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Mini First Drives

Mini is a brand of small cars that began with the Mark I designed by Sir Alec Issigonis in 1959. Originally sold under the Austin and Morris brand names, Mini became the small car's actual name in 1964. Made famous by one of cinema's best car chases in the film "The Italian Job," the car's design remained relatively unchanged except for different front ends until the all-new Mini Cooper was launched by BMW in 2001.

Mini Vehicles:

Indicates a Reviewed Model

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First Drive: 2012 Mini Cooper S Roadster 1328115420

Attractive New Roadster Prepares To Cannibalize Convertible For a brand that's only about 11 years old (since its modern rebirth, anyway), Mini is doing quite well for itself. Since the launch of the 2001 Mini Cooper, the BMW-owned automaker has now sold over two million vehicles in 100 markets, and over the course of the past decade, has expanded one ...
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First Drive: 2012 Mini Countryman Cooper S All4 John Cooper Works 1324054620

Need A Bit More Pounce In Your CUV? Mini Has A JCW For That As part of the ongoing master plan at Mini to attract distinction-seeking buyers who still have some disposable income left, we present the Mini Countryman Cooper S All4 John Cooper Works: the Mini CUV with the mighty long name. This latest Mini JCW will get its world premiere at this March's ...
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First Drive: 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe JCW 1317313740

Fun, Form And Function... In That Order Human beings can be a fickle bunch, especially Americans. Case in point: The five-door hatchback is unarguably one of the best arrangements for an automobile, providing ample room for adult-size occupants and their random detritus without being so large as to significantly impact fuel efficiency or make it ...
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First Drive: 2011 Mini Countryman 1281542220

Yes, it's a Mini. Yes, it's a crossover. Yes, it makes sense. Whether we like it or not, even niche automakers are expanding their lineups to appeal to a broader range of shoppers. This may seem like automotive blasphemy, but think back a few years ago when Porsche introduced the Cayenne. We all threw temper tantrums and hugged our 911s, but now we ...
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First Drive: 2009 MINI Cooper S Convertible 1235494800

As far as we can tell, the 2009 MINI Cooper S Convertible draws cold air wherever it goes. First came the drop-top's ironic unveiling in Detroit, where we had the misfortune of experiencing one of the coldest, snowiest shows in recent memory. Just over a month later, we found ourselves in the cabrio-friendly climes of Southern California, where ...

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First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW 1216915020

Click above for a high resolution image We've had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a few MINI variants, including a 2007 Cooper S and more recently a 2008 Cooper Clubman. Despite some quirky interior design cues and limited practicality, it's hard not to love the MINI for its superb handling and slick-shifting transmission. Still on our to-do ...
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MINI offers free driving lessons 1210369500

My wife is a great driver, (of course you are, honey!) but that doesn't mean that I can't suggest improvements now and then. However, the folks at MINI know I don't like sleeping on the couch, and they're willing to take the heat on this one. On their Web site they're offering a handy "Drive Like A Pro" section full of useful tips to improve your driving. ...
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Motor Trend crowns world's best-handling car with most confusing graph 1178892300

Isn't it obvious who won? Bringing together the best of the best handling cars from various price classes and axeing those with exorbitant price tags to keep things relevant for those of us in the peanut gallery, Motor Trend came up with a list of 32 contenders for the title of Best Handling Car in the World. After a vigorous battery of road tests, they ...