Photo: Stefan Baldauf / Guido ten Brink
Can you believe the Mini is 60 years old? But more importantly, there are more than 10 million series-production models out there among us? This is the 10 millionth example of the breed, finished at the beginning of August 2019 at the Oxford plant in the United Kingdom.
Around 5.3 million units of the Mini Classic were sold up until 2000 while the remaining models come courtesy of the BMW Group. The month of November 2019 will see MINI step into unknown territory with the Cooper SE, the brand’s first series-production electric vehicle.
Even though it’s an i3s with a different body style and platform, the Cooper SE is a lot better than the MINI E demonstration electric car that served as a test bed for the i3. Based on the two-door hatch in Cooper S flavor, the celebratory model brought at the Frankfurt Motor Show has 192 horsepower on tap from a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, special edition touches such as the green accents in the brown leather upholstery, decals, and logos.
What’s even more surprising is that the first series-production Mini Classic is still with us. MINI used it as part of a convoy that made the 84-mile trip from Oxford to Bristol at the International Mini Meet on August 11th. The original is a Morris Mini-Minor, featuring the 621 AOK registration plate. Its current home is at the Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire.
Over the years, the oldtimer was called many things including Austin Mini, Austin Seven, Innocenti Mini, Morris 850, the Riley Elf, and Rover Mini. The BMW Group took over in 1994, spelling the end of the Rover Group. What was once known as British Leylands came to a grinding halt in 2000 when the company was split beyond recognition.
Neither Rover and Austin are with us today, discontinued in 2005 and 1987, respectively. But the Mini and MINI still are, which goes to show that Britain’s most loved car is an icon that survived through prosperous and difficult times. On that note, let’s talk about sales.
MINI sold 361,531 cars in the year 2018, which is 2.8 percent worse compared to 2017. The problem with the marque and the models on offer is… wait for it… the obvious lack of value for money. Another thing that MINI should take into consideration is that new customers won’t flock to the brand unless something revolutionary, not evolutionary, will happen.
Even though it’s an i3s with a different body style and platform, the Cooper SE is a lot better than the MINI E demonstration electric car that served as a test bed for the i3. Based on the two-door hatch in Cooper S flavor, the celebratory model brought at the Frankfurt Motor Show has 192 horsepower on tap from a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, special edition touches such as the green accents in the brown leather upholstery, decals, and logos.
What’s even more surprising is that the first series-production Mini Classic is still with us. MINI used it as part of a convoy that made the 84-mile trip from Oxford to Bristol at the International Mini Meet on August 11th. The original is a Morris Mini-Minor, featuring the 621 AOK registration plate. Its current home is at the Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire.
Over the years, the oldtimer was called many things including Austin Mini, Austin Seven, Innocenti Mini, Morris 850, the Riley Elf, and Rover Mini. The BMW Group took over in 1994, spelling the end of the Rover Group. What was once known as British Leylands came to a grinding halt in 2000 when the company was split beyond recognition.
Neither Rover and Austin are with us today, discontinued in 2005 and 1987, respectively. But the Mini and MINI still are, which goes to show that Britain’s most loved car is an icon that survived through prosperous and difficult times. On that note, let’s talk about sales.
MINI sold 361,531 cars in the year 2018, which is 2.8 percent worse compared to 2017. The problem with the marque and the models on offer is… wait for it… the obvious lack of value for money. Another thing that MINI should take into consideration is that new customers won’t flock to the brand unless something revolutionary, not evolutionary, will happen.
Google News