It’s hard not to overstate the impact BMW made when it launched the MINI at the start of the Noughties. There was a massive amount of excitement at the prospect of a new version of Alec Issigonis’ classic car – as well as, it’s fair to say, a degree of trepidation, much of it unfairly centred around what ‘the Germans’ might do to one of Britain’s most recognisable motoring icons. Sections of the Mini enthusiast community, in particular, were not enamoured with the idea of a reimagining of a timeless design. Looking back now, it seems quite extraordinary that there should have been so much concern. BMW did a great job on the new MINI, producing a hugely stylish premium small car that clearly owed a debt to the original, but carved out an identity all of its own. The model was generally well received – despite a few grumbles about its increased dimensions – and paved the way for an expanded range that has racked up more than five million sales since. As MINI celebrates 20 years of production, here we look back at some of the highlights – and occasional missteps – of the past two decades.
The original MINI hatch
The car that started the success story had a difficult gestation, with BMW working in tandem with the now defunct Rover on the project until 2000, when the German company assumed full control. The perils of reinventing an icon are high – look at how Volkswagen tried, and ultimately failed, to produce a credible successor to the Beetle. But BMW nailed it with the MINI, delivering an instantly recognisable design, great drive and top quality in one extremely desirable package. An array of personalisation options – still an idea in its infancy in 2001 – added to the appeal, as buyers flocked to showrooms to create their own interpretation of the MINI.
MINI Clubman
Launched in 2007, the Clubman was marketed as a more practical version of the hatch but is undoubtedly remembered most specifically in Britain for its unusual door arrangement. An extra door was added on the right-hand side, ostensibly to aid access to the rear, but in right-hand-drive markets this meant children clambering out on to busy roads… which clearly was less than ideal. While other brands might have received serious flak for what obviously wasn’t a great idea, MINI’s quirky, fun reputation helped it ride the storm. But it was no surprise when the arrangement disappeared on the second-generation Clubman, which is a more sober, serious offering.
MINI Countryman
Is the Countryman ‘mini’ enough to be considered a true Mini? That, in essence, is the question that has dogged it since its introduction in 2010, when Mini purists were aghast that BMW would introduce a model seemingly so far removed from the ethos of the original. In reality, it made sense on a number of levels, allowing those who had outgrown the MINI hatch to stay with the brand. Its subsequent sales success across the globe has emphatically illustrated the business case for a MINI-themed compact SUV and it’s proven a useful model on which to introduce plug-in hybrid tech to the brand. If you want a practical family-sized car with that distinct MINI flavour, the Countryman fits the bill.
MINI Rocketman
Although BMW has, on the whole, done a sterling job with the rebirth of Mini, one complaint that just won’t go away concerns the dimensions of the standard hatch – it’s just too large to be a true successor to the original, and with each generation increasing in size, it seemed BMW was impervious to the gripes. So there was genuine excitement when the MINI Rocketman concept was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011. At just over three metres long, it was similar in size to the Issigonis classic, and provided some hope that a production model might follow. Sadly, the business case didn’t add up and the plans were fairly promptly scrapped, but a new small MINI EV is now apparently on the cards for 2023.
MINI Coupe and Paceman
Such was the upward trajectory of the MINI brand that by 2011, BMW felt it could capitalise by introducing new variants that took the brand in a fresh direction. First up was the MINI Coupé, a two-seater based on the MINI Convertible that swiftly spawned a Roadster version. In theory, the idea was a decent one, but the execution wasn’t especially persuasive, and both models’ awkward styling failed to attract the young, fashionable buyers BMW had targeted in sufficient numbers and were axed in 2015. Also short-lived was the Paceman, effectively MINI’s riposte to the Range Rover Evoque in 2012. A three-door mini-SUV, it occupied rather vague territory between the hatch and Countryman and never wholly convinced anyone of its purpose. The plug was pulled in 2016.
MINI Clubvan
Who ever thought that white van man could cut quite such a dash? In 2013, the Clubman spawned the Clubvan – a spiritual successor to the original Minivan – by removing the rear seats and windows. Improbably a 122bhp Cooper version was made available too, dispatching the 0-62mph sprint in just 9.8 seconds. The result was the fastest, most stylish van on the road. Unfortunately, practicality and price tend to be the trump cards in this market and the Clubvan was less competitive on these fronts. It was eventually discontinued in 2016.
MINI hatch Mk3
BMW has never been shy in using the MINI’s British heritage to promote the car, but raised a few eyebrows in 2018 when it announced that the car would come with distinctive Union Jack tail-lights as standard – a bold decision given how divisive the flag can be in some parts of the country. Indeed, the Belfast Telegraph reported in 2019 on the ‘unfairness’ of Northern Irish MINI buyers having to pay for the removal of the tail-lights to be replaced by standard items, when those south of the border were offered the latter free of charge. While the lights, and some other elements of the styling, were dismissed by some as turning the MINI into too much of a caricature, the success story has continued with sales remaining strong.
MINI John Cooper Works GP
The extreme hot hatch formula has been successfully applied to the MINI, with JCW GP versions of the Mk1 and Mk2 highly regarded. But the current edition has been more polarising. There’s no doubting its power or speed – 302bhp and 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds tell you all need to know about its potential – but the general consensus is that that the focus on performance has come at the expense of some of the fun normally expected of a MINI. Still, if you want to get noticed, some lairy kit – including a huge rear wing – ensures this is the model to go for.
MINI Electric
As the automotive world embraces a new era of electrification, BMW seems perfectly placed to capitalise with the MINI Electric (or the MINI SE, as it is rather confusingly badged elsewhere in the world). The familiar cute, funky styling will appeal to the trendy urban buyers likely to make most use of small EVs, while using a relatively small 32.6kWh battery ensures the weight doesn’t get so excessive that MINI’s traditional fun handling is too compromised (although it has implications for the range, which is claimed to be up to 144 miles). As a fashionable urban commuter car, it ticks a lot of boxes.
Keyword: Twenty years of MINI highlights