The BMW-Mini has become an icon of the Swinging Sixties. This August is the 50th anniversary of the iconic English brand. BMW India, a 100% subsidiary of the BMW Group, is planning to launch its cult premium small car MINI in India by 2009, to cash in on the growing demand for luxury brands in India. BMW had recently re-launched the Mini Cooper globally a couple of weeks ago and it is this model that may be brought in India.
The new MINI Cooper S Convertible is set to rock the droptop class with its funky architecture and perky performance. With a wheel bolted to each corner of its pert little body and a chassis expertly honed by the masters at BMW, the way this little droptop hustles its way across the tarmac is quite incredible. BMW is manufacturing this car through its subsidiary MINI in England under the name of ‘BMW MINI’ or the ‘NEW MINI’.
The base convertible comes with the base engine — a 118-horsepower, 1.6-liter, dual overhead cam four cylinder that’s not turbocharged. The Mini convertible is efficient with fuel, with manual transmission. The interior is well done, with a mix of modern and old style, creating a special environment reminiscent of the Minis of the 1960s.
With the rising demand for BMW vehicles in India, the company would soon be launching its two-seater Roadster Z4 sports car in the country. The Roadster Z4 with a folding hard-top can run up to 250 kilometres per hour. It will be launched in the price band of Rs 50-60 lakh. The company would also be adding 10 dealers in tier-II cities such as Coimbatore, Jaipur, Lucknow and Ludhiana soon. The company is currently concentrating on assembling of vehicles in India and feels production can only begin if volumes are big.