MINI Cooper, 2018

I bought a MINI in the summer of 2018, before that I drove Nissan Micra 1.4 automatic Since 2018 in MINI robotic box which came as a surprise to me. Managers in the car dealership tried not to talk about it: "a robot is the same machine, what's the difference." There was no mention of it even on the official website. So, a Getrag 7-speed robot with two wet clutches. Well, thanks for not DSG. In practice, the shifts are quite smooth, they are not noticeable at speed, except that there are jerks in the first gears. But it may well be that this is only my problem. Other things being equal, I would still prefer the proven 8-speed automatic from BMW, it is smoother. As far as I know, the same robot is on the BMW M3. At a speed of 110 km / h, less than two thousand revolutions, the car does not strain at all. The engine and turbine rumble pleasantly. After the Micra, it's amazing to me that you can go 130 and still be able to step on the gas and take off quickly. And it doesn't even have to be on the floor. My equipment is almost minimal, but with LED optics and taillights in the form of a British flag, it's worth it. I'm talking about the headlights of course - at night it's as bright as day. A very comfortable fit (I have a height of 155 and I don’t feel slighted in it), the steering wheel is adjustable in height and reach, the speedometer moves with the steering wheel, it’s comfortable to sit, the review is good.

I personally did not like the small rear-view mirror, which enlarges so that you can see the driver's face in the car from behind, I hung a panoramic one. Inside, everything is very beautiful, the display is already in minimum configuration, round progress bar around it. Progress bar in the car. Once again, the progress bar. When you make the music louder, it fills with orange, when you adjust the temperature, it shimmers from blue to red. The default color can be customized. Of course, I chose pink. Divine. Oh yes, air conditioning. MINI Cooper costs more than a million, and it has a simple air conditioner. The additional payment for the climate of 100 thousand rubles is inhumane. Standard tires narrow and on poor disks. It drove a couple of times on wet roads. There is another surprise. I leave the house in the morning, on the street it is minus 3. A small layer of ice has formed on the glass. The door opened but didn't close again - the glass didn't go down until everything was thawed out. What else. The trunk is small, but I don't need it. Consumption 7-7.5 liters. There is no soundproofing. In a duet with spikes, this is an airplane. A pendant is like a pendant.

Advantages : manageability. Appearance. Salon design. Landing.

disadvantages : air conditioner. Stock tires and rims. Noise isolation.

Tatiana, Nizhny Novgorod

MINI Cooper, 2017

What did you like. Taxiing. In this regard, there are no complaints, everything is very informative and clear. The steering wheel on the MINI Cooper is pleasantly heavy. Something like a go-kart, only with an amplifier. I think it was done with a purpose. I like it. Personally, I do not like too cotton steering wheels. Toggle switches on the center console: ignition, turning off the stabilization system, start-stop and something else, but I don’t know what, because it’s a simple package. I really liked it. A reference to the cockpit of a monoplane. One of the most comfortable landings in my memory. You sit at the controls of an airplane. Suitable, I think, for drivers above average height (mine is just 175). Motorcycle analog gauges that adjust with reach and tilt. Cool design of the radio, door handles. Steering wheel braid and self wheel. Very pleasant to the touch and comfortable to hold. Comfortable and pleasant side mirrors. I like the oval shape.

Debatable. The gas pedal is not suspended, but floor. An elongated dashboard and a hood long enough for such a car at first did not allow you to accurately determine your dimensions in front. The interior looks inconsistent with the exterior. Inside, everything looks cool, but cheap. From the outside, everything looks cool and expensive.

Did not like. Little ugly trunk. My electric scooter didn’t fit in there the first time. I had to get used to it. This was a real discovery for me. The Smart scooter got into it, but it means it didn’t fit into the MINI Cooper. Very strange. Ergonomics. A hefty handbrake simply covers the entire space of the central tunnel up to the gearshift knob. The gear knob is also rather big and not very neat. The phone didn't work properly. Such a narrow armrest. I'll be surprised if you can put something in it other than gas checks and change. The cup holders are located in front of the gear knob, which is also so-so in terms of convenience. I think the engineers could somehow make it more convenient or something. I understand that there is not enough space, but I would like to see at least attempts in this direction. Noise isolation and its absence. For some it's a minus, for others it's a plus. For me it's more of a minus. The car has a fairly stiff suspension, as it should be, but combined with the lack of noise, as well as the roar of a small but very revving engine, it is tiring.

Advantages : appearance. Controllability. Dynamics. Comfort.

disadvantages : maintenance cost. Noise isolation. Reliability. Salon design.

Konstantin, Moscow

MINI Cooper, 2016

I switched to MINI Cooper from the fresh X5, of course the difference is serious - a much noisier car and the capacity is not so good, you can’t drive 1000 km without a break, but it would be foolish to expect another. But what there is no difference (almost) is in the feeling of quality - both here and there are excellent German quality, the feeling that you have a high-quality expensive thing in your hands, and not a rattle. The materials are almost the same as on my former SUV, the same options, less leather. Ergonomics design - everything is very comfortable and beautifully done. In terms of capacity - four of us went: 2 hours is good, then the back is not very good. There is a lot of space in front, two-meter friends fit in without problems. Thanks to the "boxiness" of the body - there is enough space in the shoulders, there is even a feeling of spaciousness. The front seats are hard with support, a shelf under the knees is excellent, you can drive for 5 hours. 4 adults drove around the city, one teenager is normal. Access to the rear is inconvenient (for 3 doors). A full cart from Auchan goes into the trunk without unfolding the sofa. If you expand the sofa fits an adult bike (with the wheels removed), this inspires respect. Carried at a time 2 thick mattresses 90 to 200. The trunk was closed. Fine. Consumption 7.2 is a lot compared to the diesel X5, but I “heat it up”. The usual MOT came to me at 11 thousand, with their consumables. Oil must be changed every 7-8 thousand. Sports type. Vinyls will be very expensive, keep in mind. It makes no sense to take relatives - it's expensive and they'll fly off anyway. Comfort. No noise hard suspension, but not such that very directly, but without breakdowns. If the roads are bad, I definitely don’t advise, if Moscow and so on, it’s just a great option for two young people. There is no need to slow down to zero speed in front of the tram tracks. My wife and I drive to the dacha with pleasure, 150 MINI Cooper goes everyday. Sunbeds rolls, does not cling. On the curb in the yard calls in. No electric trunk, that's not happy.

Advantages : manageability. Dynamics. Appearance. Salon design. Build quality. Transmission. Cabin capacity. Multimedia. Dimensions.

disadvantages : soundproofing. Suspension. Comfort. Price. Trunk.

Denis, St. Petersburg

MINI Cooper, 2017

Enough interesting car, which differs in many ways from the popular Solaris, Rio, X-Ray, Kaptur and others. The machine is doing its job. Another thing is what you expect from this kind of car. But one thing is certain - MINI Cooper will find its fans, both among men and women (moreover, in a ratio of 50-50%). There were no major or at least a few significant breakdowns during the entire period of use. The service of the officials, of course, is biting, but that's why he is German. Very smart little guy. Still, the S grade makes itself felt. True, this also affected the fairly stiff suspension. What can I say. Sports car in urban style. Almost BMW.

Advantages : dynamics. Reliability. Dimensions. Salon design. Multimedia.

disadvantages : soundproofing. Suspension.

Dmitry, Moscow

MINI Cooper, 2018

So, everything is in order. MINI Cooper, F56 body, 136 hp, automatic transmission, petrol, black, BMW group, UK assembly. Operation in the city, in the Moscow region. It was purchased to replace the Peugeot 308 in the fall of 2018. The children grew up, and for me and my wife there should have been perfect car. Another bribed assembly outside of Russia. chose inexpensive car with minimal fuel consumption and small dimensions for easy parking. Exterior. There are no questions here. LED daytime running lights on the front. Tail lights in the form of the British flag. LED head optics. Interesting appearance. All this draws attention to the car on the street and makes you turn around. By the way, even when rebuilding the machine, brutal jeeps pass. Very often, drivers of overtaking cars try to look into the cabin. Interior. Pleasant to look and feel plastic on the dashboard and a little worse on the doors and on the side walls of the rear passengers. Original instruments, both above the steering wheel and in the central part of the torpedo. Lights that change colors. Comfortable handle of the automatic transmission control joystick. Controllability. We got a small frisky car, which also holds the road well. The power reserve of the MINI Cooper is enough for quick rebuilding in the stream. On a dry road, sometimes there are slips when starting off. Therefore, be careful with the gas pedal. Good visibility from the driver's seat.

I think many people are interested in the shortcomings that I revealed during the six months of operation. I will dwell on them in more detail. Maybe I expected something unusual from a car for 1.6 million and with such a pedigree? Although, I just wanted to do it like a Peugeot 308 - for the first 3-4 years, fill in only gasoline and change the oil. But not fate. If we talk about the body, then after a few washes I noticed concentric circles throughout the body. Circles from rubbing with a rag. I wash in one place, I went to swear. I looked at rags, other cars at this car wash. There was no such thing. Just me. Polished the body. I go there, but I ask you not to wipe the car. I then soak it myself. Special cloth. There are no damages yet. I'm leaning towards bad paintwork. Because even under the handle of opening the passenger door there were scratches from his wife's nails. The decorative edging around the headlights and taillights is held on by latches that do not fix them tightly. If you lightly tap them with your finger, you can hear a noticeable rattle. The clearance of the car is too small and not for our winters.

Advantages : design. Interior. Power reserve.

disadvantages : LKP. Noise isolation.

Alexander, Moscow

Generations debuted in the fall of 2013 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and in early June 2014, the manufacturer declassified the version of the novelty in a five-door body, which became available for the model for the first time.

Externally, the five-door Mini almost completely repeats the three-door, but at the same time the car has become longer and slightly higher. Overall length new Mini Cooper 5-door is 3,982 mm (+ 161), the wheelbase size added 72 mm to 2,567, the width (1,727 mm) remained unchanged, and the height is 1,425 (+ 11).

Options and prices Mini Cooper III 5D (2020)

Equipment	Price	Engine	Box	Drive unit
1.5 Base MT	1 090 000	gasoline 1.5 (136 hp)	mechanics (6)	front
1.5 Salt MT	1 163 500	gasoline 1.5 (136 hp)	mechanics (6)	front
1.5 Pepper MT	1 250 800	gasoline 1.5 (136 hp)	mechanics (6)	front
2.0 Base MT	1 369 000	gasoline 2.0 (192 hp)	mechanics (6)	front
2.0 Salt MT	1 390 500	gasoline 2.0 (192 hp)	mechanics (6)	front
2.0 Pepper MT	1 425 300	gasoline 2.0 (192 hp)	mechanics (6)	front
1.5 Chili MT	1 435 450	gasoline 1.5 (136 hp)	mechanics (6)	front
2.0 Chili MT	1 519 800	gasoline 2.0 (192 hp)	mechanics (6)	front

The increase in size has made the new Mini Cooper 5D more spacious in the cabin, and the trunk volume has grown to 278 liters (+ 67 liters). For the rear passengers of the novelty, in comparison with the 3-door modification, 15 mm above the head, 72 mm for the legs were added, and at the level of the elbows it became freer by 61 mm.

As in the case of the exterior, the interior design of the Mini Cooper 5D (2017-2018) completely repeats that of the three-door. Compared to the car of the previous generation, the instrument panel has moved to its traditional place, and the large circle on the center console now plays the role of an infotainment display.

The world premiere of the 5-door Mini Cooper 3 took place in the autumn at the Paris Motor Show 2015. The hatchback went on sale with two petrol and two diesel engines, each of which can be aggregated in tandem with a six-speed manual, or automatic boxes gears.

At the same time, the Steptronic machine on the new Mini III is able to adapt to the terrain, receiving information about it from the standard navigation system. For example, the box will not change gear if there is a bunch of two turns ahead.

Basic modification model is a regular Cooper with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with 136 hp. (220 Nm). He is paired with the Cooper S version, equipped with a 192-horsepower (280 Nm) two-liter “four”, with which the five-door picks up a hundred from a standstill in 6.8 seconds, and the maximum speed reaches 230 km / h.

The initial diesel Cooper D has a one and a half liter turbocharged unit with a return of 116 hp under the hood. (270 Nm), and the more powerful Cooper SD boasts a 2.0-liter "turbo four", developing 170 forces and a peak torque of 360 Nm. This accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 7.4 s, and maximum speed is equal to 225 kilometers per hour.

All engines in the new MINI Cooper 5D 2017 comply with Euro 6 environmental standards. For a surcharge, the car can be equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED head optics, as well as systems for dynamically adjusting the stiffness of shock absorbers and changing the operating modes of the Driving Modes control electronics.

Due to a more practical body, the manufacturer plans to sell 150,000 five-doors annually. And the appearance of a station wagon is not far off. Prices for a 5-door Mini Cooper in Russia start at 1,090,000 rubles for a Cooper modification with a 1.5-liter engine with 136 hp. A similar three-door for 10,000 rubles. more accessible.

For a more powerful Cooper S with a two-liter unit (192 hp), dealers ask for at least 1,369,000 rubles (this is 40,000 rubles more expensive than a 3-door hatchback). In the database, all versions are equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, and the surcharge for the machine is 74,500 rubles.

First One

At the beginning of 2015, the new generation five-door Mini got the most modest version, equipped with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder petrol turbo engine with 75 hp. (120 Nm). The modification was called First One and is available exclusively in tandem with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Such a hatchback accelerates from zero to a hundred in 13.4 seconds, and the average fuel consumption in the combined cycle for the MINI First One is declared by the manufacturer at 5.2 l/100 km. There is no information about the start date of sales and prices for the most modest version of the model yet.

Oddly enough, most of those who consider themselves educated individuals associate anything with England, from heraldic dragons and knights to Elton John and Princess Diana, except for really unique items. I'm talking, for example, about the Mini, an unprecedented phenomenon in the British car industry. Cleverly arranged, elegantly assembled, this car didn't just appear in the right place at the right time - it became a kind of symbol of Albion. For which he rightfully took "silver" in the competition for best car twentieth century.

Distant relative of Archimedes

Alexander Arnold Konstantin Issigonis was born in 1906 and came from the city of Smyrna (now Izmir). Alexander's grandfather moved there in the 19th century, fleeing the Ottoman occupation of Greece, and quickly became rich in the construction of the railway.

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The innovative Lightweight Special car regularly earned Issigonis leadership awards on the tracks until 1948, when the engineer had to quit his sports career

The British, the owners of the enterprise, noted the intelligence and insight of Issigonis Sr., for which they granted him English citizenship. Thus, an outstanding engineering dynasty was founded, in which the father of our hero, Konstantin, already held the position of director machine-building plant. Of course, when Alexander was born, his future was sealed. However, the world war that broke out soon decided the fate of Issigonis Jr. differently.

In 1922, due to the aggravated Greek-Turkish conflict, the entire family was forcibly evacuated to Malta. In the blink of an eye, the Issigonises went from respected members of society to refugees, one of many. They lost all their property: factory, estate, savings. This directly affected the health of Konstantin - having received a blow, he suddenly died. The young engineer was left with his mother almost without funds, and in order to receive government assistance, they moved to England.

Not to say that the Issigonis were in poverty for the move - at least they had the funds to buy Alexander a Singer Tourer car for £ 200, which was equivalent to the cost of land on the coast. At the same time, the young man did not even guess what problems such a luxurious purchase promised! Having gone on a rally on it, Alec learned the hard way what happens when the transmission gets stuck, why oil constantly flows from the engine, springs burst, etc. In a word, the architecture of the Singer car was far from perfect, which prompted Issigonis to invent best car himself.

Alexander's mother met the decision to become an engineer with hostility - she dreamed that her son would be an artist. But the young man was adamant, enrolling in Battersea Polytechnic College. And although he studied there for one triple, with grief in half he still managed to get a bachelor's degree. And how the teachers rejoiced when they finally got rid of the arrogant C grade student who told everyone that he would “change the world, even despite their damned mathematics”!

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Alec Issigonis's "test" the Morris Minor, though a tiny car, proved to be his entry ticket to a world of great engineering possibilities.

Soon he became a draftsman in a small London firm that developed automatic transmission. However, Alec did not succeed in his official career - all his attention was then occupied by the design of his own car, which he and his friend made on weekends in the garage. It was a "pumped" version of the Austin 7 microcar with a plywood body and a modified engine. The car with the name Lightweight Special received the first author's developments of Issigonis - in particular, the front independent suspension. Thanks to this, Alek beat the rest of the engineers in sprint and ring races with enviable constancy. One of these victories in 1946 was the beginning of a strong friendship with another bright head of motorsport - engineer John Cooper.

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The famous Mini at the design stage. Even a rear-wheel drive version was planned, which the engineering team abandoned in time

Meanwhile, the career of a Greek engineer is also developing. In 1938, he was working on the creation of an independent suspension for the Humber company - one of major automakers UK. A little later, Alec will defend his diploma from the University of London, and his success will lead the newly minted engineer to Morris. Here, his innovative ideas are already being introduced into serial developments.

The first glory for Issigonis was brought by the subcompact Morris Minor, a kind of design debut, for which a successful combination of price, size and performance ensured 23 years of wide production. In this model, Alec's corporate identity began to appear: advanced engineering solutions fit into modest (only 3.7 meters long) dimensions. Here for the first time the rack was used steering, as well as hydraulic brakes on all wheels. And the democratic price tag made Morris Minor truly people's car- For the first time in history, a British model has sold over a million copies!

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“Simpler, lighter, faster, more compact and more spacious” - this is the logical chain that Issigonis built for the production of the new flagship of the Navy. The British society thanked him heartily for doing each of these things, even despite the ridiculous 10-inch wheels of the first Mini series and the disgusting interior waterproofing. Savings on the outer seams of the body did not benefit the model, but due to the low price, people were ready to put up with the fact that in rainy weather their car looked like a colander

World recognition

For some time, Issigonis, having become famous, wandered from studio to studio like a talisman. Everyone wanted the engineer to make a new car comparable in success to the Minor. And Alec was happy to try, but his thoughts at the same time turned out to be too bold for the producers. So fate again brought the Greek inventor to the threshold of the Morris company. Only now it was already a whole concern - British Motor Corporation, the result of the merger of several leading British firms.

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Advertising in the 50s was a powerful lever of pressure in the automotive market. “People don't really know what they want. It's my job to tell them about it," Alec claimed from numerous brochures dedicated to the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor.

Issigonis was welcomed with open arms and immediately entrusted with the development of a new model line. The management's idea included a whole ensemble of three different cars - a large Maxi sedan, a mid-sized Midi coupe and a compact Mini. Moreover, Alec had to design everything in that order.

The prototypes of the first two models were ready in 1956. Their launch into the series was already being decided when the Suez crisis broke out. Gas prices in Europe have risen significantly, and small cars like the VW Beetle and FIAT 500 suddenly became the kings of the market. The head of the Navy concern, Leonard Lord, told Issigonis to forget about all his previous projects, except for one - an urban compact car. It was a serious test, the question was about the very survival of brands, but Alec was only happy to try, since he sincerely believed that a real car should not be longer than three meters.

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Avtomobilchik left the assembly line in various variations and was constantly upgraded. So there was a two-seat Mini Shortie, a doorless Mini Metro convertible, a full-fledged Mini Traveler station wagon, Mini Pick-Up and even Mini Van. All options were reliable and well balanced. driving performance. For example, a roofless four-seater buggy, the Mini Moke, did not take root in the British army, but became an integral part of beach resorts in the USA and Australia.

Issigonis pored over the task for 2.5 years - a record time for translating a drawing on a napkin into a driving car. But the working team, subordinate to the engineer, even this time seemed like a hell of a vacation. After all, our inventor had a truly anecdotal pedantry and a steep, despotic disposition: for the slightest oversight, he could detain an employee's salary. Alec didn't care how his ideas would be brought to life, but once he had decided something, he wanted to see everything executed exactly. Being by nature more an artist than an engineer, he could only outline the direction in which the executors of his will followed. But no matter how hard it was for the latter, they preferred to solve insoluble problems, just not to see the grinning Issigonis on the horizon, who patronizingly calls everyone and everything “darling” ... Perhaps that is why the success of the car, documented as XC / 9003, was so deafening .

Work on the Mini project was based on the principle "the simpler the better." The stumbling block in the new car was its size: at 3 meters long, there was a phenomenal capacity for 4 people and their luggage, while nothing should have constrained them during the trip. Engineers had to dodge at every step, and the decree on the mandatory use of only those power units that the Navy produced made the task even more difficult. As a result, in a tiny engine compartment The prototype was squeezed in by the smallest of the group's engines at the time, the 0.9-liter Austin-A. The engine wasn't just transverse, it also had an integrated gearbox, the first of Mini's revolutionary innovations.

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In 1964, the Mini rally team, driver Paddy Hopkirk and co-driver Henry Liddon, took all three podiums at the Monte Carlo races. This success was repeated three more times, but in 1966 the panel of judges disqualified the British, allegedly due to an unregulated number of headlights. A classic example of the abuse of power that led "winning" driver Pauli Toivonen to refuse to accept an award and terminate his contract with his Citroen team.

Thanks to the front-wheel drive, the car significantly lost weight, but the usable space inside it turned out to be even more than necessary. The trunk, the design of the seats, the pockets on the door - all this could be filled with any useful little things. Looking at his creation, Issigonis rejoiced. It remained only to obtain the approval of the head of the concern ... But Sir Leonard Lord was not so optimistic. Seeing this little misunderstanding, he grimaced contemptuously and started to walk away. Alec had to coax him into the prototype.

We drove around the territory of the enterprise, and I was rushing like crazy. The Lord, of course, was horrified by this, but was pleased with how the car kept on the road. When we stopped outside the office, he just threw two words at me as he left. "Let's start the series!" - he said.

Alec Issigonis, "father" of the Mini

The premiere of a new car from the Navy took place in 1959, and the concern presented to the public two models at once: Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor. They were almost identical, and such a bifurcation had only a marketing character. So fans of both brands were able to buy the same trendy car for a modest price of $800. It was a good investment not only for the middle class and low-income people. Soon the small car became so popular that even English snobs became interested in it. In 1962, when its weekly production exceeded 3 thousand, the entire the lineup it was decided to reduce to a single denominator - Mini.

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In the life of fashion designer Mary Quant, there were two main hobbies - miniskirts and Mini Clubman. Oddly enough, they both fit together perfectly.

Fully loaded

The British were crazy about the cute little Mini. Its thoughtful design and low cost were like a balm to the soul for the people. But while Issigonis happily rested on his well-deserved laurels, his friend and first colleague in the racing craft, John Cooper, did not sit idle. Having seen the sporting potential in the notorious small car, he immediately set about “pumping” it. Having his own studio Cooper Car Company, the engineer managed to persuade the leadership of the Navy, and specifically George Harriman, to produce a limited racing series (1,000 copies).

In 1961, the result of the experiments of John Cooper (at that time twice the winner of the Constructors' Cup) was new model– Mini Cooper. She was provided with more powerful engine(997 cm³, 55 hp), double SU carburettor and front disc brakes. In addition, the new Mini received a two-tone racing livery that soon became iconic. To test the little car named after himself, Cooper entered it into a Group 2 rally.

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Subcompact Mini firmly ingrained in British culture. The exclusive color that celebrities covered them with is in the hundreds of options. funny cars appeared on English postage stamps, painted ... and even became a walking advertisement for Red Bull drink

The management of the British Motor Corporation looked at the antics of the designer from under closed eyelids - no one really believed that a funny car was worth something on the race track. What was their surprise when the Mini Cooper S, a version with a more powerful engine (1,071 cm³, 70 hp), won its class on the toughest Monte Carlo track in 1963, and a year later the crews of the Navy occupied the entire podium in the "absolute"!

The “mini-racer” achieved similar success twice more, which made him a motorsport legend. Soon, the two-tone Mini Cooper S became a regular fixture in the fashionable areas of London, and sales of this model over the entire period of production exceeded 150,000 units. Even Enzo Ferrari, a good friend of John Cooper, could not resist buying three copies of the small racing car. “If this car wasn’t so ugly, I would fall in love with it,” summed up the Italian designer.

Culture shock

After mini cars"flooded" London, and with it the streets of other British cities, the public shook as if in an epileptic fit. It turned out that the tiny car became a true catalyst for cultural life, personifying the craving for change that is dormant in people. Therefore, many future celebrities, whether they are pop stars or artists, have started their journey to fame driving a Mini. For example, fashion designer Mary Quant, one of the creators of street fashion in the 60s and personal stylist for The Rolling Stones, admitted that the idea of ​​miniskirts came to her mind thanks to this car. Such bold experiments brought her the Order of the British Empire, which might not have happened if Leonard Lord had become stubborn and had not put the project into production at the time.

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Mini Cooper

The Mini Cooper brand has gone through a lot. And ups and downs, and a change in ownership and a change in the spelling of the brand name. Only one thing has remained unchanged - extreme charm.

In 1959, in the English town of Longbridge, there was only talk about a new car. So tiny, but fits four passengers. The revolutionary design allowed automotive engineer Alec Issigonis to combine decent interior space with small exterior dimensions.

The result exceeded expectations - Morris Mini-Minor (in other markets it was sold under the name Austin Seven) made a splash in the automotive market.

Did Leonard Lord, the head of BMC (British Motor Corporation), who in 1957 commissioned Issigonis to create a new type of miniature car, expect such a success? Maybe. But before that, he was guided not by guesswork, but by a clear goal - to build a compact machine with three main properties - BMC, four full passenger seats and smaller dimensions than the BMC models produced at that time.

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Designer Alec Issigonis

It took designer Alec Issigonis just seven months to complete the task. Already in July 1958, he invited Leonard Lord to the test track to try out two prototypes. “We drove around the territory of the enterprise, and I drove like crazy,” Issigonis later recalled - Lord, of course, was horrified, but he was very pleased with how the car kept on the road. We stopped at the office. He got out of the car and said, "Do it."

Leonard, anticipating success, gave the designer exactly one year to start mass production of this model. In order to meet the deadlines, and even stay within the budget, Alec and his team had to work according to the principle - "the simpler, the faster and cheaper." So, in the suspension, it was decided to use not springs, but “rubber bands”, in the body instead of hidden internal seams - external ones. By the way, the latter eventually turned into distinguishing feature classic Mini.

Full title:	Mini
Other names:
Existence:	1959 - present day
Location:	UK: Longbridge
Key Figures:
Products:	cars
The lineup:

The name "MINI" suggests that we are talking about something miniature. Indeed, this is the name of a car that is small in size.

A compact small car was in decent demand and for four decades it was produced almost unchanged.

Today, the MINI brand is not forgotten, but improved models with different “names” have appeared. Perhaps the most popular of them is produced "under the supervision" of the BMW concern. This is the Cooper model.

Cooper and famous racers

At the origins of the company were two Coopers - native British.

Father - John Cooper was a well-known racing driver in his homeland. It was he who decided to create his own company. In the middle of the last century, he registered the Cooper Car Company. The company began to create miniature racing cars.

Cooper Jr. - Mike owned a tuning studio that bore the name of the older Cooper. The son brought to life the ideas of his father, created cars.

Cooper's compact racing cars were a success. Far more than one athlete has achieved high results in the modification.

In 1958, in a then unknown car, Sir Stirling Moss himself began the season with a victory. Soon, other racing drivers turned their eyes to the "baby".

The rear-engined Mini Cooper in the second half of the fifties competed on a par with the eminent Italian-made sports cars Maserati and Ferrari. Italian racing cars at that time the motor was mounted in front.

On an improved car of his own production "Mini Cooper", John Cooper successfully performed in numerous rallies.

The most famous racer in Argentina and the only person in his country who managed to become the world champion (and as many as five times) in this sport - Juan Manuel Fangio "traveled" the firstborn of the Cooper company, created for racing in Formula 2.

Cooper and the reaction of the public

In addition to racing cars, the Coopers created vehicles and for ordinary people. They believed that cheap cars will be in demand. There were many who wanted to move on four wheels, and there were clearly not enough offers that consumers with average incomes could take advantage of. However, in spite of low cost, which for a standard equipped car was a little less than 500 pounds, the general public greeted the appearance of the little car rather coldly.

Sales of the first year of release can not be called impressive. Buyers were found only for 20 thousand cars. This number included cars sold not only in the UK, but also in all other countries where the Mini was exported.

The first "dwarf cars" did their job and a year later, the Austin 850, like the Morris 850 (as the Mini was called in the European markets), thousands of Europeans wished to purchase. 1960 was marked by the release of a whole hundred thousand cars. And two years later, production volumes increased even more and reached the number of 200,000 pieces. This volume has not decreased for 15 years. True, by that time the company no longer belonged to the Coopers.

Over the long years of its existence, an almost toy car won the hearts of the masses of people. Who just did not drive this surprisingly attractive car! Even members of the British royal family did not refuse the pleasure of a minicar ride.

Among the world-famous celebrities who preferred the Mini were the Beatles, the French: Belmondo and Charles Aznavour, the American singer Madonna, the Italians Aurelio Lampredi and Enzo Ferrari. They say the latter was the owner of three mini cars.

In many ways, the success of the Mini depended on the fact that there were several versions of the car. It was produced in the form of station wagons, and as a van, and as a convertible. Anniversary episodes released limited number. Such machines had the letters LE in the marking and were very expensive. But there were many who wanted to acquire an exclusive, even if expensive, baby.

Minicar at the end of the 20th century

Over time, new models appeared on the markets. Most of them were both more powerful and more comfortable. survived small car just because of the low cost. Austin Rover continued its production in small batches in the 80s.

They did not allow the legendary Cooper car to “sink into oblivion”. In their workshop, they turned a standard car into a real supercar. Cooper tuning kits were in great demand.

In the 90th year, the production of Mini Cooper took over Rover company group. But even then the car was not removed from production. The Cooper family was still engaged in improving the chassis and engine of their offspring.

In the history of the Mini of the last century there is a memorable date - 10/04/2000. On this autumn day, the last legendary "baby" rolled off the assembly line. In total, for 41 years of "life" of such babies, about five and a half million were released.

MINI in the XXI century

The new owner of the British facilities that produced miniature cars, and in the 2000s it became the BMW concern, decided to create a completely updated car. The prefix "New" was added to the name "Mini". And the work began.

The new car had to meet the requirements of the time:
-comfort;
- power;
- capacity;
-security.

Both young engineers and those who participated in the creation of the "old" model Mini worked on the task.

Joint action gave excellent results. The updated "baby" has not lost the main features of its predecessor. And, at the same time, he began to move faster, but "eat" less. In terms of comfort and safety, the NewMini could compete with the compact Volkswagen NewBeetle and other classmates.

Even more expensive sports version auto - Cooper S, presented to the audience in 2002. For a small car, Cooper S has a too serious engine with a power of 163 hp.

The retro car was once again subjected to a restyling operation in 2010.

Modern "English" of German production have diesel and gasoline engines 120-220 hp They slightly increased in size, got adjustable steering wheels and seats, got built-in devices that ensure the comfort of passengers and the driver.

The plans of automakers do not include the cessation of production of a "toy" car, which means that it will travel on the roads for a long time different countries and delight those you meet with your irresistibility.