One of the biggest automotive success stories in recent years comes from BMW Group’s Plant Oxford – the home of the modern Mini.
And on Monday April 26, the firm will celebrate an impressive 20 years since the first modern Mini rolled off the production line. Since then, more than 10 million have been produced at the plant, and today, along with its sibling plant in Swindon, there are more than 4,500 employees across the two sites.
Let’s take a look at what Mini’s past 20 years have looked like....
2001
Where it all began with the modern Mini – following its debut at the 2000 Paris Motor Show, the first ‘new’ Mini would roll off the production line in April 2001. It would go on sale in lower-level ‘One’ and ‘Cooper’ guises in July in the same year. Huge personalisation options and funky styling ensured buyers were queuing up to get their hands on one.
Later that year, Mini would unveil the Cooper S, a new hot hatch version that would act as the range-topper for some time.
2002
A little over a year since modern Mini production began, the firm would already be celebrating production of its 100,000th model – a quarter of cars produced being sold to UK buyers.
2004
Move forward to 2004 and Mini would pull the covers off a new Convertible – bringing extra style and fun to the range. Like the Hatch, it would still be produced in Oxford. In the same year, the from would announce that 500,000 modern Minis had been manufactured.
2006
This year was a busy one for Mini, as it signalled the introduction of a new second-generation car, though admittedly with an exceptionally close resemblance to the original car. Though every body panel was different to before, it said ‘evolution was preferable to revolution’.
Before the arrival of this modern Mini, though, it would pull the wraps off its most extreme car yet – the Mini John Cooper Works GP. With 218bhp on tap, this was the most powerful Mini ever, while also featuring a wild bodykit and being produced in limited numbers – solidifying its status as a future classic.
2007
In 2007, Mini would introduce a further model to its range in the form of the Clubman – reviving a name used by the British brand on the original. It would gain funky looks, van-like twin-opening rear doors and more space than the original Hatch. It would also be produced at the Oxford factory.
2008
Following the arrival of the second-generation Hatch in 2006, a couple of years later the firm’s drop-top would get the same treatment – bringing with it new engines and tweaked styling, though not sacrificing any of its predecessor’s character.
2009
Though it might have been a full decade before we saw a production-ready EV from MIni, the firm actually began trialling EVs in 2009 with its Mini E. The project was done more as a way of exploring electrification rather than paving the way for a production model. The MinI E would be instrumental in helping BMW to launch the i3 as the firm’s first battery-powered model in 2013.
2010
Arguably the most controversial of all of modern Mini’s history came in 2010 with the introduction of the Countryman – the firm’s first SUV. It brought additional practicality to the range, but while retaining the brand’s recognisable charm. It would also be the first modern Mini not produced in the UK, but rather in Graz, Austria.
2011
Mini would begin to ramp up its range of models during the next few years, and first-up would be the introduction of the Coupe – the brand’s first ever two-seater. Also produced in Oxford, this funky-looking model looked the part but didn’t appeal hugely to many customers.
2012
A year later, Mini would debut a second new model – the Roadster. Essentially a drop-top version of the Coupe, it promised to be the first ‘premium model of its kind in the small car segment’. Like the Coupe, a range of derivatives would be available, from frugal diesel versions through to racy John Cooper Works options.
2013
Yes, another year, another MIni, and this time it was the introduction of the Paceman – a slightly oddball SUV that was essentially a three-door version of the Countryman, and was too manufactured in Austria. Despite the popularity of the Countryman, the Paceman failed to attract punters and was axed less than four years after its introduction.
2014
Moving on to a more positive note, Mini launched its third-generation Hatch in 2014, with this new car offering far more in the way of technology, efficiency and personalisation. Another hugely important addition came later in the year with the unveiling of the firm’s five-door Hatch. Bringing extended space and practicality to the range, it’s proven a very popular option ever since.
2015
A year later there would be the unveiling of the new second-generation Clubman, which proved to be one of the most practical and comfortable Minis yet. It also received two full-size rear doors (the original featured just one on the right-hand-side of the car), while keeping its quirky twin-opening back doors.
2016
It was full steam ahead during this period, with Mini pulling the covers off its third-generation Convertible in January 2016. Production of this model would move away from Oxford and to a Dutch factory instead.
2017
For 2017 there would be a new second-generation Mini Countryman SUV. This time, it would grow noticeably in size to become a seriously practical choice for families. It would also be the first Mini commercially available with an electrified powertrain, with the firm offering a plug-in hybrid version of its popular crossover, offering an electric range of around 26 miles.
2019
Sticking with the theme of electrification, Mini would reveal its Electric in July 2019 – being the firm’s first EV you can buy in the showroom. Huge demand was received for the model, with first deliveries arriving in 2020.
During the same year Mini would also celebrate its 60th anniversary, as well as hit a further milestone with the 10,000,000th model being built at the Oxford factory.
2021
For 2021, Mini revealed a heavily-updated version of its three- and five-door Hatch versions, as well as the Convertible. Key changes included yet more personalisation possibilities – a cool gradient-coloured roof option stood out in particular – as well as a revised design and more standard equipment.
The future?
Mini’s future looks solid, with the British brand set to be the first BMW Group brand to go fully electric by the early 2030s. It also recently announced its last combustion-powered model would be introduced in 2025.
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