Fifteen years of New MINI, but what is the most fun?
Posted on 27-04-2016 at 23:01 by Dizono – 56 Comments”
This week has been fifteen years since the first New MINI of the band was rolling. The British-German scheurijzertje was in those years quite successful, and there were many, many variations. Time to look back: what is the best MINI of the past fifteen years?
In 1994, bought a BMW primal-British MR Rover. Not only were the Germans, thereby, Rover and MG in the hands, but also Land Rover and Mini. In good spirits, and was, among others, the Rover 75 was developed, but soon the Germans were tired of Rover. The brand went forward independently, while Land Rover was sold to Ford (that was also the owner of Jaguar). Only Mini loved BMW under her wings, so the Germans had grand plans.
Until 2000 remained that the brand of the car that the base was identical to the Austin/Morris Mini, such as those in 1959 saw the light. Previous attempts to find a replacement to make beaches, or simply less long than the original (Austin Metro/Rover 100). BMW, however, sees no future for the Mini as a manufacturer of no-nonsense city car’s, but want to build on the cult status that the original in the meantime. In 1997, we see the first signs if they are by Adrian van Hooydonk and Frank Stephenson designed ACV30 Concept reveal.
In the year 2000 shows the BMW MINI Cooper Concept, that in april 2001, virtually unchanged in production. The first-generation MINI, which until 2006 keeping up. Many variants are not there, there is a choice of One, Cooper and Cooper S, with, from 2004, a Convertible and the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit as an option for the Cooper S. If valve get in 2006, we just had the Cooper S John Cooper Works GP, with snazzy red mirrors, a lot of taartschep and striking vierspaaks wheels.
Generation two is also announcing the arrival of more variants. Not only the aforementioned petrol engines, but also diesels. In 2005, following the Clubman, 2009 Convertible, which in 2012 also company get from the Roadster, Coupé and Clubvan. From 2010 a second model line with the five-door Countryman, in 2013, assisted by the very successful driedeurs Paceman.
In the meantime, we are on the third generation MINI, which as is well known in our own country of the band rolls. The Coupe, Roadster and Paceman are fired, the Cabrio and Clubman, to return. In addition, there is now also a five-door hatchback and there seems to be even a MINI Sedan to work. And that while we still (in vain) waiting for a real MINI. In 2011, the brand, the Rocketman, a concept car that size a lot closer in the vicinity of the original Mini, but until now, not kicked into a production model.
To the extent that the history of the MINI in a nutshell, it is time to make a choice to make. What is the best MINI of the past fifteen years? Is that the original Cooper or the striking John Cooper Works GP? Move you yourself prefer to be in a brand new Clubman Cooper S, or go step into your untamed in the Paceman?
