MINI Named Best Small Car for 2008 in the UK

MINI UK Press Release: Fleet News has become the latest media outlet to nominate MINI as a green winner. In the publication’s 20th Annual Awards ceremony, MINI was named Best Small Car 2008 thanks to the introduction of new fuel-saving technologies and amazingly strong residual values.

Cost-conscious, practical and desirable motoring topped the awards criteria. The Fleet News panel* cited the new Clubman model as key to the appeal of MINI for business car drivers, with one judge claiming: “There is no other car in the sector that drivers would like to have more.”

MINI’s new range of Hatch and Clubman models shot to prominence in 2007 thanks to technologies based on BMW’s EfficientDynamics systems. With carbon emissions-based taxation a key factor in this week’s Budget announcement, many MINI owners could now actually find themselves in a stronger financial position.

Emitting just 104 and 109g/km C02 respectively, the MINI Cooper D Hatch and Clubman models will be exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty as of 01 April 2009 under the Budget ruling. This follows earlier news from Transport for London that from October 2008, cars emitting less than 120g/km C02 will be exempt from congestion charging.

Company car tax thresholds have also been revised and the Cooper D derivatives are again winners, thanks to the income tax rate cut and reduced 13 per cent taxation on diesel cars emitting less than 120g/km C02.

The Fleet News Environmental Award was claimed by BMW Group. This award recognises the fleet industry’s commitment to reducing its impact on the environment. EfficientDynamics developments, available across BMW and MINI products, positioned BMW Group as the clear winner in a hard-fought category.

22 BMW derivatives and 5 MINI models now emit less than 140g/km C02. From April 2009 every one of these sub-140g/km cars will fall in to VED band E or lower, meaning owners will then pay a maximum of £115 for their annual road fund licence.