The classic Mini was one of the first true economy cars, both in terms of frugality and in offering purchase price that regular people could afford.
Since BMW's resurrection of the badge its priorities have shifted a little to capitalize on the car's fashion status, but that doesn't mean the new car, revealed on November 18, won't be frugal too.
That date marks the 107th anniversary of the birth of Sir Alec Issigonis, the designer behind the original car. Sir Alec passed away in 1988 while the original Mini was still going strong, but 25 years on his creation is still valued by enthusiasts and BMW alike.
To mark the launch, MINI is holding events in London, Los Angeles and Shanghai--and three lucky people will get the chance to attend one of the events. Each is sure to be spectacular and will feature music performances and more. Interested parties should head to www.mini.com/newmini and follow the instructions for their chance to win.
For those not lucky enough to win an invite, the car will make its public debut soon after at the Los Angeles and Tokyo Auto Shows, both of which commence on November 20.
We're slowly building a picture of the new car from teaser images and spy shots, and while some typical MINI detailing will remain, the new car is expected to feature a more rounded look like that of the MINI Vision concept revealed earlier this year.
Under the hood is a new range of 1.5-liter, three-cylinder gasoline engines promising a healthy mix of performance and economy, though power-hungry fans will also get a new four-cylinder in the most potent models. A diesel too will be available, and BMW recently confirmed that a plug-in hybrid model is on the cards--but availability of each in the U.S. is yet to be announced.
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