MINI
After 41 years, the original and classic-in-its-own-lifetime Mini was replaced with a brand new car, Designed and engineered in the UK, after BMW insisted Rover went in the new-age Cooper direction, rather than the ‘Spiritual’ direction the British really wanted. A few post-launch wobbles, but now in its second generation, and a huge global success that has re-affirmed MINI as the builder of desirable small cars.
The cars : MINI development history
Replacing the Mini was never going to be the work of a moment, and was generally regarded to be one of the toughest gigs in the industry. After years of deliberation, Rover started serious work in 1993, which was soon bolstered by the arrival of BMW the following year. What we ended up with sparked [...]
July 23, 2011
· 
Keith Adams · 
9 Comments
Buying guide : MINI 2001-2007
Replacing the classic Mini should have been a tall order, but BMW managed the job in style in 2001 – and as Keith Adams explains, they make a great second hand purchase today. Following BMW’s takeover of Rover in 1994, the Mini’s passage into the 21st century was guaranteed. The German company’s boss was a [...]
August 19, 2011
· Keith Adams · 39 Comments
News : MINI 2012 edition launched
MINI, official partner of Team GB and ParalympicsGB, has unveiled its new London 2012 special, limited edition models to celebrate the monumental London 2012 Olympic Games. There will be just 2012 of these special edition models built, which are available in Cooper, Cooper D, Cooper S and Cooper SD trims and come in the Union [...]
September 28, 2011
· Keith Adams · 20 Comments
What the papers say : MINI Coupe
Keith Adams AROnline‘s invite to the MINI Coupe launch in Austria coincided with one broken foot, so we’ve yet to sample the delights of Britain’s newest coupe first hand. It’s a fascinating car, the R58, and one that’s certainly dividing the opinions of our readership – but the undoubted facts are that it’s well judged [...]
September 23, 2011
· Keith Adams · 17 Comments
News : Two millionth MINI rolls out of Oxford
A decade after the start of production, the two millionth MINI was driven off the production line at Plant Oxford by Prime Minister David Cameron. Of the two million, more than 1.5 million MINIs have been exported from the UK. Frank-Peter Arndt, who is responsible for production, was present to celebrate this latest major milestone [...]
September 1, 2011
· Keith Adams · 41 Comments
Drive story : Mini Cooper D // Nürburgring for £100
The recently revised MINI Cooper D is one of the most environmentally friendly cars you can buy – Keith Adams takes a daytrip to the Nürburgring Nordschleife to prove that being green doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun… Payment in fun… THE green motoring revolution has been gaining momentum in recent years – if [...]
July 25, 2011
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Tested : MINI Clubman Cooper D
Do the MINI Clubman’s extra rear seat leg- and headroom and those natty back doors justify the premium over the standard Cooper D? Like Marmite, you decide… THEY say that familiarity breeds contempt and that should play into the MINI Clubman’s hands. The low rate of sales to date has meant that the quirky addition [...]
July 25, 2011
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Tested : Radford MINI Miglia
An iconic name from the 1960s has made a return: Radford MINI. KEITH ADAMS takes the top of the range version for a quick spin and comes away impressed, but wonders whether £34,000 is a little too much to spend on a MINI… Back to the future… JUST about everyone loves the MINI – and [...]
July 24, 2011
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Tested : MINI Cooper S Works GP
The next generation MINI might be with us now, but that didn’t stop them launching the ultimate version, and selling out before it even hits the streets. Download the wallpaper | 1024×768 | 1280×960 Work it, baby! REMEMBER the old cliché about saving the best ‘til last – well, we reckon MINI may well have [...]
July 24, 2011
· Keith Adams · One Comment
Tested : MINI Cooper
THE MINI Cooper is coming to the end of its life, and yet remains as popular as ever. KEITH ADAMS takes a long, lingering look at the car that redefined the Mini for the 21st Century, and investigates whether it’s the driving machine its makers claim it to be by running it round the Nürburgring… [...]
July 24, 2011
· Keith Adams · No Comments
The converters : Carrozzeria Castagna
Just like the Mini in the 1960s, the MINI has attracted its fair share of customisers… In 2006, Carrozzeria Castagna announced a range of MINI conversions that pre-dated the factory’s efforts – so to fans of Italian coacbuilders, the R56 Clubman was very much last year’s old news when it was launched… Variations on a [...]
July 24, 2011
· Keith Adams · No Comments
MINI : Dates announced for Coupé’s race and showroom debuts
Clive Goldthorp MINI UK has this week announced that the Plant Oxford-built MINI Coupé will be going on sale in the UK on 1 October 2011. The new model is MINI’s first two-seater sports car and four versions will be available at launch: Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SD and John Cooper Works (JCW). The Coupé [...]
June 23, 2011
· Clive Goldthorp · 48 Comments
MINI : £500m investment safeguards over 5000 jobs at Plant Oxford
The BMW Group has today announced an additional £500 million investment in its UK production network over the next three years and confirmed that the UK will be a production location for its next generation MINI models.
June 9, 2011
· Clive Goldthorp · 10 Comments
MINI : Coupé set for launch at Frankfurt Motor Show in September
The MINI Coupé’s one of the most-scooped MINIs of them all but its maker has unveiled images of semi-camouflaged, pre-production prototypes.
June 7, 2011
· Keith Adams · 39 Comments
MINI : John Cooper Works WRC to make UK debut this weekend
Dani Sordo will drive the MINI John Cooper Works WRC on its British debut this weekend at the Cornbury Park Rally Show, fresh from securing a superb sixth place finish at Rally Italy and where the MINI WRC Team made its first ever appearance. The MINI WRC Team driver will put the car through its [...]
May 10, 2011
· Clive Goldthorp · No Comments
First Drive : MINI Cooper SD
Richard Aucock MINI has officially done what aftermarket tuners have been doing for years: fit a big-capacity motor to a car which still competes in a small capacity sector.
May 3, 2011
· Keith Adams · 42 Comments
Auto Shanghai 2011 : MINI by Goodwood
Words: Keith Adams Photographs: Headline Auto We’ve already shown AROnline readers the clumsily-named MINI inspired by Goodwood, but the premium-packaged baby made its motor show debut in Shanghai with something of a splash. Prices have yet to be confirmed by MINI but, with a luxury equipment tally and the Rolls-Royce connection, speculation across the press seems [...]
April 19, 2011
· Keith Adams · No Comments
MINI : Rolls-Royce’s input adds the glitz for Auto Shanghai
Keith Adams The most luxurious factory-built MINI ever produced will be unveiled at next week’s Auto Shanghai. The ‘MINI inspired by Goodwood’ is limited to 1000 cars and has been built under BMW Group partner company Rolls-Royce’s guidance – as a concept, the luxury sporting small car is a sound one, and it will be interesting [...]
April 13, 2011
· Keith Adams · 14 Comments
MINI : WRC Team is officially launched in Oxford
The return of MINI to one of the biggest stages in motor sport is approaching ever closer. On Monday, the MINI WRC Team was officially presented to the public at the Team Launch, which took place at the MINI Plant in Oxford. This season, the team will contest six rounds of the FIA World Rally [...]
April 12, 2011
· Clive Goldthorp · 4 Comments
For sale : Alex Moulton’s 1997 Mini
Keith Adams AROnline is offering readers the opportunity to buy one very special Mini. Dr. Alex Moulton, Hydrolastic and Hydragas guru – as well as one of the industry’s most respected figures, is selling his 1997 Mini and here’s your chance to own a piece of history. The car has been owned since new by [...]
April 4, 2011
· Keith Adams · 34 Comments
