Has it really been six years? Maybe not for all of us, but it’s six years to the day since the new MINI went on sale in it’s home market in Great Britain.
But MINI2 were not the only ones brimming over with enthusiasm ahead of the official launch on Saturday the 7th July 2001. Media reviews at the time were also incredibly positive. The only question the assembled journalists kept asking at the launch was “how can they possibly make money on this”? The answer was success. BMW originally forecast “as many as” 100,000 MINIs to be produced per year. That now seems ridiculously conservative, as the MINI continues to break it’s own sales records month after month, with over 1 million MINIs now in the hands of customers.
The buzz at the time was quite remarkable. MINI UK had invited club representatives to a track day the week before launch to get to grips with the new car, and the reception at launch was just as enthusiastic. I doubt anyone would have predicted the global success of the MINI back then, but long may it continue!
MINI2 Fuel for your MINI obsession
