On the 19th of November, the new Mini Copper made its official début from its’ plant based out of Oxford, England. The new mini has been on the receiving end of another growth spurt, making it longer, wider and taller than before, but still maintains the styling philosophy that has set its predecessors apart from the throng.
Under the hood though, this hot hatch and its ancestors are nothing like, because it comes jam-packed with the latest in automotive engineering and technology. Peter Schwarzenbauer, BMW Group’s board member for MINI, addressed this, he said, “MINI is an inspiration for trend-setters and creative spirits the world over. And with our latest generation of MINI, we want to excite once again. To ensure the new generation of MINI is as successful as its predecessors, we have made just subtle modifications to its design. But beneath the outer skin is a brand-new car with state-of-the-art technologies seen for the first time at a small car”.
The new Mini Cooper features three engine variants, a 3-cylinder, 1.5-litre petrol that produces 136 PS, a 3-cylinder 1.5 Diesel with a 115.5PS output, and the Mini S sporting a massive
191.5 PS producing 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine.
Manufactured completely in Oxford, with body parts made in Swindon and the Engine developed in Birmingham, the Mini is associated with a quintessentially English identity. Harald Krueger, BMW Group’s board member for production, paid tribute to this, he said “In our Oxford plant’s centenary year, we are continuing the MINI brand success story and today starting production of the third model generation. Our total investment of £750 million in our British production locations of Oxford, Swindon and Hams Hall between 2012 and 2015 underscores the importance of the MINI production triangle within our global production network. The UK is the heart of MINI production – thanks to the experience, competence and strong commitment of all our employees.”
The Mini Cooper is expected to be available for sale from mid-2014 across the globe.
Story: Harket Suchde
