MINI Cooper S 3-Door Hatch review: updated icon is as lovable as ever Gareth Herincx MINI Cooper S 3-Door Hatch
Twenty years ago the new owners of the Mini brand managed to pull off a remarkable feat when they launched a 21st Century reinterpretation of the original Sir Alec Issigonis icon.
BMW’s modern ‘MINI’ has gone from strength-to-strength. In fact, since 2001, more than five million models (3-Door Hatch, 5-Door Hatch, Clubman and the Electric) have been built at Plant Oxford, all on the same production line.
In all, three UK plants have a part to play in MINI production today – Hams Hall near Birmingham makes engines and Swindon produces the body pressings and sub-assemblies, then it all comes together at Oxford with body shell production, paint and final assembly.
Oxford, UK. The MINI brand and BMW Group’s UK manufacturing plants in Oxford and Swindon are celebrating twenty successful years of MINI production. In early 2001, production began for MINI body parts in Swindon and on the 26th April that same year, the first new MINI rolled off the line in Oxford.
Over the past two decades MINI has built over 5 million cars in the UK. Plant Oxford currently builds the MINI 3-Door Hatch, MINI 5-Door Hatch, MINI Clubman and the MINI Electric, all on the same production line.
BMW Group Chairman of the Board of Management Oliver Zipse, who was
2019 marked the Mini s 60th anniversary. Watch the original meet the modern successor.
To some people the “new” Mini will never be a replacement for the original, but here’s the thing: it’s not that “new” anymore. In fact the BMW Mini is celebrating its 20th birthday this month! That’s right, while the original celebrated its 60th back in 2019, the modern Mini is 20 (that’s the benchmark to be considered a classic car by a lot of insurance companies, by the way), with the BMW Group’s UK manufacturing plants in Oxford and Swindon celebrating two decades of building Minis, with production beginning for body panels in early 2001 in Swindon and the first new Mini rolling off the line in Oxford on the 26th April that same year.
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A new fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) lorries from Imperial is helping to drive sustainable logistics at the Mini factory in Oxford.
In all, 18 LNG lorries are now transporting parts and components from suppliers on 15 different routes across the UK to the home of Mini.
The new fleet has already delivered a reduction of approximately 20% in CO² and NOx emissions, compared to diesel alternatives.
In future, a total CO² reduction of up to 90% is expected by using bio-LNG.
Thomas Frank, director of logistics at Mini Plant Oxford, said: “We are really excited to be working with Imperial on this project as part of our wider efforts to improve sustainability throughout all areas of the BMW Group.
MINI Plant Oxford adds 18 LNG-powered lorries
LONDON, 2 hours, 18 minutes ago BMW’s MINI Plant Oxford has added a fleet of 18 lorries powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) transporting parts and components from suppliers on 15 different routes across the UK to the home of the MINI brand to help to drive sustainable logistics. LNG lorries have lower fuel consumption, produce fewer harmful emissions and are quieter on the roads. The new fleet has already delivered a reduction of approximately 20 per cent in CO2 and NOX emissions, compared to diesel alternatives. In future, a total CO2 reduction of up to 90 per cent is expected by using bio-LNG.