It was back in the late 1950s when the very first Mini car first rolled off
of the assembly line in England. Fuel rationing had begun in England and that
was the impetus for the creating of this unique and at that time, one of a kind
vehicle that was soon to become a British icon.
The Mini was produced
from 1959 up until as recently as the year 2000 when production was halted by
BMC (British Motor Cars) due to lagging sales. It seems that over the years cars
buyers had developed a taste for less economical, more racier designed competing
foreign car models.
However; the company was subsequently sold to BMW in
2001 and production was once again resumed under the new name the BMW Mini. It
was the recent spike in fuel prices that sent the price of gasoline soaring up
to as much as $5 per gallon in the US that has brought a new generation of car
buyers back to rediscover this crown jewel of a car.
What set the Mini
apart from other small cars such as the VW Beatles which had preceded it, was
that the Mini, while being small and fuel efficient was none the less, far more
spacious on the inside of the vehicle. This was accomplished by positioning the
engine sideways and extending out the wheelbase to the cars edge.
While
the dimensions of the Mini measured a mere 10'X4'X4' the goal of the three man
design team that created it was that a full 80% of the cars overall space was to
delegated to the passengers and their luggage. They in fact did accomplish this
goal and thus the reasons for the Minis unique square-ish shape.
As
designs go, the original Minis were quite basic with those being the Mini Cooper
and the Mini Cooper S models. However; over the years new design adaptations and
changes let to the rather drab looking Mini morphing into much sportier
versions. However; it was the Minis three victories in the Monte Carlo Rally in
the 60s that really caught the worlds eye, with regards to its sports
potential.
Although the Mini has landed roles in a number of films over
the years, it was it's roles in the recent and wildly popular Austin Powers spy
comedies that it is possibly most famous for. Although Austin Powers drove a
Jaguar, the Mini was visible in its many cameo appearances filling the streets
in the background.
In recent years sales of the Mini have again picked up
with the help of a few new design changes and it being fitted with a safety
airbag to make it compliant with British car standards. Also, four new models
have been introduced to the public in recent years as well as a slight
adjustment to it's name from Mini to MINI.
Another factor for its
resurgence of popularity is the car buying public has grown weary of so called
fuel efficient cars that turn out tom be cramped and lacking in style launch
x431 v+. The Mini however can and always will be counted to carry four
passengers around in comfort and style, while providing excellent fuel
efficiency and it also sells for a sensible price launch
x431 pro.
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