14 April 2001: Prices have been announced in the UK for the two BMW MINI models due to go on sale there in June. MINI One will have an on-the-road price of Stg£10,300 and MINI Cooper will be available on the road at Stg£11,600. Built in Oxford, MINI goes on sale in Britain two months before anywhere else in the world. Both versions will be powered by 1.6-litre engines.

With its wheel-at-each-corner design, wide track, low centre of gravity, short overhangs and a torsional stiffness two to three times greater than any other car of its size, MINI’s driving dynamics are helped by a fast steering rack and BMW’s rear Z-axle suspension to give a kart-like roadholding experience.

Electronic driving stability systems include ABS, EBD (electronic brake-force distribution), and CBC (cornering brake control) as standard. BMW’s Dynamic Stability Control System (DSCIII) is an option. Four airbags come as standard with an additional head airbag system also available.

MINI One's engine has 90 bhp producing a top speed of 115 mph and a 0-62mph time of 10.9 seconds. Maximum torque of 140Nm (101 lb ft) is at 3,000rpm.

MINI Cooper has added power that provides a top speed of 125mph from 115 bhp gives a 0-62 time of 9.2 seconds.

MINI One standard equipment includes electric windows and mirrors, rear window wiper, height adjustable driver's seat, four disc brakes (ventilated at the front), tyre pressure warning indicator, ABS, CBC and EBD, driver and front passenger airbags with seat occupation detection system, driver and passenger side airbags, remote control central lockingand immobiliser.

MINI Cooper standard equipment adds a rev counter on the steering column, white or black roof and door mirror housings, sports suspension, silver or white 15" alloy wheels, and added chrome features

Options on MINI One and MINI Cooper include head airbag system for driver and passengers, DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) and traction control, run Flat tyres on 16" alloys, CVT Steptronic automatic transmission, sports suspension on MINI One (standard on Cooper), sport Plus suspension system on MINI Cooper, auto-dimming interior rear view mirror, fog lamps, xenon headlights, panorama sunroof with anti-trap mechanism, windscreen rain sensor, heated windscreen, heated wing mirrors and water jets, air conditioning, heated seats, leather seats or sports seats for driver and front passenger, leather or multi-function steering wheel, choice of stereo systems, on-board computer, remote control alarm, and body-coloured roof with black mirror housings (MINI Cooper).

Combined fuel consumption EU is 43.5mpg for the MINI One and 42.2mpg for the MINI Cooper. JR

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