With Mini introducing a new version of its iconic hatchback, we take a look back at its history…
From dinky ‘60s car to a modern electric hatchback, the Mini has done it all, while never losing its focus as an affordable and fun car.
We take a look at the history of the Mini.
1959 – The original Mini
When fuel prices skyrocketed in the late 1950s, the Morris Motor Company challenged its top engineer, Alec Issigonis, to create a small, affordable, fuel-efficient car capable of carrying four adults. The result was the aptly named Mini, with the wheels at the far corners and the engine mounted sideways, to improve stability and free up interior space. It was built at Longbridge, Birmingham, and also at Cowley, Oxford.
1961 – Racing success
The Mini quickly grew a fanbase, in part due to racing success. Brish racing legend John Cooper developed the easilymodifiable car, leading to the introducon of the more powerful Cooper and Cooper S models. The Mini chalked up impressive racing victories, including three wins at the Monte Carlo rally. By 1965 the millionth Mini had been produced.
1970s and 1980s – the Mini would just keep plodding on
Demand for the small Mini continued, with cumulative sales passing three million and four million in 1972 and 1976 respectively, helped by the addition of new versions such as the Clubman estate.
1994 – BMW buys Mini and the final Classic Minis are produced
BMW acquired Mini’s owner, Rover Group, in 1994, and the original Mini was finally discontinued in 2000, following lots of special editions. More than 5.3 million Classic Minis were produced.
2001 – The New Mini
The New Mini began production at the firm’s Oxford factory in 2001 and sold well despite being quite a lot bigger than the original. Convertible, sportier Cooper S and John Cooper Works models all followed. The 2006 special edition GP had the rear seats removed and power increased to 218bhp.
2006 – The second New Mini
The second-generation model looked similar but was larger, better equipped and featured new engines. A reincarnated Mini Clubman was introduced in 2007, and this generation also provided the setup for the ‘Mini E’ in 2009 – an electric Mini trialled for 12 months, which helped pave the way for the introduction of BMW’s electric i3 in 2013.
2014 – The third innings
In 2014, a brand-new, more modern-looking Mini was launched. Based around a new platform and with a broad range of new engines, new features included a headup display and LED headlights – both fairly advanced technology at the time. The first five-door Hatch followed shortly after, improving interior space further. 2020 saw the launch of the Mini Electric with a range of around 145 miles, as well as the latest John Cooper Works GP – a 302bhp hot hatch that remains the most powerful Mini hatchback ever.
2023 – A simplified, digital Mini
Offered in just a threedoor guise, Mini’s new Cooper has a modern, simplified design. The plastic wheelarch trim and Union Jack rear lights are gone, while inside is a new circular touchscreen display and a simplified layout. Only revealed in electric guise –with petrol versions arriving later – the Mini Cooper can now travel up to a claimed 250 miles on a charge.
