MINI COOPER MOST APPEALING COMPACT CAR FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW

The 2003 J.D. Power And Associates (APEAL) Study Ranks MINI Cooper Highest in
Segment.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA, October 21, 2003 ... For the second year in a row,
the MINI Cooper ranked highest in the Compact Car Segment in J.D. Power and
Associates latest Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study.
The study measures owners delight with the design, content, layout and
performance of their new vehicles.

MINI has been successful attracting buyers with a fun, unique design, including
the cars signature contrasting roof, and wheels pushed to the four corners.
The wheels at the four corners, along with a responsive chassis, give MINI its
go-kart-like performance another appeal that has drawn customers to MINI. And
customers have enjoyed the freedom to individualize the content of their MINI
with every option offered a-la-cart.

We are excited to have received this award, commented Jack Pitney, General
Manager of MINI USA. To receive this honor for the second year in a row since
we launched 19 months ago is a true testament of how much delight owners are
having behind the wheel of their MINIs.

The 2003 APEAL Study is based on responses from 102,975 new-vehicle owners. The
study, now in its eighth year, is based on eight specific categories of vehicle
performance and design that identify what consumers like and dislike about
their new vehicles during the first 90 days of ownership. The areas are:
engine/transmission; ride, handling and braking; comfort/convenience; seats;
cockpit/instrument panel; heating, ventilation and cooling; sound system; and
styling/exterior.