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Maximum interior space on a minimum footprint – Sir Alec Issigonis wrote automotive history in 1959 with this simple yet ingenious vehicle concept. The modern version of the MINI 3-door also breaks with conventions, reinventing itself and standing out from the crowd with its unique design. In 2013, MINI presented the current reinterpretation of the compact 3-door for the first time and has remained true to itself ever since.
Now, in 2023, the one millionth vehicle of the iconic model will roll off the production line at the MINI plant in Oxford, which fittingly is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year.
Unmistakably MINI
The MINI 3-door is characterised by dynamic lines, clear shapes and short overhangs, making the agile four-seater the ideal companion in urban traffic and for its market launch in 2014, the redesigned generation presented advances in technology, efficiency and power delivery. While vehicles in almost all segments are becoming increasingly similar, the MINI 3-door has remained an icon over all these years, with a steadily growing fan base worldwide.
The original with great variety
The MINI 3-door is the original in the premium small car segment, with MINI fans able to choose between numerous configurations since the model went into production. From the MINI One First with its original 55 kW/75 hp, to the more powerful MINI Cooper with 100 kW/136 hp and the racing-inspired MINI John Cooper Works models, the MINI 3-Door impresses with inspiringly agile driving characteristics and is the blueprint for modern, small and compact cars.
Produced at MINI Plant Oxford and, for a short time, Born in the Netherlands, the MINI 3-door has previously been available with a diesel or petrol engine, and since 2020, the MINI Electric has stood for electrified go-kart feeling. The one-millionth vehicle – also a MINI Electric – will be delivered to Canada in British Racing Green exterior paint.
Last year, MINI recorded a significant increase in sales of electrified models, with one in five MINI models now electric.
The next generation of the MINI family will also start with the MINI 3-door. The new edition of the original is geared to electric driving pleasure from the outset, and has ideal prerequisites for inspiring agility and the creative use of space that is typical of MINI. In addition to maximum go-kart feeling for MINI fans, the focus of the new MINI 3-door is also on minimizing its ecological footprint. In this way, MINI is consistently developing the concept for urban driving fun that has been successful for more than 60 years.
Impressive racing history
As a friend of Mini inventor Alec Issigonis, race car designer John Cooper first developed a GT model based on the classic Mini in 1960 and established the model’s motorsport history. To this day, the John Cooper Works brand name stands for outstanding performance. With 225 kW/306 hp, the 2019 MINI John Cooper Works GP is the brand’s fastest ever road-going model.
The powerful four-cylinder turbo engine of the MINI 3-door, limited to 3,000 units, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, citing MINI’s impressive racing history. From winning the British Touring Car Championships with the first Mini Cooper to three overall victories at the Monte Carlo Rally and numerous other appearances, the MINI 3-door has stood for sporting highlights time and again and carries racing in its genes. Most recently, the Bulldog Racing MINI John Cooper Works proved itself at the Nürburgring 24-hour race on the legendary Nordschleife and quickly became a crowd favuorite.
About 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 over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries. In 2022, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and more than 202,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2021 was € 16.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 111.2 billion. As of 31 December 2021, the BMW Group had a workforce of 118,909 employees. The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products. https://www.bmwgroup.com/en.html
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