The original in the premium small car segment is completing its 60th year of life - and yet is younger than ever. Exactly 60 years ago, on August 26, 1959, the British Motor Corporation (BMC) unveiled the result of its development work for a revolutionary new small car. Two models were presented to the public: the Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven. The double premiere of the almost identical four-seaters was due to BMC's broad brand spectrum at the time, but it certainly had symbolic value.
At its core, it has always been simply a Mini
Plenty of interior space with the smallest possible exterior dimensions, room for four occupants, impeccable driving characteristics, low fuel consumption and an affordable price - these were the requirements set by the company management for the Mini's creator, designer Alec Issigonis. The brilliant ideas that he implemented in the development of the family-friendly two-door model had a capacity that was sufficient for more than a single car and could be easily transferred to other variants. As a result, the Mini Van and Mini Estate models were created in the very first year of production of the classic Mini. Since the relaunch of the brand with the market introduction of the MINI in 2001, the principle that was already valid 60 years ago has been confirmed: A superior concept convinces in multiple versions. This is still true today for the MINI 3-Door, MINI 5-Door and MINI Convertible small cars, for the MINI Clubman and the MINI Countryman in the premium compact segment and soon also for the all-electric MINI Cooper SE. They all have individual strengths and their own unique character, but at their core they are one thing above all: a MINI.
A lot of comfort for little money
Even in the first sales brochures for the Morris Mini-Minor, the extraordinary future orientation of the new small car was praised. But at the time, hardly anyone could have guessed how true the prophecies would turn out to be. 60 years later, one thing is certain: few vehicle concepts have lasted as long or achieved comparable popularity, and none of them has ever been realized in such a wide variety of versions as the Mini. This success is also due to the fact that the Mini met the requirements of its time right from the start, but also offered additional qualities. With an overall length of 3.05 meters and an initial price of £496, it was perfectly tailored to tight parking spaces and small budgets. However, its agile driving characteristics and the charming character of its proportions also made it interesting for those drivers who appreciated sporty cornering and individuality as well as economy of space and economy.
