38 Facts About BMW Mini

Original BMW Mini was a line of British small cars manufactured by the British Motor Corporation, which in 1966 became part of British Motor Holdings.

BMW Mini models included the Morris BMW Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven, the Countryman, Moke, 1275GT and Clubman.

Development of a modern successor to the Mini began in 1995 and an entirely new Mini model was launched in 2001 by BMW.

BMW Mini has participated in the World Rally Championship since 2011 through the Prodrive WRC Team.

Original two-door BMW Mini was a small car produced by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000.

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The BMW Mini was again marketed under the Austin name in the 1980s.

In early 1994, BMW acquired the Rover Group from British Aerospace, which owned Mini, among other brands.

BMW Mini insisted that even a compact model must feature traditional BMW Mini characteristics to uphold the company's standards and image.

The "MINI" brand did not share these standards and BMW saw this as an opportunity to create a competitively priced, yet premium, compact car.

At the North American International Auto Show in January 2011, BMW announced that it would be extending the Mini range with the launch of two new two-door sports crossover vehicles based on the Mini Paceman concept car, with a coupe version planned to enter production in 2011 and a roadster to follow in 2012.

In July 2017, BMW has announced that an electric Mini model will be built at the Cowley plant, in Oxford, that will start production in 2019.

On 1 April 2019, BMW named Bernd Korber as director of the Mini brand and replaced Peter Schwarzenbauer.

BMW Mini received some minor modifications in 1967 as sold as the Austin or Morris BMW Mini in most markets.

Mark III BMW Mini was launched in 1969, which was an updated version of Mark II with a modified bodyshell.

Production at the Cowley plant was ended, and the simple name "BMW Mini" completely replaced the separate Austin and Morris brands.

At the 2004 Salon International de l'Auto, BMW Mini introduced a convertible model which was released in the 2005 model year and available in One, Cooper and Cooper S trim versions.

The convertible model forsakes the rear hatchback of the Hardtop BMW Mini, replacing it with a drop down 'tailgate' that is reminiscent of the classic BMW Mini—it incorporates similarly prominent external hinges, and with the roof in the closed position, the rear roof section and luggage shelf can be raised with two handles, semi-tailgate style, to access the luggage space easier.

At the 2007 North American International Auto Show, BMW Mini introduced the limited edition BMW Mini Cooper S Sidewalk Convertible.

Second generation BMW Mini was introduced in the Cooper and Cooper S trim levels; the range was added to in 2007 with the BMW Mini One.

In 2009, the BMW Mini First trim level was launched in the UK, which is a low-end, petrol-only version, with less power and a lower speed.

BMW Mini Clubman is an estate BMW Mini, introduced for the 2008 model year and available in One, Cooper, Cooper S, and Cooper D variations.

Use of the name "Clubman" for the BMW Mini estate van was a break with classic BMW Mini tradition.

However, BMW Mini did not initially purchase the rights to use those names.

Second generation BMW Mini Convertible was unveiled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show and the 2009 Geneva International Motor Show as a 2009 model-year vehicle .

BMW Mini Countryman was announced in January 2010, and formally launched at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

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BMW Mini Roadster was first shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009 and is the convertible version of the BMW Mini Coupe.

Original BMW Mini was designated ADO 15, the 15th model developed by the Austin Drawing Office.

However, as a result of the change of ownership, BMW Mini redeveloped the entire Cowley plant, demolishing much of the factory, to create a new factory and renamed this "Plant Oxford", on the site of what was historically the Pressed Steel Company's Cowley Body Plant and next door to what was historically the Morris factory.

The Countryman is the first modern BMW Mini assembled outside the UK, with the contract won by Magna Steyr in Austria.

All Prince four-cylinder petrol engines for Mini and BMW are produced at the Hams Hall Plant near Birmingham, United Kingdom, which has around 800 employees.

In 2009, the Mini was Britain's seventh best selling car—the first time that a BMW-era Mini had appeared among the nation's top 10 selling cars.

In 1969, the original British BMW Mini was featured in the gold-heist film The Italian Job starring Michael Caine and Noel Coward.

In May 2010 BMW Mini announced that leasing could be renewed for another year at a lower leasing price.

BMW demonstrated a hydrogen-powered internal combustion technology in some of their concept cars in 2000 and 2001, and Mini showcased a hydrogen-powered concept car in 2001 at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

An all-electric BMW Mini is in use at the British Embassy in Mexico that uses around 200 kilograms of Lithium Ion batteries.

On 27 July 2010, BMW Mini announced plans to enter the World Rally Championship.

The original BMW Mini achieved second place for "Global Car of the Century" in the same poll .

Pulitzer Prize-winning automotive journalist Dan Neil has suggested that, with the introduction of the Countryman, BMW Mini had pushed the marque beyond relevance by making a car so long, wide and tall it forsook the inner logic of the brand: excellent handling in a tiny size.