One of the most iconic cars in automobile history, the Mini, is due for its next generation model. Introduced way back in 1959 by BMC (British Motor Corporation), the Mini boasts of one of the largest fan followings for any car in history.
Production of the original Mini Cooper continued till the year 2000, even though the successor was being developed from 1995. This began shortly after BMW had acquired the Rover and the Mini brands from British Aerospace in 1994.
While the new Mini Cooper went on sale in 2001, it drew a lot of flak and criticism for not having that 'Mini feel'. Hence, in 2007, BMW were quick to introduce the all new Mini, the one which is being sold here in India.
While the all new Mini was resembling its predecessor, BMW said that each and every body panel, including the platform of the car was re-engineered. It was also said the entire R&D was done in BMW's headquarters in Munich and external third party agencies were also involved.
Now in 2013, it seems that it is time for an all-new Mini to hit the roads and we bring you the spy shots of the car which was caught by World Car Fans readers DV and Andrew all the way from South Africa!
While the car is heavily camouflaged, it seems that the overall appearance of the shell remains unchanged. Which is interesting considering that this new Mini will grow in size and will boast a wide array of engine options.
Power is expected to come from engines as small as a 1.5-liter 3 cylinder 128bhp (possibly for the Mini One) and a more powerful Cooper S version will be available. The new Mini will continue having modern diesel engines as well.
We're told that the new Mini could be unveiled this year which means that a public unveiling either at the Geneva Motor Show or at the Frankfurt Motor Show is a possibility.
[Source - WorldCarFans.com]
