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MINI
History
MINI History
MINI Cars
MINI Clubman
MINI Sidewalk
New MINI 2006
MINI Convertible
MINI Cooper S
BMW MINI
Cooper
MINI
Introduction 2001
MINI Concepts
MINI Concept Frankfurt
MINI Concept Detroit
MINI Concept Tokyo
Specials
MINI Plant in Oxford, UK
The new MINI is being manufactured on one of the world's
most modern and advanced production systems at the BMW Group plant at
Oxford - the result of a £230 million investment programme at the factory.
BMW's new Oxford Plant
MINI Stars in "The Italian Job"
MINI in "The Italian Job"
MINI, the
2003 North American Car of the Year, will join a stellar cast that includes
Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Seth Green,
Mos Def and Donald Sutherland, in Paramount Pictures’ film, “The Italian
Job,” opening nationwide May 30th.
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MINI Market
Introduction
MINI Design
MINI Technology
MINI: MINI Design
Photos: BMW
The
shape of the bonnet and its huge round headlamps give the MINI
its characteristic face. An extremely short tail, a steeply
rising side section and the dominant tail lamps make the MINI
feel compact, almost squat. The tail lamps are not taken right
up to the boot opening, which is aesthetically pleasant but
technically complex. In addition, the flared wheel arches and
the horizontal lines of the tail section mean that the MINI
looks extremely wide from behind.
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All the variants of the MINI are available solely
as two-door cars. The doors can be opened extremely wide – up
to 80 degrees – making it easy for passengers to get in and
out, and providing more comfortable access to the rear seats.
When the MINI’s doors are fully open, it is wider than it is long.
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The charm
of the original Mini, with its wide wheel spacing, and ultra-short wheel
arches, (the idea of the “wheel at every corner”)appears again with
total authenticity in the new versions of the MINI.
The doors
with their frameless windows are elegant and unconventional in this
vehicle category. The MINI is provided as standard with electrically
operated windows in the front, with automatic slow/fast function. When
the doors are opened, the windows automatically open very slightly,
and when they are closed, the windows are automatically moved up again.
This provides an optimum seal between the door and the door seal, as
used in the BMW 3 series coupé and convertible, effectively protecting
the interior from noise and moisture.
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Frank Stephenson,
Design Exterior MINI
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Gert Hildebrand,
Design MINI
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Marcus Syring, Design Interior MINI
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The tailgate can be opened
at over 90 degrees, thus providing easy access to the boot.
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open tailgate
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People who are 1.85 m tall and less can stand upright under
the open tailgate. The MINI can be fitted with a panorama sunroof,
the opening being approximately one and a half times larger
than conventional glass roofs. A fixed glazed section behind
the movable part and sun protection roller blinds are also included,
for additional comfort and a greater feeling of space.
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Just sitting
in the driver's seat gives a foretaste of the fun this car is to drive:
with the steeply rising windscreen and the high window line, the driver
knows intuitively that he's in a car that's a little bit different.
The central design element in the interior
is the speedometer in the middle, which also contains displays
showing the fuel level, coolant temperature and other functions,
such as the flat tire indicator, which comes as standard.
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Click image for
larger view
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Click image for
larger view
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Up to 1968, the central
positioning of the speedometer was a characteristic design feature of
the predecessor. The MINI's steering column is height-adjustable. In
addition, if a Steptronic automatic transmission is chosen, it can also
be operated from the steering wheel, as an additional option.
The rear seat rest is divided 50:50 and can be folded down as
standard. This means that the boot capacity can be increased
from 150 litres to 670 litres, providing enough space, for example,
for up to eight cases of mineral water.
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The MINI can be fitted with a panorama sunroof,
the opening being approximately one and a half times larger
than conventional glass roofs. A fixed glazed section behind
the movable part and sun protection roller blinds are also included,
for additional comfort and a greater feeling of space.
Photo: Automotive Intelligence
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Panorama Sunroof
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top
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