MINI at the 2003 Tokyo Motorshow

Content: 1. Short Story. 2. A Class of its Own. 2.1 Unmistakable - the MINI's Exterior and Interior Features. 2.2 Safety to the Fore. 2.3 Suspension with Fun Guaranteed on Winding Roads. 2.4 Professional Electronics. 3. MINI One - the Entry Model. 4. MINI Cooper - the Sporting Ace. 5. MINI Cooper S - the Top Model. 6. Personalisation.

(Diese Pressemappe ist nur in englischer Sprache verfügbar)

1. Short Story.
MINI successfully established in Japan.

Within just two years the MINI brand has gained a strong and successful
position in more than 70 countries the world over, and is therefore now
represented on all continents. Since March 2002 MINI has also been strongly
positioned in Japan with the MINI One, MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S very
quickly following in the footsteps of the highly successful "classic" Mini:
Just in ten months after the launch, MINI has become the seventh imported car
brand in the Japanese market. MINI still maintains high share as a powerful
brand, and won various car awards last year.
A particularly popular model in Japan is the MINI Cooper accounting for more
than 60 per cent of all models sold. Approximately one-quarter of all customers
opt for the MINI One and roughly one out of seven purchasers go for the MINI
Cooper S.

From the street to the silver screen.

Bearing testimony to its cinema debut in "The Italian Job", MINI is taking
a strong stand at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show as an intelligent detective.
Like the old Mini in the original version of the film back in 1969, MINI is
ideal not only for everyday use, but also for dramatic pursuits on and off
the road. With its aerodynamic kit and roof spoilers, additional headlights,
17'' light-alloy wheels with cross-spoke rims and bonnet stripes, MINI is well
prepared for even the biggest challenge. And at the Tokyo Motor Show MINI is
presenting this star on four wheels with all the original Italian Job
accessories.
These Italian Job accessories are also available as of today at the MINI
dealership, enabling MINI fans to take home their personal film star from the
screen to their own front door.

The ultimate sound experience.

With the new Digital Power Sound Module the MINI accessories programme offers
the HiFi enthusiast an audio system that meets the most stringent demands on
performance and sound quality.
The system's fully digital audio amplifier, with which MINI holds a unique
position in the market, has 660 watts musical power output. A combination of
six large-volume, high-performance loudspeakers with a sound level pressure of
126 dB creates a full tone with rich basses and distinct trebles.
The best sound system currently available from MINI has been adapted especially
for this nimble car?s space and acoustic characteristics and designed for the
retrofitting of MINI audio systems incorporating the radio "Boost".
This exclusive audio system, which offers highest quality in acoustics, sound
and finish quality, will be exclusively available from MINI dealers for around
1,500 Euros (incl. VAT, excl. fitting) at the beginning of autumn this year.
This is around half the price of comparable systems offered on the accessory
market.

Extra power with John Cooper Works tuning kits.

No name is as closely linked to MINI as that of John Cooper and his son, Mike.
So at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show Mike Cooper will be presenting a MINI Cooper S
on the MINI stand featuring the John Cooper Works tuning kit: Powered by 200
bhp at 6,950 rpm, this mighty machine has a top speed of 226 km/h or 140 mph.
Beauty is then added to this power by the special John Cooper Works designed
18-inch wheel rims as well as matching sports seats.

MINI One D - the first MINI with a diesel engine.

The new MINI One D powered as the first-ever MINI by a diesel engine made its
debut in May/June of this year. This very economical power machine from Oxford
combines all the intelligent austerity of a modern diesel with the unique
design and go-kart-like driving behaviour so typical of the MINI. No surprise,
therefore, that this model is also in great demand.
The compact four-cylinder power unit, which was developed in cooperation
with Toyota, generates maximum output of 55 kW/75 bhp from cubic capacity of
1.4 litres. With a maximum torque of 180 Nm at just 2,000 rpm, this MINI
guarantees substantial accelerating power, making the MINI One D an agile
performer for real fun on the road. In order to convey power safely to the road
at all times, this powerful diesel model is equipped with ASC+T stability
and traction control, a standard feature quite unique for a car in this class.
The high-performance diesel engine with direct fuel injection combines
second-generation common rail technology with a turbocharger complete with
intercooler. The lightweight all-aluminium power unit excels through its
refinement, low noise level, moderate fuel consumption and low emissions.
Economical and agile. Fuel consumption in the EU combined cycle averages just
4.8 litres diesel on 100 km or 58.8 mpg Imp, corresponding to CO2 emissions of
just 129 g/km. This makes the MINI One D the currently most fuel-efficient car
within the entire BMW Group. On a tank filling of 50 litres the diesel MINI
with its truly moderate consumption has a range of up to 1,000 km or more than
600 miles, depending on your style of driving, of course. In conjunction with
the six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard also in the MINI Cooper S,
the new diesel is particularly efficient in proving its torque and pulling
force. Top speed is 165 km/h or 102 mph, acceleration from 0?100 km/h comes in
just 13.5 seconds. And the MINI One D takes an equally quick 11.9 seconds to
accelerate from 80?120 km/h in fourth gear. Sixth gear has a reduced ratio to
cut back engine speed and, accordingly, fuel consumption on long distances.
A further factor contributing to the car?s astounding economy is that oil
service intervals have been extended up to 25,000 km or 15,500 miles,
depending, as with the petrol-engined models, on your style of motoring and
load conditions.

Thanks to the only slight increase in the weight of the drive components
as well as well-balanced weight distribution, the MINI One D offers exactly the
same go-kart performance as the petrol-engined models. And in the latest
addition to the MINI family the steering process is facilitated by hydraulic
power steering.
From the outside, the new diesel model stands out against the MINI One through
the logo on the rear lid, the side-sills carried over from the
MINI Cooper S, the front end with bigger air intakes and the tailpipe
concealed behind the rear apron.
There is an abundance of standard fitments on the new MINI model, comprising,
among other features, two frontal and two side airbags, four-sensor ABS, EBD
Electronic Brake Force Distribution, CBC Cornering Brake Control, ASC+T
traction control, a runflat indicator, a rev counter incorporating an outdoor
temperature gauge, electrically operated rear-view mirrors and window lifts, a
six-speed manual transmission, power steering, height adjustment on the
driver?s seat and steering column, tinted windows and a convenient central
locking system with remote control and comfort opening.

MINI One - the entry model.

The MINI One powered by a petrol engine offers a wide range of standard
equipment and supreme driving pleasure at a reasonable price. Just like the
other MINIs, the MINI One is technically speaking most elaborate and stands out
through its agility and excellent roadholding. The 1.6-litre power unit
featuring four cylinders and 16 valves provides the agile performance one
rightly expects of a genuine MINI. This power unit develops maximum output of
66 kW/90 bhp, giving the car a top speed of 181 km/h (112 mph), acceleration to
100 km/h (62 mph) in just 10.9 seconds and making do with 6.6 litres of premium
unleaded fuel in the EU combined cycle (42.8 mpg Imp). The roof and bumpers of
the basic model are in body colour, black-coloured highlights being provided by
the slats in the radiator grille, the rear lid handle and the housings around
the electrically operated rear-view mirrors.

MINI Cooper - the sporting ace.

The MINI Cooper is the perfect choice for those who expect even more
performance and fitments of a MINI. This model is clearly differentiated from
the basic model through a 25 bhp increase in performance, two-colour
exterior paint design, chrome applications, light-alloy wheels, suspension
lowered by eight millimetres and an anti-roll bar on the rear axle.
On the MINI Cooper, as on the MINI Cooper S, both the roof and the rear-view
mirrors are also available in white or black, regardless of the actual body
colour. With the roof in body colour, the electrically adjustable rear-view
mirrors always come in black.
The MINI Cooper accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.2 seconds
and has a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). Fuel consumption nevertheless
remains modest at just 6.8 litres/100 km in the EU combined cycle
(41.5 mpg Imp). And if the customer wishes, the MINI One and MINI Cooper come
as an option with a continuously variable automatic transmission featuring
Steptronic instead of the standard five-speed manual transmission.
MINI Cooper S - the top model.
The top-of-the-range model comes with supercharger and intercooler technology
ensuring maximum output of no less than 120 kW/163 bhp.
This outstanding performance in conjunction with the six-speed manual gearbox
offered as standard and the Sports PLUS suspension help to
provide driving pleasure at its best.
Top speed is 218 km/h (135 mph), acceleration to 100 km/h (62 mph)
takes just 7.4 seconds. At 8.4 litres/100 km or 33.6 mpg Imp (EU combined
cycle), fuel consumption is again remarkably low for a car of this calibre.
As the top model in the range, the MINI Cooper S stands out in particular
through its air intake scoop in the front lid, the distinctive bumpers in body
colour, the rear spoiler, two chrome-plated tailpipes, the side grilles with an
integrated ?S?, the distinctive side sills, the grab handle on the rear lid in
body colour, the chrome-plated fuel tank filler flap, the white direction
indicators at the side and 16-inch light-alloy wheels, marking a clear
difference when compared to the other MINIs. The interior of the MINI Cooper S
is dominated by top-quality textiles, surfaces and leather trim exclusive to
this top-of-the-range model.Offering four engine variants from 75 to 163 bhp
and numerous options for customisation, MINI enables the customer to create his
or her very own MINI as a unique, one-off model.