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History of the MINI brand

As a result of the oil crisis in 1956-1957, many car manufacturers in Britain and other countries began to think about creating compact cars with a low fuel appetite. In 1959, Englishman Alec Issigonis, an inventive British Motors engineer, together with a group of employees, designed the Austin Sever MINI and Moms MINI Minof minicars, which became very popular. The cars were ultra-compact, had front axle drive, and the engine crankcase was integrated with the clutch housing.

The center of gravity of the engine was in front of the front axle, which later became the standard for all front-wheel drive cars. In 1960-1964, new Mini cars were born in the bodies of a station wagon Van, pickup truck and in a luxury version. MINI cars are becoming the most fashionable and popular in their home countries. In 1961, the sports model MINI Cooper appeared, which became the best-selling car of the brand.

The most powerful car in its class, the MINI Cooper S, was produced in 1963. This model has an engine with a volume of 1.071 liters. Since 1964, the MINI Cooper S has won first prize at the Monte Carlo Rally for three consecutive years. In 1969, MINI became an independent car brand for British Lsyland Corp, which British Motors had joined the previous year. In 1987 there are 5 million MINIs in the world. In 1990, the repeatedly modernized model, but remaining recognizable by the main design solutions and the external design of 1959, received the new name Rover MINI.

In 1994, MINI is acquired by the German concern BMW. In 1998, the MINI car is recognized as the most successful car in the history of the automotive industry, is entered in the Guinness Book of Records, it is awarded the title of “European Car of the Century”. In 2001, under the wing of BMW, the MINI brand revives the production of cars, but in a modern form and with new content.

An updated generation of the 3-door MINI model appears, which is the basis for other models of the brand. The MINI Cooper S sports hatchback debuted in Europe and North America in 2002. The first crossover brand MINI Countryman presented to the public in 2014. In the same year, a 5-door hatchback appears. Driving the new ambitious MINI is now prestigious and fashionable.