The Mini is a small car that was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The most popular British-made car ever, it was superseded by the new MINI, which was launched in April 2001. The original is considered an icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout (that allowed 80% of the area of the car's floorpan to be used for passengers and luggage) influenced a generation of car-makers. The vehicle is in some ways considered the British equivalent to its German contemporary, the Volkswagen Beetle, which enjoyed similar popularity in North America.
This distinctive two-door car was designed for BMC by Sir Alec Issigonis. It was manufactured at the Longbridge and Cowley plants in the United Kingdom, the Victoria Park / Zetland British Motor Corporation (Australia) factory in Sydney, Australia, and later also in Spain (Authi), Belgium, Chile, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. The Mini Mark I had three major UK updates: the Mark II, the Clubman and the Mark III. Within these was a series of variations including an estate car, a pickup truck, a van and the Mini Moke a jeep-like buggy. The Mini Cooper and Cooper ''S'' were sportier versions that were successful as rally cars, winning the Monte Carlo Rally three times.
Minis were marketed under the Austin and Morris names until Mini became a marque in its own right in 1969.
MINI in the News
- MINI's John Cooper Works Lineup Gets New Engine For 2013 - Washington Post
- Motorola Defy Mini XT320 - Expert Reviews
- A European mini-estate - Dubuque Telegraph Herald
- A European mini-estate - Dubuque Telegraph Herald
- Sanskrit Makes a Mini-Comeback, in the US - Wall Street Journal (blog)
MINI in Blogs
- Natural Longboards Mini Cruiser Skateboard Deck « Music City News
- The case against the iPad Mini - News, videos and more - My daily ...
- iPad Mini Release Date Expected Q3/Q4 - World News Resource
- Mini-quidditch broom-making class in Edmonds Thursday | My ...
- Dena's Stamping Corner: LOTV Mini Hop Winner and News!
MINI on Twitter
- パク・チニョン 1st Mini Album - Spring (韓国盤) [音楽CD・DVDの新着商品ブログ] http://t.co/Gsidp2iv
- パク・チニョン 1st Mini Album - Spring (韓国盤) [音楽CD・DVDの新着商品ブログ] http://t.co/c1Xz12W1
- New iPad Mini release date, news and rumours http://t.co/uglKvo11 How To Install Motorola MOTOBLUR Ice Cream Sandwich Home ios 5 _39
- HP Mini 110-1020NR 10.1-Inch Netbook Fitted CaseCrown Double Memory Foam Thin Netbook Case Bag (News Style): The... http://t.co/XsO87njK
- HP Mini 110-1020NR 10.1-Inch Netbook Fitted CaseCrown Double Memory Foam Thin Netbook Case Bag (News Style): The... http://t.co/ppDr8IOE
- New iPad Mini release date, news and rumours http://t.co/C9sgHfyo How To Install Motorola MOTOBLUR Ice Cream Sandwich Home ios 5 _77
- @harkous really samer? U think mafee shee? Gulf news reported a mini war today
- MINI’s John Cooper Works Lineup Gets New Engine For 2013 http://t.co/yERWR4v7 via @TheRealMA
- MINI’s John Cooper Works Lineup Gets New Engine For 2013 http://t.co/95AuOZUV
- New iPad Mini release date, news and rumours http://t.co/WHbzbfAJ How To Install Motorola MOTOBLUR Ice Cream Sandwich Home ios 5 _30