Mini is a British automotive marque founded in 1969, owned by German automotive company BMW since 2000, and used by them for a range of small cars.
Owner: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Produced by: BMW
Introduced: 1969 (used since 1959 in model names)
Product type: Car
Related brands: John Cooper Works
We’ve been creating cars that inspire awe and pure joy for over 60 years.
Hundreds of innovations and millions of models later, we have the same passion
to forever change what it means to drive.
The year was 1957, and in post-World War II England the Suez Crisis had
sent fuelprices soaring, leading many to start wondering if the large,
gas-guzzling vehicles of the day made much sense.
So Sir Leonard Lord of the Morris Company issued his top engineer,
Alec Issigonis, a challenge: design and build a small, fuel-efficient
car capable of carrying four adults, within economic reach of just
about everyone. As fate would have it, the challenge of fitting so
much function into such a small package inspired a couple
of historic innovations.
The two most important innovations Issigonis came up with were to
create more room in the cockpit: pushing the wheels all the way
out to the corners and turning the engine sideways giving the
car more stability in tight turn and more passenger space on
the inside. The world had never seen a car quite like it. And
when the first Mini launched in 1959, the public was a bit
baffled.
Soon enough, people began to recognize that the Mini was not merely
a car. The unique combination of classic British style in a low-cost,
small size, fun and nimble package came to symbolize
independence and spontaneity. The very essence
of the youthful 1960s culture.
One of the most remarkable elements of the Classic Mini’s popularity
was how its infectious spirit transcended traditional class barriers.
From hipsters and mods to milkmen, rock stars and royalty to rally
racers. Everyone could have efficiency, fun and freedom, motoring
in a Mini.
It soon became apparent that, while intended to create more passenger
room, Issigonis’s numerous layout innovations also helped make the
Mini a standout performance car. Wheels at the corners meant a
wide, go-kart stanceand nimble handling. And the transverse
engine kept weight over the front tires, helping provide
great balance and grip.
Fast forward to 1999. Over 5 million Classic Minis had found happy homes
around the world leading a panel of 130 international automotive journali-
sts to vote Mini “European Car of the Century.” In fact, only Ford’s Model
T received more votes for the global title.
Since the Hardtop burst onto US roadways in 2002, the public’s appet-
ite for MINI has grown along with the MINI lineup. The expanding
family includes available ALL4 all-wheel drive, three models with
more seating and four doors, spirited two-seaters, topless
motoring – and a new era of sophisticated technology
and high-end interiors.
The year was 1957, and in post-World War II England the Suez Crisis had
sent fuelprices soaring, leading many to start wondering if the large,
gas-guzzling vehicles of the day made much sense.
So Sir Leonard Lord of the Morris Company issued his top engineer,
Alec Issigonis, a challenge: design and build a small, fuel-efficient
car capable of carrying four adults, within economic reach of just
about everyone. As fate would have it, the challenge of fitting so
much function into such a small package inspired a couple
of historic innovations.
The two most important innovations Issigonis came up with were to
create more room in the cockpit: pushing the wheels all the way
out to the corners and turning the engine sideways giving the
car more stability in tight turn and more passenger space on
the inside. The world had never seen a car quite like it. And
when the first Mini launched in 1959, the public was a bit
baffled.
Soon enough, people began to recognize that the Mini was not merely
a car. The unique combination of classic British style in a low-cost,
small size, fun and nimble package came to symbolize
independence and spontaneity. The very essence
of the youthful 1960s culture.
One of the most remarkable elements of the Classic Mini’s popularity
was how its infectious spirit transcended traditional class barriers.
From hipsters and mods to milkmen, rock stars and royalty to rally
racers. Everyone could have efficiency, fun and freedom, motoring
in a Mini.
It soon became apparent that, while intended to create more passenger
room, Issigonis’s numerous layout innovations also helped make the
Mini a standout performance car. Wheels at the corners meant a
wide, go-kart stanceand nimble handling. And the transverse
engine kept weight over the front tires, helping provide
great balance and grip.
Fast forward to 1999. Over 5 million Classic Minis had found happy homes
around the world leading a panel of 130 international automotive journali-
sts to vote Mini “European Car of the Century.” In fact, only Ford’s Model
T received more votes for the global title.
Since the Hardtop burst onto US roadways in 2002, the public’s appet-
ite for MINI has grown along with the MINI lineup. The expanding
family includes available ALL4 all-wheel drive, three models with
more seating and four doors, spirited two-seaters, topless
motoring – and a new era of sophisticated technology
and high-end interiors.