim, a brisk performer. Its appeal begins to diminish when options send the price up to and over $40,000, where it begins to compete with Audi’s TT roadster. But with a little restraint in ordering, it offers a high fun-for-the-buck index. There are purists who insist a front-drive car can never be regarded as a proper sports car. We suggest that an afternoon spent with the Roadster on a serpentine back road will convert even the most entrenched traditionalists.

Model Line Overview
Base Price (MSRP)
$24,350
As Tested (MSRP)
$33,800

Model lineup:

Mini Cooper Roadster ($24,350); Cooper S Roadster ($27,350); John Cooper Works Roadster ($34,500)
Engines:  121-hp 1.6-liter inline-4; 181-hp 1.6-liter dohc turbocharged inline-4; 208-hp 1.6-liter dohc turbocharged inline-4
Transmissions:  6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic
Safety equipment (Standard):  front-impact airbags, side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, Cornering Brake Control, tire-pressure monitor
Safety equipment (Optional):  Dynamic Traction Control with electronic locking differential, rear park assist, adaptive xenon headlights
Basic warranty:  5 years/50,000 miles
Assembled in:  Oxford, England
Specifications As Tested
Model tested (MSRP):  Mini Cooper S Roadster ($33,800)

Standard equipment:

leatherette upholstery, air conditioning, six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, AM/FM audio with single CD, six speakers, Sirius satellite and HD radio receivers, speed-sensitive volume and RDS, power windows with auto-down, remote keyless entry, leather-wrapped tilt/telescope steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, trip computer, outside temperature display, color-adjustable interior lighting, cooled glovebox, interior air filter, 12-volt outlet, rear window defogger, sport-mode adjustment for throttle and steering, rear spoiler, fog lights,16-inch alloy wheels with 195/55 run-flat tires

Options as tested:

Mini Connected with Navigation ($2500) includes navigation, voice command, Bluetooth, USB/iPod adapter, real time traffic, iPhone integration; Premium Package ($1750) includes automatic climate control, anti-theft alarm, chrome line interior trim, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, auto-dimming rear view mirror, and Harman Kardon audio upgrade; wind blocker ($250); heated seats ($500); silver-white metallic paint ($500); sports stripes ($250)

Destination charge:  ($700)
Gas Guzzler Tax:  N/A
Price as tested (MSRP):  $33,800
Layout:  front-wheel drive
Engine:  1.6-liter dohc 16v turbocharged inline-4
Horsepower (hp @ rpm):  181 @ 5500
Torque(lb.-ft. @ rpm):  192 @ 1700-4500
Transmission:  6-speed manual
EPA fuel economy, city/hwy:  27/35 mpg
Wheelbase:  97.1 in.
Length/width/height:  147.0/66.3/54.7 in.
Track, f/r:  57.2/57.5 in.
Turning circle:  36.1 ft.
Seating capacity:  2
Head/hip/leg room, f:  39.0/NA/41.4 in.
Head/hip/leg room, m:  N/A
Head/hip/leg room, r:  N/A
Cargo volume:  2.5 cu. ft.
Payload  N/A
Towing capacity:  N/A
Suspension F:  independent, MacPherson struts
Suspension R:  independent, multi-link, coil springs
Ground Clearance:  5.4 in.
Curb weight:  2800 Lbs.
Tires:  195/55R16
Brakes, f/r:  vented disc/disc with ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Cornering Brake Control
Fuel capacity:  13.2 gal.

Unless otherwise indicated, specifications refer to test vehicle.
All prices are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) effective as of 25/Feb/2012.
Prices do not include manufacturer’s destination and delivery charges.

N/A: Information not available or not applicable.

Herb Chambers Mini of Boston

Herb Chambers is proud to present

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Location: Augusta National Golf Club // Augusta, GA

- Round-Trip Airfare for Two Adults
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- Two One-Day Badges for Saturday or Sunday and Mid Size Rental Car

Kentucky Derby

Location: Churchill Downs Race Track // Louisville, KY

- Round-Trip Airfare for Two
- 4 Days / 3 Nights Hotel Accommodations for Two Adults
- $500 VISA Debit Card
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- Round-Trip Airfare for Two Adults
- 4 Days / 3 Nights Hotel Accommodations for Two Adults
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- Round-Trip Airfare for Two Adults
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A personal note from Herb Chambers

Dear Valued customer,

Last, year at this time, I wrote to you about an important workplace distinction of which, I was very proud.

The Herb Chambers Companies were recognized as being amongst The Boston Globe’s Top 100 Places to Work for 2009. I am so proud to tell you, we have just been notified by the Boston Globe, that we have earned this distinction again for 2010.

This year we are ranked eighth in the Large Employer category. We were selected from more than 1,000 employers who participated in the survey. In fact, we are the only automotive dealer ever to have received this award and now we’ve earned it twice.

What I love so much about this is that it was the enthusiastic recognition of our employees’ that made this possible when they nominated our company as a Top 100 workplace.

There is no higher privilege in business than to have your employees emphatically state, “What a great place to work”! … And then, want to tell the whole world…amazing!

Thank you.

Herb Chambers

#############

The soul of a leader

Three top executives who all inspire loyalty among employees reveal their personal goals, leadership methods — and deepest fears

November 7, 2010

To be one of the Globe’s Top Places to Work, an organization’s employees must believe the people at the top know what they’re doing and care about providing a rewarding work experience. Anthony Consigli of Consigli Construction Co., Kathleen “Kit’’ Tunney of Associates for Human Services, and Herb Chambers of Herb Chambers Cos. all run organizations that ranked high in our survey for employee faith that the organization is in good hands. Top Places editor Michael Warshaw asked them what good leaders do.

• Globe: Anthony, what does it mean to you that your name is on the company?

Consigli: It might make the accountability that much greater. But I don’t think that it is the end all, be all. The reason the name is important is because I have three generations preceding me. If I screw up, I feel like I let somebody down.

• Globe: Herb, what about your name on your company?

Chambers: Well, I think it is different for me because I was the guy that started the company. I think that the pressure on you, Anthony, is five times greater than it is on me.

The company I have today is not what I envisioned 20, 25 years ago. At the time I sold my first company, I was 38 years old. I said, ‘What am I going to do now?’ and I went down to buy a car, and instead of buying the car, I bought the dealership.

Tunney: That is a great story.

Chambers: I realized how bad that particular dealership was. It just looked like the guy wanted to get out of it. I bought it right on the spot.

In the automobile business, you don’t necessarily have to be great. You have to be good. If you are good, you are great. Because most people say they hate car dealers.

We don’t build cars. They roll in, and we have to find a home for them. Our people are so important because the product is unimportant. If you like Honda, you’re going to buy a Honda whether you buy it from me or somebody else. The question becomes: Can we fulfill the need of delivering that car to the customer better than somebody else can?

I hold a training meeting once a month, and we have 300 or 400 people there for breakfast, our whole sales organization. Salespeople have got to be kind of cheered up all the time, because they have a tendency to fall down. Technicians are a kind of a different breed. They have a different level of motivation than salespeople do.

• Globe: Do you speak to each group differently?

Chambers: I do. When I am in the dealerships, I talk to the guys and ask, ‘How is everything with the shop? Anything we can do for you?’

All of our shops are now air conditioned. That came out of one of the comments I got from one of the guys.

• Globe: Kit, you came up differently, from being a staffer.

Tunney: I fell in love with the work that we do — with the staff that I was working with. And over time, wanted to make some changes there, took some courses to get a little bit of credentials in management. And happened to be at the right place at the right time.

• Globe: How did the experience of being a staff member affect your leadership?

Tunney: Having been there and done that makes me more approachable. I try to involve them in problem solving and decision making, because that was important to me when I felt like I didn’t have that voice.

I go out to a group home and say to the staff, ‘How’s it going?’ and I stop to listen to the answer. But I also provide formal opportunities for them to participate in focus groups and surveys to tell me how good of a job we are doing.

• Globe: Tell us something that surprised you that came out of that.

Tunney: Lack of natural light. We had staff in cubbies with no windows. When I decided to build our building, and we interviewed staff to ask them what they wanted, what I heard was: light. Now our building has windows right across the top. It is all one level. And there are suites set off at angles, so it doesn’t look like a motel.

• Globe: Anthony, what are you looking for when you tour your construction sites?

Consigli: I am looking for them to talk to me like I am a normal person, vs. a company president. I think there are some incredibly smart people out there that are building these buildings. They are equally important to this deal as I am. I don’t think they understand that sometimes.

• Globe: Kit, how important is the staff dedication to your mission?

Tunney: It is essential. You train, train, train. I don’t have a breakfast every month for 400 people, but it is the same thing. You’ve got to find out what their needs are, and you have to meet those needs. If I have a staff that didn’t do a good job because I didn’t provide the opportunity to gain the skills that they need, then I am the one at fault.

For instance, if you have an individual that lives in a group home, in a wheelchair, and then is maybe visually impaired, you need to provide training for that particular staff. How do you present a meal to someone that is visually impaired? How do you get them to a table if they are in a wheelchair? So you really have to be very thorough putting together orientation for staff. And follow up, follow up, follow up.

Chambers: In the automobile business, I am embarrassed to say how simple it is. The manufacturer provides you with information on all of the technicians, all the salespeople, the individual dealerships, how they all perform. We know where the problems are.

• Globe: Herb, you bought that dealership, it seems, almost on impulse.

Tunney: That is confidence, and I admire that.

Chambers: I don’t think I am smarter than anybody else. On the same token, I don’t think I am a lot dumber than anybody else. Believe me, I live on fear. I am always worried about everything all the time.

• Globe: Fear of what?

Chambers: Fear of failing in anything. I don’t want to fail.

• Globe: Kit, do you have fear?

Tunney: We’re federally and state funded. I am always wondering whether or not our contracts are going to get cut. And they do. Then I need to figure out, ‘How am I going to do more with less?’ I am always afraid it’s going to get cut so much that I am going to have to look at laying off staff.

• Globe: Anthony, is fear a motivator?

Consigli: Fear and regret. I stay up all night thinking about the things that could go wrong. Construction is a dangerous business. People die, and I am fearful of that. Quality problems, reputation — all those things.

I would say regret is equal. I hate thinking that I am going to regret decisions I made or didn’t make 10 years out, 30 years out.

• Globe: How do you avoid it?

Consigli: Thinking a lot about it. The greatest regret would be tanking a company that has been around for 105 years. I think that fear and hard work hold off that danger of making a decision that you’ll regret.

Do you screw up? Yeah. Everybody screws up. But you man up, you admit it, and you move on. If there are three things that I aspire to, they are humility, empathy, and accountability — just doing what you said you were going to do. I think that if I can do that more often than not, generally speaking, things will go well.

Tunney: If people have a healthy work ethic, they want to come to work and they want to be respected for what they do. And they want to do their best and they want to be rewarded for that. They want to have decent pay checks. And that is what we try to do.

Consigli: If we are the people behind our organizations who are responsible for that, we need to be doing the proper planning and working hard to make sure we’re putting things in place for that to happen for people.

Chambers: Everybody likes to believe they have good integrity. They all like to believe that they work hard. Who is going to set the pace of the organization? The pace of the organization is the speed of the leader, right? They look at you and say, ‘He really puts his heart and soul into everything that he does, or she does.’ So what are you doing to do? You’re going to put your heart and soul into it.

Consigli: The day that I stop doing that is the day I have to get out and let someone else take over. I have seen so many organizations where that doesn’t happen. If I get hit by a bus tomorrow, I want the organization to keep going just like nothing happened. That’s success.

© Copyright 2010 The New York Times Company

Herb Chambers To Open New Hyundai Dealership in Westborough

by Russell J. Moore – Courtesy of: Warwick Beacon

Warwick will soon be home to the only Cadillac dealership in the state when Herb Chambers Cadillac, formerly located in Providence, moves into what was the Saturn dealership on 1511 Bald Hill Road.

Earlier this year, General Motors announced it would eliminate the Saturn brand of cars by 2011. Saturn, which had never been profitable in its 20-year history, was eliminated as part of GM’s restructuring plan submitted to Congress and President Obama after having received bailout funds.

Herb Chambers, which owns the dealership, was considering building a state-of-the-art two-story dealership in West Warwick, just a mile or so up the street. Herb Chambers, however, was convinced by Mayor Scott Avedisian and Warwick attorney Joe Shekarchi (who does legal work for the company) to remain in the city. That means the city will retain the tax revenue that otherwise would have been lost had the dealership opted to move.

Contacted yesterday, Chambers said he was happy to retain a presence in Warwick.

“General Motors has been pressuring me to move (Cadillac) there for a long time. Finally, we’re able to do it,” said Chambers.

Chambers pointed out that while the dealership will sell Cadillac exclusively, people who own Saturns will still be able to have their cars serviced at that dealership.

“We will continue to service Saturns forever, basically until there aren’t any more of them on the road,” said Chambers.

Chambers said the consolidation of two dealerships (Saturn and Cadillac) into one would result in some job losses, but he hopes that increased Cadillac sales will result in future job gains.

“We expect an increase in Cadillac sales because of our new location. Hopefully we’ll be able to add more employees in the near future,” said Chambers.

Chambers said Warwick is a great place to do business.

“There is so much retail in Warwick. That strip on Route 2 has to be one of the busiest in New England,” said Chambers.

Avedisian said that the addition of Herb Chambers Cadillac represents a much-needed end-of-the-year boost in economic development.

“Herb Chambers Cadillac is a wonderful addition to the city. We had many discussions about getting them here, as they are a well-known and respected entity in Rhode Island. We are pleased they will call Warwick home,” said Avedisian.

“This is a great end-of-the-year economic boost for the city.”

Councilman Steve Merolla (Ward-9), contacted on Friday, said he too welcomes the dealership into the city.