2021-04-28 16:45
Automotive
Alex Lowe

The first BMW Mini is now 20 years old

The first BMW Mini is now 20 years old

Twenty years ago this week, the very first BMW Mini was produced here in the UK, in Oxford. On 26th April 2001 the first one rolled off the line and this was just a few months ahead of the launch to customers later that year in July. Over the tears, over five million cars have been produced here in the UK, not only in Oxford but in Swindon too.

The Mini brand as we know it today is quite different, the standard Mini hatchback now comes in 3 door and 5 door versions, there is the Countryman crossover, the short-lived Paceman was launched too as well as the Clubman estate. In the first year or so after the launch in 2001, Mini sold 100,000 units and models came afterwards such as the Cooper S which was supercharged, something that is hard to find in 2021 for the price it was at the time.

Mini has lately made the push into electric vehicles with the Mini E which is a 3 door Mini hatchback with 145 miles of range, £24,400 and 0-60mph in a reasonable 7.3 seconds. Being under BMW, the Mini E shares a lot of its components with the BMW i3, which is a high regarded car. So far, 17,000 electric Minis have been sold around the world and the company is planning on being an all electric company by the year 2030 onwards, with the last combustion car being launched in 2025.

Alex Lowe

The first BMW Mini is now 20 years old

Alex Lowe is the owner and editor of the interface and started the website in 2013. He publishes the majority of the content on the website, hosts the three podcasts and the runs the YouTube channels. Alex has a professional background in computer networking, FWA and WiFi.

Other Posts

Volkswagen introduces new all electric ID 4 SUV, will be available globally
Brand new Volkswagen ID.4 is the first ID model to be a fully global car, with factories in Germany, China and the US
Orange Škoda Fabia
New Škoda Fabia now on sale in the UK
Refreshed Škoda Fabia hatchback is now on sale in the UK
Toyota GR86 back on sale in the UK
Popular Toyota GR86 is now back on sale in the UK, following 90 min sell out. Prices are now slightly higher, at £32,495.
First Genesis GV90 prototype to be built in October
The largest SUV from Genesis will start going into the prototype stage later this year