BMW owned MINI luxury brand has launched the new MINI 3-Door and the MINI 5-Door versions in India at an entry level price of Rs. 31,85,000 (Ex-showroom India). The iconic car has been upgraded with a new engine and the interiors have been stacked with the latest technology.
While the MINI Cooper D 3-door has a price tag of Rs 31,85,000 (Ex-showroom India), the MINI Cooper D 5-door has been priced at Rs 35,20,000 (Ex-showroom India). It’s a first for the MINI brand to be represented by a 5-door model in the small car segment. While there has been very small change in the design of the car model, the latest generation of the MINI features a new design, a new engine and interiors equipped with the latest technological systems.
While the new MINI Cooper D 3-door and the new MINI Cooper D 5-door are already available as CBU (Completely Built-Up) units, the new MINI Cooper S 3-door will be available in the first quarter of the year 2015 at the four exclusive outlets in India – Bird Automotive (Delhi), Infinity Cars (Mumbai), Navnit Motors (Bangalore) and KUN Exclusive (Hyderabad).
According to Mr. Philipp von Sahr President BMW Group India, the new model balances the iconic design philosophy of MINI with the latest technology expected from a 21st Century luxury car. He further added that the MINI 5-door variant with added access and extra legroom offers the comfort of a saloon car and the feel of a classic MINI.
Exterior Design:
The new MINI 3-Door has been equipped with a redesigned front grille for more air intake and a black honeycomb-patterned grid specific for the Cooper S. The car also features newly designed headlights and rear lights with full-LED headlights (with cornering function) available as an option. The new MINI 5-Door is said to depict MINI’s evolutionary refinement over the decades while retaining the classic look and attitude of the MINI.
New Interiors:
The interiors of the new MINI car models boast of a revamped dashboard. While the driving displays have been placed behind the steering wheel, the all-new MINI Central Display has replaced the existing center speedometer for access to car information and entertainment. The cabin space has been increased and made more functionally usable with foldable rear backrest and adjustable tilt angle.
Engine:
The new MINI Cooper S features the 4-cylinder MINI TwinPower Turbo petrol engine offering 280 Nm torque and 141 kW / 189 hp of power. The MINI Cooper S takes 6.7 seconds to achieve 100 kilometer per hour of speed and tops at 233 kilometer per hour.
The MINI Cooper D is equipped with the 1.5 litre 3-cylinder MINI TwinPower Turbo diesel engine delivering 270 Nm of torque and a power output of 85 kW / 114 hp. With a top speed of 200 kilometer per hour, the car model reaches the speed of 100 kilometer per hour in 9.2 seconds.
Transmission:
The standard six-speed automatic transmission has been combined with the automatic engine start/stop function for improved fuel efficiency in congested city traffic.
The new car model also features Driving Modes which can change the car’s driving characteristics, interior lighting and engine sound to suit the driver’s mood. While the GREEN mode saves on fuel, the SPORT mode is suitable for speed and agility. The MID mode enables a balanced behavior between fuel efficiency and performance.
Safety:
Among the safety features of the new MINI car model are front and passenger airbags, 3-point seat belts, Dynamic Stability Control, crash sensor, Anti-lock Braking System and Run-flat indicator.
Infotainment System:
With a 6.5 inch display (8.8 inch widescreen version also available), the infotainment system is capable of hooking up with a smartphone and access various information and entertainment features along with connectivity through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare. The system also offers options such as the MINI Navigation System Professional, the MINI Connected XL, the Wired package, the MINI Head-up Display and a Harman Kardon hi fi-system.
MINI India was introduced into the Indian market by the BMW Group as a premium brand and currently sells the MINI 3-door, the MINI 5-door, the MINI Convertible and the MINI Countryman luxury car models.