With Rover gone walkies, the all-new Mini is the first that’s developed entirely by BMW, writes JEZ SPINKS.
The latest-generation Mini is a baby BMW more than ever before.
It takes more than a glance to recognise the new Mini from its predecessor, but the car is not only 98 per cent new, the company admits that despite launching the last model back in 2001, this is also the first Mini that’s 100 per cent developed by BMW.
“We [BMW] took over very late with the first [new] Mini,” says Mini product manager Marcus Krieg, referring to the Munich company’s decision in 2000 to sell British car maker Rover and take over full development of the first new Mini just the year before its launch.
“This is the first time we really did the complete project from the very beginning to market introduction. So, yes, this is the first [Mini] that’s 100 per cent from BMW.”
While BMW still heavily supervised Rover during the British car maker’s creation of the first major generational change of the Mini since the iconic small car launched in 1959, this time the car is not only designed entirely in Munich, it’s also powered by BMW engines.
But the German manufacturer has been careful not to tinker too dramatically with a car that has achieved global success.
The new Mini – which retains some of its British roots by continuing to be built in Oxford, England – is now sold in 70 countries, reaching impressive sales of 875,000 since its launch. And customers told BMW they didn’t want any major styling changes for the new car.
While every body panel is new on the 2006 Mini, they are mainly a consequence of the longer and higher front end – necessitated by the need to meet 2008 pedestrian-impact regulations and fit the all-new BMW-Peugeot joint-venture engines.
