BMW is finally ready for the masses and will make its entry into the Indian market with the launch of the BMW Mini series in India. The car will see the light of the day on 4th January 2012. The car that inspired the Maruti Swift will cost in the range of Rs 22 to 25 lakh. BMW Mini is a small luxury car currently owned by German the auto giant BMW. In an attempt to increase its market share in the Indian car market, BMW India is all set to launch Mini in the country next. The car will be launched in the petrol version comprising of Mini Cooper, Mini Cabrio, Mini Clubman and the Mini Countryman.  The car has its roots in Britain from 50 years ago. The BMW Mini has been owned by a number of international manufacturers of luxury automobiles, to finally arrive at BMW. In 1959, the Mini appears in the popular 1969 film - The Italian Job - and the new generation Mini was certainly a star in the remake of this film in 2003.
 

 

The launch of the BMW Mini makes way for the entry of yet another icon in India with the likes of Volkswagen Beetle and the Fiat 500. The entry level car is expected to be priced at Rs 18 lakh and go up to Rs 25 lakh for the top end version. The arrival of the Mini into Indian car market clearly shows the company’s plants to maintain its numero uno status against the likes of Mercedes Benz and Audi.
 

The BMW Mini is expected to come only for the petrol pumps which will be powered by a 1.6L and 1598 CC petrol engine. The powerful engine of the BMW Mini delivers a peak power of 120 bhp at 6000 rpm along with a maximum torque of 160 Nm at 4250 rpm. The gear transmission system will be a six speed manual type for all the variants. The entry level cars will be lower priced with 1.4L and peak power of 75 bhp and peak torque of 160 Nm.
 

The BMW Mini will come in options of two-door coupe, four-door sedan and crossover with slight differences in terms of trims. The selling point of the car will be the one of a kind front and rear profile with 15 inch alloy wheels, LED taillights, and much more.

 

 

The car will also be host to a range of comfort, convenience and styling features like the automatic climate control, advanced navigation system, various shades of the Interior fabric, manual rear seat easy entry option, central armrest, adjustable steering etc. 

 

The car will also be high on safety with features like ABS (anti lock braking system), EBD (electronic brake-force distribution), multiple airbags, ventilated front disc and rear disc brakes, traction control, auto-delay off head lamps, emergency interior seatback release, post collision safety system etc.

 

The BMW Mini will be offered in six variants.
  

Variants	Features
BMW Mini Cooper	This is the cheapest and base variant of the Mini Cooper run by a 1.4L, 1398 CC petrol engine which has a peak power of 75 bhp. The car hosts features such as body colored bumpers, alloy wheels, LED taillights, xenon headlamps, multiple trip meters, parking sensors, fog lamps, ABS with EBD, all power windows, power steering, central locking, rear wiper, washer and defogger, and many more.
BMW Mini Cabrio	This variant of the mini will be the racer with the same engine as Cooper S hatchback with a power of 120 bhp.  Apart from the features of Cooper S model, the Cooper Cabrio will additionally host a foldable top, optional leather seats etc.
BMW Mini Clubman	All versions are equipped with manual transmissions start-stop system, which is especially popular in town for lower fuel consumption. Also, a gear shift indicator to help economic driving. Standard equipment includes an electro-mechanical power steering, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, cornering brake control and stability control system DSC. The latter includes hill start assistance with one. The Brake Assistant on the new Mini is designed so that it builds in maximum pressure.
BMW Mini Countryman	The high fi four seater version of the Mini will be the most luxurious in terms of the interiors and has some advanced safety features including Electronic Stability Program (ESP), additional airbags for passengers, electric sunroof, Auto headlamps, auto wiper, and many more.  Power output of the car is expected to be moderately higher at 121 bhp.

 

 

The 1.4L variant of the BMW Mini delivers a mileage of 12 to 16 km per liter. The 1.6L model has a better road run with a high fuel economy at 11 to 15 km per liter.  This is possible due to the light weight of the car which gives it the higher fuel economy and could well be the selling point of the car in the mileage conscious markets like India.

 

 

 

The BMW mini will come in only petrol engine with two trim options. 

The most powerful in the BMW Mini series of cars will be Mini Cooper S with a 1.6L engine and will peaks at 184bhp with 5500 rpm and produces a maximum torque of 240 Nm at 1600 rpm.  The cars will be equipped with a six speed manual transmission system. The mileage of the car is expected to be in the range of 12 to 16 km per liter in the Indian road conditions. The mini is quiet mega in terms of the performance and breaches the 100 km per hour in just 6.4 seconds.  The miniature size and light weight of the car enables the car to have a quick responsive pick-up.

 

The upcoming 2012 BMW Mini has already made its debut at the Frankfurt Auto Expo. The car was well received by both fans and critics alike. The BMW Mini Exterior looks next gen with the futuristic designing cues with its manly and aggressive looks.  The 2012 Mini has a design that is never seen before and will carry a three box design. The standard wheel size of the 202 Mini will be 15 inches.  The exteriors will host a range of attractions like the futuristic front profile, LED day time running lamps, rear wiper, washer and defogger and roof built on the horizontal plane.

 

The insides of the yet to be launched 2012 BMW Mini has some amazing mix of the colours, style and high quality material.  The car will host some of the highest comfort, convenience and styling features like the automatic climate control, a number of optional shades of the Interior fabric, manual rear seat easy entry option, central armrest and adjustable steering. It will also have an advanced 3D navigation system built into the car.

 

 

 

The car is a complete army tank in terms of the safety with features like ABS (anti lock braking system) along with EBD (electronic brake-force distribution), four airbags, traction control, ventilated front disc and rear disc brakes , cruise control, auto-delay off head lamps, emergency interior seatback release, post collision safety system, rear parking sensors, etc.  The BMW Mini has been considered one of the safest small luxury cars in the world.

 

 

The BMW Mini price will cost from Rs. 18 to 25 lakh. The 1.4L version of the car – Mini Cooper One will cost around Rs 22 lakh. The base 1.6L variant is expected to be Mini Cooper Base priced at Rs 23 lakh. The high powered Mini Cooper S will come at a slightly higher price of 24 lakh. The BMW Mini Cabrio model is expected to be priced at Rs 22-23 lakh. The Mini Cooper Coupe from the BMW Mini Series will cost around Rs 24 lakh. The premium top end model will be the Mini Countryman with a price range of Rs 25 lakh. The BMW Mini On road Price will be inclusive of the Vehicle price, Road tax, Insurance and registration fees can further increase the cost up to 10% extra. If you want additional accessories you'll have to pay extra amount for the same.

 

 

All variants of the BMW Mini will be handled by a six speed manual transmission gearbox but one can also expect them in both manual and automatic transmission options.

Irrespective of the version you are driving, the Mini is completely under control and is great fun. The twisty roads are the best partner with its go-kart handling and well weightedness. The steering gives excellent feedback and is complete zipper around the around town. The ride does have its firm edges but is never choppy or uncomfortable.

 

 

The insides of the car will come in shades of Gravity leather, Punch Leather and Lounge leather, Carbon Black Leather Interior, Carbon Black Leatherette Interior, Lgt Tobacco/Carbon Black Cloth/Leather Interior, Lounge Carbon Black Leather Interior, Lounge Lgt Coffee Leather Interior, Polar Beige Leather Interior, Pure Red/Carbon Black Cloth/Leather Interior. The exterior colours of the car Absolute Black Metallic, Bright Yellow, Cosmic Blue Metallic, Crystal Silver Metallic, Lgt Coffee, Lgt White, Oxford Green Metallic, Pure Red, Royal Grey Metallic, Surf Blue, True Blue Metallic.

 

 

 

The BMW Mini competes with the likes of Renault Clio, Volkswagen Polo and the Nissan Micra.

 

 

The BMW Mini specifications come for seven models. They are the petrol engines with 1,598 cc (1.598 L; 97.5 cu in) I4 with the turbo option as well. They deliver a power of 120 PS (88 kW; 120 hp) at 6000 rpm. It has a 160 Nm (120 lb·ft) at 4250 rpm. The high powered John Works CHALLENGE delivers a power of 211 PS (155 kW; 208 hp) at 6000 with a torque of 261 Nm (193 lb per ft) at 1850-5600 and a overboost of 279 Nm (206 lb per ft)at 2000 rpm. The exterior dimensions of the car will be as follows – Height – 1407 mm; Length – 3699 mm; and width – 1683 mm.