04-July-2012: Mini Cooper has in fact changed the definition of hatchback cars in India much before its launch. If you are avid car fan you must know that the highly successful Maruti Swift is nothing but a rip off the Mini hatchbacks. The Mini Cooper since its entry to India has been consistently notching up good figures in terms of the sales. The Mumbai dealership has already booked 50 cars for the month of May 2012 and the company has opened up a second dealership in New Delhi. The new dealership sells all the Mini models launched for India.

02-July-2012: BMW MINI India has now opened its second dealership after Mumbai in New Delhi. The new dealership is located at Vasant Kunj, New Delhi with the help of long time ally Bird Automotive. The dealership will sell all the Indian MINI models like MINI Hatch, MINI Convertible and MINI Countryman. The MINI dealership has a display area of over 5000 sq ft. It has a six car display set-up spread across two floors. The dealership also has a MINI DJ Lounge, MINI Lifestyle Collection and MINI Accessories on display.

19-Dec-2011: The BMW has recently leaked the specifications of upcoming BMW Mini Cooper India. As per the official reports of BMW, the new BMW mini Cooper will be loaded with

Maximum Torque: 160Nm @ 4,250 rpm

Maximum Power: 122 Bhp(90kW) 6,000 rpm

Top Speed: 197 Km/h

Mileage: 15.6 Kmpl

Acceleration: 0-100km/h in just 10.4 seconds

BMW Mini Cooper Hatch India

The BMW Mini Cooper Hatch is in its second generation in the Hardtop Hatch model from 2007 in the UK. The car is on a completely a re-engineered platform, incorporating many stylistic and engineering changes. It uses the Prince engine, the architecture of which is shared with PSA Peugeot Citro and is designed to be a more cost-effective and fuel-efficient car. The BMW Mini Cooper Hatch will be the first of the three models of Mini from the BMW Group set to enter India in the coming days. The pricing will be somewhere around the X1 in the Rs 25-35 lakh range. Dr Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW India said the company hopes to lure enthusiasts with high-end performance versions on offer.

BMW Mini Cooper Hatch Engine: All four of the Cooper engines on offer are up to the task. The based model has a 1.6-litre petrol engine that has 90kW of power and 160Nm of torque. The engine is smooth throughout its rev range and all the gearboxes, be it the manual or the automatic are quality six-speed units that contribute to the fun. The price range at which the Cooper comes is surprisingly zippy. The diesel variant is a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine with six-speed Steptronic that produces 82kW of power and a generous 270Nm of torque. This high power torque figure takes off easily be it at the lights or tackling a hill with the A/C on. The BMW Mini Cooper hands it without breaking a sweat. However for a road ripping experience you will you have to go after the Cooper S and the range topper, John Cooper Works models. It does have some negatives with the base level petrol engine with the auto gearbox and you say goodbye to perky performance.

BMW Mini Cooper Hatch Exteriors: The second generation 'new' MINI Cooper still remains faithful to the classic appearance of the 2002 MINI. The 2007 onwards model (as this gen MINI arrived Down Under in February 2007) does have its changes with no similarity to the body panels everything been subtly changed. Thankfully it still looks damn funky. The improvisations have also come at an extra weight of few kilos from the previous model. This again seems to be the effect of the front pedestrian crash tests which require vehicles to have higher front bonnets than 5 years ago - which is a good thing.

BMW Mini Cooper Hatch Interiors: The Interiors are however a fifty-fifty affair. The cartoon-like big dials and the splash of colour compared to other competitors' grey or beige 'plain-jane' interiors are definitely worth the appreciation. It also has a unique and funky touch with the cool interior lights. With the flick of a switch you can change the colour to best suit your mood. The red and aqua colours are sure to become a huge favourite. The downside is the large circular speedo to the centre of the dash which means it further away from the eyesight than ideal. The rear space is a huge minus however you can go for the longer wheelbase Clubman if you need to carry adults in the back.

BMW Mini Cooper Hatch Ride and Handling: Nobody can beat the BMW Mini when it comes to the handling and that is what the MINI were originally famous for and this tradition continues to this day. All models feature superb handling. Be it the corners or speedy terrains or the need to go flat out, the car stays firm at all speeds. It stays flat and firm. The Braking system is also topnotch with the John Cooper Works setting the standards. The flip side is the fully electric steering which is slightly less rewarding than the previous electro-hydraulic system. This downside is however felt in a better fuel economy. The quicker Cooper S grade does throw down some shivers when you are sliding down the hill but on the whole the car is a driver delight with smooth driver input. It does have an under steer effect when you barge into the corners with your foot on the pedal.

BMW Mini Cooper Hatch Specifications: The petrol variant comes with a 1.6-litre petrol engine and has 90kW of power with 160Nm of torque. The diesel has a turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel six-speed Steptronic produces 122 Bhp(90kW) 6,000 rpm of power and a generous 160Nm @ 4,250 rpm of torque. It hits the triple figure mark in 10.4 seconds. The Co2 emissions are also quite respectable at 146g/km. The BMW Mini Cooper Hatch Specifications in detail are 145.6 in (3,698 mm) in length for the Hardtop and the Hardtop S measures 146.2 in (3,713 mm). The Width is 66.3 in (1,684 mm) with a Height of 55.4 in (1,407 mm). The Top Speed of the car is 197 km/h

BMW Mini Cooper Hatch Ex-showroom Price: The best part of the BMW Mini Cooper Hatch is it has one of the highest resale values in the market. This is also the entry level model in the Mini-series making it one of the most economical cars in its segment and the inclusion of the Cooper D (Diesel) variant also makes it a extremely attractive buy. However in Indian conditions the car seems to have a high initial price with expensive service charges. The 'run-flat' tyres are more expensive to replace than regular tyres. The John Cooper Works, if introduced in India which is the current version that runs in the UK from 2009 is also a big price hike over the already impressive Cooper S. The BMW Mini Cooper Hatch Price will start with the likes of X1 in the Rs 25-35 lakh range.