MINI First

MINI adds budget model to the range

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Luke Madden

17th July 2009

MINI has announced the arrival of the £10,950 MINI First, a budget car perfect for first time drivers and Scrappage Scheme buyers.

The ‘First’ is powered by the same 75hp 1.4-litre engine from the MINI One and has a claimed 0-62mph time of 13.2 seconds and a top speed of 109mph.

A multi-link rear axle and independent front and rear suspension systems work with a Dynamic Stability Control system to give the ‘go-kart’ handling that MINI’s are famous for.

As well as being cheap to buy MINI has also tried to make the First cheap to run. Standard gear includes Start-Stop, Brake Energy Recovery and a Gear Shift Indicator to help reduced petrol costs. The First gives a claimed combined fuel consumption of 53.3mpg and 128g/km of CO2.

The new budget MINI can be specced to a buyers preference with different packages ranging in price from £390 to £855 and include options from velour floor mats to Bluetooth with USB Audio.

The MINI First is available to order now.

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2 Comments

Sensible

Well at least this one LOOKS like a Mini. Even for a "budget" model the spec looks reasonable. I do question the pricing of the cost options though since if you go for the whole kit and kaboodle it's likely that you'd probably be able to buy a Mini One anyway.

I've always been of the opinion though, ever since BMW's interpretation of the Mini hit us in 2001 that it isn't REALLY a Mini, It looks reasonably like one, but it really is the Mini that isn't a Mini. It can never ever replace the original which started off in 1959, THAT's a Mini.

By nick7 on 21 January, 2010, 6:07pm

It's a MINI, not a Mini.

The First is a good little car if you can't stretch to a MINI One.

As for the current car's not being the same at the classic Mini, I'm glad they're nothing like 'em! I can still remember the classics my mates had at College - terrible. BMW did a great thing by scrapping the original design and engineering completely and manufacturing a class leading, hot hatch that is safe, fast and superbly built.

By FactoryWorks on 26 January, 2010, 3:04pm

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