1st Gen MINIs | 2001-2007 Archives

How MINI Became the Most Successful British Car Brand of the Modern Era

Dec 11, 25Dec 10, 25

The Improbable Story of How MINI Outlasted the Rest of the British Motoring Industry British automotive history is littered with proud names that lost their way. Some drifted until the market forgot...

MINI Turns 66: A Look Back at Its History, Milestones and Motorsport Glory

On 26 August 1959, the British Motor Corporation revealed a tiny four-seater that would change the industry. The Mini, penned by Alec Issigonis, wasn’t simply clever, it was revolutionary. With a transverse...

Aug 26, 25Aug 26, 25

1st Gen MINIs | 2001-2007 2nd Gen MINI Cooper | 2006-2014 2nd Gen MINIs | 2006-2014 3rd Gen MINI Cooper | 2014-2024 3rd Gen MINIs | 2014-2024 4th Gen MINI Cooper | 2024 - 2031 4th Gen MINIs | 2024-2031 F54 Clubman | 2015 - 2024 F55 Four-Door Hardtop F56 Two-Door Hardtop F57 Convertible F60 Countryman | 2016 - 2024 F61 Paceman F65 MINI Cooper 5 Door F66 MINI Cooper (ICE) F67 Cooper Convertible (ICE) MINI Clubman MINI Cooper MINI Quality R50 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper) R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S) R56 Two-Door Hardtop R57 Convertible R58 Coupe R59 Roadster R60 Countryman | 2010-2016 U25 MINI Countryman

MINI Cooper Quality: How the Brand Went From Dead Last to Top 5 in Reliability

For years MINI carried a reputation that was equal parts thrill and headache. On one hand, the cars topped “fun-to-drive” lists with their go kart handling and cheeky style. On the other,...

Aug 18, 25Aug 19, 25

1st Gen MINIs | 2001-2007 JCW JCW GP MINI Cooper R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S) Reviews

Revisiting the Original 2006 MINI GP: Raw, Rare and Still Remarkable

Back in the seat of a 2006 MINI GP is like time travel. Everything is simple, almost crude compared to what we’re used to today. And that is what makes it feel...

Aug 2, 25Aug 11, 25

1st Gen MINIs | 2001-2007 MINI Cooper R50 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper) R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S)

How MINI Conquered the U.S. 23 years Ago With a Small Team, Small Budgets and Small Cars

When BMW of North America agreed to import the newly reimagined MINI Cooper in the early 2000s, most assumed it would be an unmitigated disaster. Small cars have never had it easy...

Jul 29, 25Jul 29, 25

1st Gen MINIs | 2001-2007 2nd Gen MINIs | 2006-2014 3rd Gen MINIs | 2014-2024 4th Gen MINIs | 2024-2031 MINI Aceman MINI Clubman MINI Cooper MINI Countryman

MINI Cooper 0-60, Weight, Top Speed: Definitive Performance Guide 2001-2025

MINI has clearly evolved over the years and there are plenty of opinions on what that has meant for the cars themselves. But what do the numbers tell us? So we dug...

Jun 4, 25Jun 6, 25

The MINI is 65 Years Old Today – Let’s Celebrate

Sixty five years ago, on 26 August 1959, the British Motor Corporation (BMC) introduced two new compact cars and kicked off a revolution. In the smallest form possible they unleashed one of...

Aug 26, 24Aug 26, 24

1st Gen MINIs | 2001-2007 1st Gen | R52 Convertible MINI Concept Cars MINI Design R50 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper) R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S)

MINI’s Secret Concepts From the 90s That Almost Changed the MINI Cooper Forever

If you think the new J01 MINI Cooper EV is a radical departure, wait until you see what MINI was cooking up in the 1990s. As MINI ushers in an entirely new...

Jan 23, 24Apr 17, 24

1st Gen MINIs | 2001-2007 2nd Gen MINI Cooper | 2006-2014 3rd Gen MINI Cooper | 2014-2024 Classic Mini | 1959 - 2000

BMW CCA Museum to Host Year Long MINI Celebration – And They Need Your MINI

In a celebration of 65 years of the Mini brand, the BMW Car Club of America’s The Ultimate Driving Museum announcing a year long celebration. Titled MINIs To The Max: 65 Years...

Dec 14, 23Dec 17, 23

1st Gen MINIs | 2001-2007 MINI Marketing R50 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper) R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S)

A Look Back at MINI Mavericks – An Early Ad Campaign From MINI USA

After weeks of new MINI news we wanted to dig into the MotoringFile archives for a blast from the past. Behold the MINI Maverick trading cards from the MINI Maverick campaign. Mavericks...

Aug 1, 23Aug 1, 23

1st Gen MINIs | 2001-2007 3rd Gen MINI Cooper | 2014-2024 4th Gen MINI Cooper | 2024 - 2031

An Inside Look at How BMW and MINI Recycles Entire Cars

The concept of a circular economy isn’t a revolutionary new concept but one that has been practiced since humans first crawled out of caves. But doing it at scale is the real...

Jul 12, 23Sep 3, 24