PressClub South Africa · Article.
The original celebrates its anniversary: The one millionth MINI 3-door of the current generation.
Mon Apr 17 00:01:00 CEST 2023 Press Release
The MINI 3-door has always thrilled its global fan base with maximum go-kart feeling and its unmistakable silhouette. The one millionth example of the current generation of the original MINI rolls off the production line as the all-electric MINI Cooper SE.
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BMW Group
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Author.
Hailey Philander
BMW Group
Munich. Maximum interior space on a minimum footprint – Sir Alec Issigonis wrote automotive history in 1959 with this simple yet ingenious vehicle concept. The modern version of the MINI 3-door also breaks with conventions along the same lines, reinvents itself time and again, and stands out from the crowd with its unique design. In 2013, MINI presented the current reinterpretation of the compact 3-door for the first time, which has been available worldwide since 2014 and has remained true to itself over all these years. Now, in 2023, the one millionth vehicle of the iconic model has rolled off the production line at the MINI plant in Oxford. Fittingly, the tradition-rich British plant is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. In addition to the British production site, the MINI four-door was also produced for a time in Born, the Netherlands.
Unmistakably MINI.
The typical appearance of the MINI 3-door is characterised by
dynamic lines, clear shapes and short overhangs, making the agile
four-seater the ideal companion in dense urban traffic. For its market
launch in 2014, the completely redesigned generation of the MINI
3-door presents itself with high recognition value and significant
advances in the areas of technology, efficiency and power delivery.
But while automobiles in almost all vehicle segments are becoming
increasingly similar, the MINI 3-door has remained both rebel and
iconic over all these years. The typical face of the MINI with the
characteristic headlights characterises the purist front and, together
with the Union Jack combination rear lamps, bonnet stripes and stylish
side scuttles, stands for expressive design. To this day, the
original, with its typical MINI driving pleasure, maximum quality and
numerous options for customisation, has a steadily growing fan base
worldwide.
The original with great variety.
The MINI 3-door is the original in the premium small car
segment. MINI fans have been able to choose between numerous
configurations since the unmistakable model went into production. From
the MINI One First with its original 55 kW to the more powerfully
powered MINI Cooper with 100 kW to the racing-inspired MINI John
Cooper Works models, the MINI 3-door impresses with inspiringly agile
driving characteristics and is the blueprint for modern small and
compact cars.
Since 2020 the highly successful MINI Cooper SE has
stood for electrified go-kart feeling. The one-millionth vehicle is
also an electric model and will be delivered to Canada in British
Racing Green paint. Last year, MINI recorded a significant increase in
sales of electrified models, with one in five MINI models now electric.
The next generation of the MINI family will also start with the MINI
3-door. The new edition of the original is geared to electric driving
pleasure from the outset and has ideal prerequisites for inspiring
agility and the creative use of space that is typical of MINI. In
addition to maximum go-kart feeling for MINI fans, the focus of the
new MINI 3-door is also on minimising its ecological footprint. In
this way, MINI is consistently developing the concept for urban
driving fun that has been successful for more than 60 years.
Impressive racing history.
As a friend of Mini inventor Alec Issigonis, race car designer
John Cooper first developed a GT model based on the classic Mini in
1960 and established the model's motorsport history. To this day, the
John Cooper Works brand name stands for outstanding performance. With
225 kW, the 2019 MINI John Cooper Works GP is the brand's fastest ever
road-going model.
The powerful four-cylinder turbo engine of the MINI 3-door,
limited to 3,000 units, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds,
citing MINI's impressive racing history. From winning the British
Touring Car Championships with the first Mini Cooper to three overall
victories at the Monte Carlo Rally and numerous other appearances, the
MINI 3-door has stood for sporting highlights time and again and
carries racing in its genes. Most recently, the Bulldog Racing MINI
John Cooper Works proved itself at the Nürburgring 24-hour race on the
legendary Nordschleife and quickly became a crowd favorite.