What is the Mini car?
The Mini is a small British car first launched in 1959 by the British Motor Corporation. Designed by Alec Issigonis, it became an icon of 1960s Britain and one of the most influential cars ever made.
The Mini was designed in response to the Suez Crisis, which caused fuel shortages. Issigonis created a small, fuel-efficient car that could carry four adults.
Its innovative design placed the engine sideways and used front-wheel drive. This saved space, allowing most of the car to be used for passengers and luggage.
A 1960s icon
The Mini became fashionable in the Swinging Sixties, driven by celebrities such as the Beatles. The Mini Cooper, a sporty version, won the Monte Carlo Rally three times.
The car starred in the 1969 film The Italian Job, in which three Minis race through the streets of Turin.
The original Mini was produced until 2000. More than five million were built.
In 2001, BMW launched a new MINI, built in Oxford. It is larger than the original but keeps a similar style. The original Mini was voted one of the most influential cars of the 20th century.