The new Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S go on sale for this weekend.
All Mini dealerships are holding launch events to unveil the new car, but many customers will have to wait until the New Year to own one. According to BMW, the order books are almost full for 2006.
With a new design and engines, the Mini Cooper costs just over two per cent over the first generation car.
According to the company, lower costs of ownership adds strength to the overall package. The new engines from Hams Hall are more powerful, while fuel consumption and emissions levels are both down by around 20 per cent. The Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S have both dropped two places on the VED tax scale, with a C grading for the Mini Cooper and a D for the Mini Cooper S.
The slightly raised bonnet has been designed for better pedestrian safety, but it will also contribute to lower bills in the workshop if you have a brush with a bollard, reckoned BMW. Items like a clip-on front spoiler make parts easier and quicker to replace, and technicians can also move the front of the car forward by 10cms to gain easier access to the engine.
There is still a huge range of options, although the Salt, Pepper and Chilli packs offer a range of options at a price 25 per cent lower than buying them individually.
For the exterior, 319 possible combinations for customisation include eight light-alloy wheels and four solid and eight metallic body colours as well as a roof in either black or white.
There are 372 possible combinations for the interior, with 11 different upholsteries, four interior schemes, five colour line options and six colour/materials for the interior surfaces.