Another celebration took place at the traditional MINI plant with a
rich heritage punctually heralding the 60th anniversary of the British
premium brand – the anniversary vehicle is a model of the MINI 60
Years Edition.
Munich/Oxford. MINI Fans all over the world have a
variety of opportunities to look back on the 60 years of history
enjoyed by the British brand over these weeks and months. Now there is
another reason to celebrate. The ten millionth vehicle of the heritage
brand was produced at the British MINI Plant Oxford where the classic
Mini was manufactured from 1959 onwards. The anniversary vehicle
rolling off the production line was a model of the MINI 60 Years
Edition – and it then came face to face with the brand’s first small
car ever manufactured. The classic Mini from 1959 and the Edition
model from the year 2019 then joined forces with 60 other vehicles of
the brand – each of them from one of the production years. They are
all taking part in a road trip travelling to Bristol in convoy, where
thousands of fans are celebrating the world’s biggest birthday party
for the British original at the International Mini Meeting being held
on Sunday 11 August.
The production anniversary to celebrate 60 years of the brand’s
existence bears witness to the uninterrupted popularity of MINI in the
21st century. In 1959, the genius who designed the classic Mini, Alec
Issigonis, laid down a definitive milestone in automobile history. The
vehicle concept with the engine mounted transversely at the front of
the car along with the gearbox configured beneath the engine, and the
wheels positioned at the corners of the car together with a tailgate
body provided maximum interior space on a minimum footprint. The
design also ensured amazingly agile driving characteristics and it
became the blueprint for modern small and compact cars. Around 5.3
million units of the classic Mini were sold worldwide up until the
year 2000.
Just one year later, the global success story of the brand was
continued. Since the relaunch of this marque, MINI is the original in
the premium segment of small cars. The reinterpretation of the
inimitable design, the unsurpassed driving fun that is unique in the
competitive environment and the individual style of the brand are not
simply generating enthusiasm in the class of small cars. These
characteristic qualities are empowering MINI to continuously acquire
new target groups in the premium compact segment. And the next stage
is about to be launched. In November 2019, production of the
all-electric powered MINI Cooper SE (fuel consumption combined:
0.0 l/100 km; electricity consumption combined: 16.8 –
14.8 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km) will
commence – also in Oxford. In future, this will also make
electromobility a typical MINI experience full of driving fun and individuality.
Alone in the previous year, almost 400 000 MINIs were sold in 110
countries. This means that the sales figures for the modern MINI are
following hot on the heels of its historic predecessor. The models
MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door and MINI Clubman are currently being produced
at the MINI Plant Oxford. Up to 1 000 vehicles are manufactured there
every day. The MINI Convertible and the MINI Countryman roll off the
assembly line at the Dutch production partner VDL NedCar.
“Seeing the ten millionth vehicle of our brand come off the
production line here in Oxford was a moment of pride for all the
employees. Some of them have family members who were already producing
the classic Mini at this site,” explained Peter Weber, Head of the
MINI Plant Oxford. “This is a wonderful chapter in the history of MINI
and proof of the passion that our customers have for this very special
British motor car.”
In the run-up to the production anniversary, MINI put posts on social
media asking the brand’s British community to share their personal
stories from 60 years of MINI with other fans. The huge response made
it possible to bring together characteristic vehicles from each
production year between 1959 and 2019 as the showpiece for the
anniversary celebration at the MINI Plant Oxford. The highlight of
this exceptional coalescence was the joint outing to the International
Mini Meeting in Bristol. The first classic Mini ever built drove at
the head of the convoy. It bears the registration 621 AOK well known
among MINI fans and the car was followed in chronological order by
protagonists from 60 years with the ten millionth vehicle of the brand
bringing up in the rear of the impressive anniversary procession.
The values of fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electricity
consumption shown were determined according to the test procedure
defined in the European Directive VO (EU) 2007/715 in the version
applicable at the time of type approval. The figures refer to a
vehicle with basic configuration in Germany and the range shown
takes account of optional equipment and the different size of wheels
and tyres available on the selected model. These factors can change
during the configuration.
The values of some vehicles are measured according to the new
WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure) and
converted to NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) for comparison
purposes. The taxes or other duties for these vehicles may be based
on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions data which differ from that
shown here.
Further information on official fuel consumption and official
specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars is given in the
‘Handbook of fuel consumption, the CO2 emissions and power
consumption of new passenger cars’, which can be obtained free of
charge at all sales outlets and from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand
GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen,
and at https://www.dat.de/co2/.
In case of queries, please contact:
Press and PR
Matthias Bode, Spokesperson MINI
Phone:
+49-89-382-61742, Fax:
+49-89-382-28567
E-Mail: matthias.bode@mini.com
Andreas Lampka, Head of Communications MINI
Phone: +49- 89-382-23662, Fax:
+49 89-382-28567
E-Mail: andreas.lampka@mini.com
The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the
BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles
and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility
services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production
and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global
sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2018, the BMW Group sold over 2,490,000 passenger vehicles and
more than 165,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in
the financial year 2018 was € 9,815 billion on revenues amounting to
€ 97,480 billion. As of 31 December 2018, the BMW Group had a
workforce of 134,682 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore
established ecological and social sustainability throughout the
value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear
commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.
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