The MINI Cooper

Mission Statement:
"Combine the emotional power of the former model with the technology of the
future"
- Frank Stephenson
Chief Designer, MINI COOPER

History of the Mini
Although the Mini has not been sold in Canada for almost 20 years, the small,
four-seater vehicle continued to experience strong sales in Europe until the
late last year when production came to an end. Over its 40-year lifecycle, the
Mini has transcended generations and become one of the world's best-selling
cars with over 5.3 million produced to date.

On August 26, 1959, the Mini was launched by the British Motor Corporation
(BMC) in response to fuel rationing introduced with the Suez crisis. The Mini
soon developed a style all its own and was the inspiration behind the naming of
many 'trendy' items including the famed mini skirt by sixties fashion designer
Mary Quant. Since 1994, the Mini brand has been part of the BMW Group
portfolio.

Many celebrities have owned Minis including: Peter Sellers, Peter Ustinov, Sir
Paul McCartney, Natalie Imbruglia, Ringo Starr, David Bowie, Kate Moss Niki
Lauda and Enzo Ferrari.

The Joy of Living
Just like the previous Mini, the new MINI COOPER spells out the joy of living.
Originally conceived by innovator Alec Issigonis, the Mini was intended to be
the smallest possible car that would still accommodate four adults and luggage
- measuring approximately 10 feet long, 4 feet high and 4 feet wide.

The new MINI COOPER is reminiscent of its legendary predecessor only in its
joy-of-life personality. For when it comes to safety, high technology,
driving dynamics, flexibility and individual style, the COOPER lives up in
every respect to all modern standards.

"The COOPER is not a retro-design car - rather, the COOPER stands for
evolution. It has the genes and characteristics of its predecessor, but at the
same time is larger, more powerful, more muscular, and more exciting than its
predecessor ever was," explains Frank Stephenson, Chief Designer.
What motivates people to buy a MINI COOPER?
Design, Agility, Customization, and Safety.

The MINI is an emotional brand. It is a brand dedicated to the joy of life and
a modern, urban lifestyle. It is a brand with its own refreshing, modern and
seductive style. MINI simply stands for joy of life, fun, pleasure and
character.

Who will find the MINI particularly appealing? The MINI is cosmopolitan. The
MINI and the MINI brand have always succeeded in thrilling enthusiasts young
and old in all countries and throughout all segments of society, without
becoming any kind of status symbol in the process. The MINI is classless.

Potential purchasers of the MINI have one thing in common: they enjoy life in
every respect. They attach great significance to their independence, and they
are spontaneous and creative. In choosing their car they seek to show their
unmistakable style, enjoying active driving pleasure and the experience their
car is able to offer them. But at the same time they want a car with sufficient
room and flexibility to meet all their demands in an active lifestyle.

Most purchasers are expected to be in the younger target groups. They are one
specific group of purchasers typically representing the "active consumer
society" that is so significant in our modern world.

These purchasers are under 35 years of age, in many cases still single, work in
creative professions, show a strong sense of self-confidence and an open mind
to the world, and have no problem working successfully in a virtual economy.

Another essential factor bound to support the MINI in the market is the growing
demand for small cars full of flair and expression, cars driven in high-income
households as the second or even third vehicle.

The MINI Design
The COOPER boasts an organic design concept throughout, all lines flowing with
a symbiosis of elegance and purity. The car looks extremely dynamic even when
not moving, giving you the impression that it is about to leap forwards.

This impression is created by the four main lines of the COOPER: The line
between the windows and the side-sills, which makes the car look very wide and
muscular; the roof line angled slightly downward towards the rear, giving the
COOPER a powerful touch of dynamism and elegance; and the side line, giving the
car a powerful, road-hugging look from every perspective. The "shoulders" of
the COOPER, that is the line directly beneath the windows, makes the car look
even more masculine and powerful in its stature.

The windows extend all round the car and are a derivative of modern
architecture with the load-bearing parts behind glass. This contributes to the
COOPER's flowing, future-oriented and truly unique look.

The MINI designers paid particular attention to making the COOPER's wheelbase
as long as possible. This was done for two reasons: First, in order to
emphasize that typical MINI feeling; and second, to create perfect roadholding
at all times, complying with safety requirements both today and in future.

The view of the car from the front portrays the COOPER's unmistakable
character. It is the hood and the dominating front lights that give the COOPER
its powerful facial expression, a face that combines friendliness with a look
of performance and agility.

MINI Colour Choices
The COOPER will be available in 14 paintwork colours, the roof and exterior
mirrors coming either in white or black. The standard wheels are 15-inch
aluminum rims either in white or silver. A wide range of chrome trim helps to
further enhance the sophisticated looks and appearance of the car.

The COOPER also has optional equipment that individualizes the car and furthers
the owner's ability to display his or her creativity. Among many other things,
the COOPER can be ordered with ornamental stripes along the hood, a panorama
sunroof, xenon headlights and a navigation system.

The Interior
All of the COOPER's controls and instruments are highly functional and
ergonomically designed. The rev counter, for example, is adjustable in its
position and allows the driver to choose his or her personal setting for
optimum clarity at all times. This not only ensures even greater driving
pleasure, but also additional safety on the road.

Focusing on the design of the centre console, the Company's engineers have
again opted for some very special features that reflect the philosophy that the
MINI is simply different. In its design and functionality, the centre console
sets new, unprecedented standards. Rotary knobs and toggle switches allow all
functions to be set and controlled with absolute ease - and they are highly
attractive in their design.

Another place where interior designers have paid particular attention to is the
feel and the touch of all surfaces. All switches and controls come with a very
pleasant, secure touch, making all control functions particularly comfortable
and convenient.

The choice of seat upholstery is naturally a matter of personal taste, so the
MINI will be available with either leather upholstery or various styles of
fabric.

Particular attention has also been given to the sound quality offered to the
modern purchaser. The COOPER comes with a wide range of highly customised sound
systems that ensures quality music for all tastes.

Setting New Standards in Terms of Safety
Safety is an extremely important feature in all cars, especially those that are
smaller in dimension. BMW recognizes this fact and has equipped the new COOPER
with so many passive and active safety features like ABS anti-lock brakes and
airbags that the Company has set new standards for a car of this size.

Both the driver and front passenger are protected by frontal airbags fitted as
standard in the steering wheel and instrument panel, as well as side airbags
integrated in the seats that significantly reduces the risk of upper body
injury in the event of an impact from the side. All body components that absorb
energy in the event of an impact have been developed according to BMW's
strictest safety principles.

The COOPER will also be available with an Advanced Head Protection System (AHPS
2) based on BMW's award-winning Head Protection System. This system ensures
maximum safety and avoidance of head injury for the car's occupants both front
and rear.

The COOPER is fitted as standard with ABS anti-lock brakes and a tire pressure
warning system quite unique in this segment of the market. And as an option it
can also be fitted with DSC Dynamic Stability Control.

Body and Suspension
Using the most advanced construction and design methods such as virtual crash
simulation, the designers and engineers of the MINI COOPER have achieved an
optimum standard of body stiffness within compact dimensions. This alone gives
the driver a unique experience of sheer driving pleasure at its best, enhanced
by the four-cylinder, 16-valve, 1.6-litre power unit.

Clearly, an ultra-modern suspension oriented towards the needs and preferences
of the driver is essential for converting this kind of power into genuine
driving pleasure. This is precisely why the COOPER comes standard with disc
brakes on all four wheels. And it is also why the suspension and steering are
sports-tuned to the highest standard. The multi-link rear axle also to be found
on BMW cars, is completely new in this segment.

Features of this kind explain why the COOPER comes with truly exceptional
handling, with changes in the road surface having virtually no effect on the
car's roadholding or driving characteristics.

This clearly proves that the BMW Group's engineers have been most successful in
combining the technological values and merits of both brands (BMW and MINI) in
perfect harmony.

MINI - a Unique Brand within the BMW Group Portfolio
MINI is a unique brand within the BMW Group. It is destined to reach and
penetrate new groups of purchasers, expanding the position of the BMW Group as
a whole in the market. Arriving at Canadian retail centres in the year 2002,
the MINI will be marketed through new and innovative sales channels. Rob
VanShaik, Special Projects Manager: "There has been no decision yet, but we are
checking all possibilities from Internet to downtown showrooms everything is
possible. One thing is certain, the brands of the BMW Group will be clearly
seperated, even if they are standing in one showroom." he adds: "However, the
MINI has the Service technology from BMW inside, so service at all BMW
retailers across the country will be an option."

The MINI will be sold as a global brand worldwide, following a sales and
marketing strategy conceived and developed specifically in order to underline
the exclusivity and uniqueness of the MINI brand. Different sales and
distribution channels in various countries will ensure optimum coverage of the
respective market with an appropriate supply of cars.

The MINI has been developed largely in the English offices of the BMW Group
Development Division. Various body options are being considered in this ongoing
process of development, but currently no other variants are planned for the
foreseeable future considering the car's introduction date in Europe in the
year 2001 and in North America in 2002.

The MINI will be built at the BMW Group's Oxford Plant in the United Kingdom
according to the principles of BMW production and quality requirements.
Production of the first pre-series cars will be starting after the year 2000
summer break. Sales of 100,000 units a year are expected worldwide in the
volume years of the new car. The entry-level price of the MINI in Canada has
not yet been determined.
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