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Lord Mandelson sees the New Mini Coupe
The new Mini Coupe was seen by the Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson when he arrived at the MINI Plant Oxford. The new Mini Coupe and Mini Roadster will be produced at the Oxford facility joining the current model lineup – the Mini Hatchback, Mini Convertible and the Mini Clubman Estate. The new Mini Coupe and Mini Roadster were demonstrated to Lord Mandelson by Doctor Jürgen Hedrich and Ian Robertson, Mini plant MD and Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales and Marketing respectively. Lord Mandelson was received in the plant’s final assembly area. Mr Robertson commented: “In its 50th birthday, these two new Minis illustrate a determination to build cars of the future, taking the Mini brand ahead. Both the UK and Oxford are central to MINI planning and we're pleased to provide confirmation of local build. The MINI has successful globally and is now abailable in more than eighty markets. The Mini's unique design, best in market driver experience and fuel efficiency are key advantages”. Lord Mandelson said: “The population of Britain has loved MINIs for five decades; these new Mini models show BMW's commitment to continue British volume production. The UK offers an unbeatable combination or skill and flexibility which will ensure MINI remains a fundamental part of BMWs planning." Dr Hedrich said: “We are especially proud that the new Mini Coupé and the Mini Roadster are to be produced in Oxford - the addition demonstrates our flexibility in manufacturing.” The new MINI Coupé is rumoured to be named "Broadspeed Mini Coupe" and has been designed around the latest Hams Hall built high-tech 1.6L motor, shared with the Mini John Cooper Works.
New MINI John Cooper Works
The Mini is an icon - and the new generation borrows its name and much of its character from the 1960's original. However, examine the relationship between the two cars closely and they could barely be more dissimilar. Sir Alex Issigonis's 1959 Mini was more or less the blue_print for the low cost, economy-focussed FWD format that remains dominant now - whereas the BMW Mini is very much an up-market, maxi-mini. A new MINI is without doubt the child of BMW, and comes complete with a Tonka-Toy style cabin with a huge centre mounted speedo redolent of the 1960's Mini. The MINI John Cooper Works is surprisingly composed and quick with a ride that is comfortable given that this is an all-out performance model. Enjoy that awesome turbo power though, and fuel economy will become quite shocking. Build quality, standard of fit and finish and refinement are all outstanding - as one would expect from BMW. This new MINI John Cooper Works doesn't break new ground as its grandfather did, but its wonderful mixture of the ultimate driving experience, bucket loads of charisma, high build quality, and attention to detail, make the 2010 MINI John Cooper Works a package that is very hard to beat.
A New MINI Model - the "First"
Good news! A new model called the MINI First is now MINI's cheapest car available on the UK market. Priced form only £10,950 on the road, the new MINI First provides buyers with an opportunity to join the "premier small car club" - at a simply fantastic price. Offered just as a 3dr Hatchback, the new MINI First is fitted with the same 1.4L motor found in the next model up, the MINI One - only with a detuned 75PS. The new economical motor has a 6-speed manual box and a polished chassis that gives every Mini an instantaneous gokart feel. That remarkable combination of chuckability and super quick lane-changing will induce a broad smile on every owner each occassion he or she 'gets busy'. New technology includes Automatic Start_Stop, Energy_Regeneration braking, Variable_Valve and ShiftPoint_Display - these all come as standard (even on the basic spec Mini). Performance is impressive if economy is the measure: better than 50mpg and 109 mph top speed with the 0-60 sprint coming in at a tad over 13 seconds. Perhaps the best news of all, is that unbiased used car valuation specialists say the MINI First should hold 50% of its new price after 3 years and 30,000mls use, which represents the strongest RV (Residual_Value) vs. any of its small hatchback rivals. Have fun, be kind on the planet - and protect your investment...there are few new cars that can make that bold claim!