New Year, new options.

From 1st January 2005, MINI will be available with a number of new options that
further increases the opportunity for MINI owners to personalise their cars.

For the first time, MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper S Convertible will be offered
with a six-speed automatic transmission that includes Steptronic mode and
Steptronic paddles on the steering wheel as standard. Unlike the MINI One and
MINI Cooper Continuously Variable Transmission system, this new automatic
transmission has fixed gear ratios which result in quicker gear changes and a
dynamic driving experience tuned specifically to match the MINI Cooper S'
sporty character.

This new automatic transmission also features AGS (Adaptive Transmission
Control). AGS allows the transmission to adapt in accordance with the driver's
driving style. For example, the transmission will build the revs for longer
before changing gear if it 'knows' the driver enjoys driving to the car's
limits. The automatic transmission is priced at £1,050.

MINI One, MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper Convertible will keep the Continuously
Variable Transmission (CVT) with Steptronic, but the option will also include
Steptronic paddles on the steering wheel. CVT works without a specific gearing
ratio that results in it being continuously variable. It can adapt constantly
to the driving environment to hand, offering both smooth in town gear changes
and more dynamic transmission slots when the driver chooses to enjoy a
meandering B-road. The CVT transmission is priced at £1,050.

MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper S Convertible will also have the option of
limited slip differential. Limited slip differential increases traction
resulting in improved handling and increased stability. It also ensures that
the threshold for Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is increased benefiting
enthusiastic drivers as they seek to wring the full performance out of their
MINI. Limited slip differential is priced at £100 or is fitted as standard if a
CHILI pack is specified. It is only offered in conjunction with a manual
transmission.

17? 5-Star BULLET light alloy wheels, previously only available on MINI
Convertible models, will be offered on all other MINIs in the range. This wheel
becomes standard for any MINI Cooper S ordered with a CHILI pack from January
onwards. Customers have the option of keeping the 17" S-Spoke alloy,
(previously standard with a CHILI pack) if desired.

17" WEB Spoke light alloy wheels are new two-piece bolted alloys that will be
available on all models in the MINI range. Pricing starts at £480 to £1600
depending on model selected and level of specification.

More new options available from January 2005 are listed as follows:

Door mirror caps in body colour for MINI One Convertible
Door mirror caps on a MINI One are matt black. Body coloured option £50.

Automatic dimming rear view mirror
Available as a single option for the first time on all models. Price £85.

Rain sensor and automatic 'headlight-on' sensor
A new combined option available on all models. Price £85.

White indicator lights
New white indicator lights in rear cluster and white side repeaters available
for all MINI models priced at £50. Price for MINI Cooper S is £35 as white side
repeaters are already standard on this model.

Further changes have been made to existing options:

The content of the visibility package will be increased to include automatic
'headlight-on' sensor. Priced at £220, the package also includes automatic
dimming rear view mirror, rain sensor and heated front windscreen.

Satellite Navigation will be expanded to include a single CD player and TMC*
(Traffic Message Channel) as standard. TMC is an advanced traffic warning
system that not only gives visual and verbal warnings of impending traffic
problems but can also re-route the driver to avoid the delay. To reflect the
additional specification level, Satellite Navigation will be increased in price
from £1,410 to £1,650, or £1,550 if ordered in conjunction with a SALT, PEPPER
or CHILI pack.

All MINI models will benefit from a change to the capacity of the washer
bottle. The bottle has been increased in size by 0.4 litres to approximately
2.5 litres. In addition, an orange warning lamp will be situated on the right
hand indicator stalk to advise drivers when their washer fluid is running low.
As a result, the security alarm lamp that is currently positioned on the right
hand indicator stalk will move to the left hand indicator stalk.

New Accessories
MINI has introduced a retrofit leather seat upgrade kit ideal for customers who
wish to upgrade their own MINI or have bought a used MINI with cloth seats but
would prefer leather. The kit fully upgrades both the front and rear seats. An
added advantage for MINIs fitted with standard seats is that upgrading to
leather seats also includes the addition of sports seats. The retrofit leather
seat kit is priced at £1,450 plus three hours fitting time. For a further £100
the heated seat option can also be added. Three trims are available:

Mono - only available in Panther Black.

Twin - Panther Black edge with either Chili Red or Lapis Blue in the middle of
the seat.

Stripes - Panther Black with two coloured stripes running through the seat in
either White, Grey or Chili Red.

-ends-

Editor's notes:

* TMC is operated in the UK by ITIS. This organisation collates traffic
information from regional traffic control centres throughout the UK as well as
using an advanced traffic collection system known as Floating Vehicle Data or
FVD. This system collects speed and congestion information from thousands of
vehicles travelling on the road network. The traffic data is then broadcast on
FM radio (Classic FM) as a 'silent' sub channel. Once received and decoded the
messages are integrated into the navigation system to provide the driver with
verbal and visual warnings. The result is a system that provides accurate,
detailed and timely traffic alerts ensuring the driver is aware of problems
well in advance of reaching them.