Here are some excerpts from another MINI related article about the resurgence of small cars in the US, this time from CNN/Money:

These little underdogs will hardly make the SUV obsolete. Yet from cramped cities to congested suburbs, models like BMW's Mini Cooper make a point that many Americans still won't concede: Small cars make a lot of sense. They save money and fuel, pollute less and typically offer more smiles per mile than their bulky brethren.

“We've gotten so locked into power and size, but people are rediscovering that light and small can be more fun,” says Honda spokesman Andy Boyd. Emboldened in part by the Mini's big success — Americans bought more than 36,000 last year, far above BMW's rosiest forecasts — Honda is considering offering its Honda Fit here. The subcompact hatchback, Japan's best-selling car in 2002, delivers 40 miles per gallon and could sell for around $10,000″….

…”The challenge for these automakers will be to match the appeal of the Mini,” Peterson says. “That's a car you're proud to own and it's fun to drive, with tremendous visual appeal that strikes a chord with just about everyone.”

BMW's modern take on the British favorite — first designed in the '50s as a response to the Suez fuel crisis — is a decidedly premium player, yet it starts at $16,999. Just shy of 12 feet long, it's easily the smallest car sold in the U.S. Yet it grabbed the North American Car of the year award and has won starring roles in movies like The Italian job.

Now, the Mini is proliferating in cities from New York to San Francisco, where owners find it the ultimate urban vehicle: chic, easy on gas, zippy in traffic, able to squeeze into breadbox-size parking spots. And as with Chrysler's larger PT Cruiser, the Mini's new convertible version is designed to keep the model from becoming yesterday's news.

New York City's Ellen Cohen owned two original Minis, '62 and '67 models, and didn't hesitate to trade in her Ford Explorer for the revived model. The Bayside, Queens, resident, 54, finds Manhattan and the Mini a perfect match. “I don't miss the truck at all,” Cohen says. “The Mini feels so great to drive, I'm looking for errands to do all the time.”

You can read the entire article here.