MINI Happy birthday, MINI! 66 years of driving pleasure, style and individuality.

Munich. On 26 August 1959, the British Motor Corporation unveiled the first Mini: no one could have guessed at the time what an impact the innovative concept of brilliant British engineer Alec Issigonis would have on the automotive world. Sixty-six years after the launch of the now legendary Classic Mini, the MINI brand looks back on decades of racing success, visionary innovation, groundbreaking design – and unmistakable driving pleasure.

The MINI family combines tradition and modernity.

With the relaunch of the MINI family over the past two years, the brand has once again aligned its pioneering design and historical heritage with the future: with a new, charismatic generation of the MINI Cooper and MINI Countryman, the world premiere of the MINI Aceman, the first crossover model for the premium segment, and the launch of the new MINI Convertible, MINI combines tradition and innovation in the present.

The New John Cooper Works models illustrate MINI's racing expertise and with a spectacular second place in its class at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, MINI recently demonstrated how much motorsport is in the brand's DNA.

On its 66th birthday, MINI can look back on a growing range of electrified variants within the MINI family. MINI has shown, that go-kart feeling is also possible with fully electric vehicles.

66 years of vibrant automotive history – a look back at the milestones of MINI:

26 August 1959	The British Motor Corporation unveils the first Mini in history. The design is the brainchild of British engineer Alec Issigonis.
1961	The first Mini Cooper is unveiled – at a price of £680.
1962	Shortly after the Mini went into production, the British Motor Corporation was manufacturing 200,000 vehicles per year.
1963-64	The first Mini Cooper S is unveiled.
1964	Racing driver Paddy Hopkirk wins the Monte Carlo Rally in spectacular fashion in a Mini Cooper S.
1965	Second consecutive victory at the Monte Carlo Rally for Mini with racing driver Timo Makinen at the wheel.
	Mini celebrates one million vehicles produced.
	The first automatic transmission in the Mini is available.
1967	Mini wins the Monte Carlo Rally for the third time.
1972	Mini celebrates three million vehicles produced.
1981	Drop in production figures to 70,000 vehicles per year.
1990	Under the leadership of the Rover brand, Mini presents a new generation of the Mini Cooper. Initially as a limited edition – later as a series model.
1992	For the first time, the Mini is also available as a convertible.
1994	The BMW Group acquires Rover – and with it, Mini. The acquisition lays the foundation for the MINI brand in its current form.
2001	World premiere of the BMW Group's first MINI.
	Start of MINI production at the Oxford plant (UK).
	The new generation of the MINI Cooper S is presented at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.
2002	MINI reaches the milestone of 100,000 vehicles produced at its Oxford plant.
2004	The MINI Cooper S Convertible is unveiled.
2007	The MINI One and MINI Cooper D are unveiled.
	The first MINI Clubman celebrates its world premiere.
2010	The first MINI Countryman is unveiled.
2014	MINI presents the Cooper as a 5-door model for the first time.
2015	MINI presents a new brand logo.
2016	MINI reaches the milestone of 3,000,000 vehicles produced at its Oxford plant.
2020	Production of fully electric series vehicles begins at the Oxford plant with the MINI Cooper SE.
2021	New edition of the MINI 3-door, 5-door and MINI Convertible.
2023	The dawn of a new era with the new MINI: introducing a new generation of the MINI Cooper and MINI Countryman – both available as fully electric models.
2024	With the MINI Aceman, the brand is introducing a completely new model – the first crossover model in the premium segment of the small car class.
2024	MINI John Cooper Works and Bulldog Racing celebrate class victory at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
2024	Presentation of the new MINI Cooper 5-door and the new MINI Convertible.
2025	MINI John Cooper Works and Bulldog Racing celebrate second place in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.

BMW Group PressClub Global

 

[Rolf]

I went to a BMW dealership last week but unfortunately I could not sit in the new Mini models but there was a regular 3door and a Countryman parked outside and these models left me feeling cold. The Countryman looks anonymous, with its odd shaped front and tail lights, it has lost the key identities of a Mini, circular lights and tail lights which are vertically stacked rectangular with radiused corners. With its triangular jewel shaped headlights it reminds me of a Chinese brand car. Even the 3dr with triangular shaped tail lights looks odd and again not really part of Mini history.

 

[bmwz4coupe]

I went to a BMW dealership last week but unfortunately I could not sit in the new Mini models but there was a regular 3door and a Countryman parked outside and these models left me feeling cold. The Countryman looks anonymous, with its odd shaped front and tail lights, it has lost the key identities of a Mini, circular lights and tail lights which are vertically stacked rectangular with radiused corners. With its triangular jewel shaped headlights it reminds me of a Chinese brand car. Even the 3dr with triangular shaped tail lights looks odd and again not really part of Mini history.

Yes, the Mini is half-dead for me. They did everything so right with the new Mini in 2002, and now this…?!