MUMBAI :

Ready for some MINI surprises straight from the UK? MINI recently launched their triplets in India – the MINI 3-Door Hatch, the MINI Convertible and the MINI John Cooper Works Hatch. These quirky and fast hatchbacks will be imported into our country via the CBU (Completely Built-Up Unit) route. MINI Coopers are always known for their fun to drive character and cute yet stylish looks. The MINI 3-Door Hatch, the MINI Convertible and the MINI John Cooper Works Hatch deliver all that and more. However, British elegance will not come cheap and owing to the cars CBU nature, the price tag is far from ‘mini’. The MINI 3-Door Hatch comes in at INR 38 lakhs, while the MINI Convertible will set you back by INR 44 lakhs and the MINI John Cooper Works Hatch will cost you INR 45.50 lakhs (Ex-showroom). If money is the farthest thing on your mind, before booking your cars, then read on to find out which MINI is the one for you.

MINI is offering a wide range of paint schemes with the hot hatches, however, some colours are specific to particular models. Rebel Green is available only for the MINI JCW, Zesty Yellow is only available for the MINI Convertible and Island Blue and Rooftop Grey are reserved for the MINI 3-Door Hatch. Other colours included in the list are British Racing Green, Midnight Black, Moonwalk Grey, Pepper White, White Silver and Enigmatic Black. 

All three hatchbacks follow the basic design cues, simplistic and modern. The front of the cars come with a new charismatic hexagonal radiator grille. The hallmark MINI headlights complete the minimalistic look of the front fascia and blend effortlessly with the front bits. The retro LED headlights now have fog lights integrated into them, so there are no fog lamps on the front bumper. 

From the side, the MINI looks short. But, that’s the appeal of a MINI. The contours of the wheel arch add depth to the otherwise simple side profile of the MINI. At the back, the taillamps are the standout elements along with the twin exhaust pipes. With the Union Jack design of the taillights, anyone can recognize that it is a MINI from far away. The JCW variant of the MINI comes with bonnet stripes that add an extra sporty character to the car. For the JCW model, the roof and mirrors caps can also be chosen in White, Black or Chilli Red colours. 

On the inside, the traditional instrument cluster looks neater and sharper than before. The 8.8-inch infotainment system now gets the Piano Black high-gloss interior surfaces as standard. The Hazard lights and the driver assistance systems are now seamlessly integrated into the circular unit too. A new surface design with laser engraving, an Ambient Light option, and the LED light ring wrapped around the central unit add a pleasant feel to the interiors. MINI is also offering an optional 5-inch multifunctional instrument display on the steering column that will give the cockpit a very different feel altogether. 

MINIs need to have peppy engines to make them MINI. The 3-Door Hatch and the  Convertible come with a  2.0-litre, MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology, 4-cylinder engine thatchurns out 192 bhp and 280 Nm of torque. The 3-Door Hatch comes with a 7-speed Double Clutch Steptronic transmission whereas, the Convertible comes with an 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission. The 0-100 km/h run for the 3-Door Hatch stands at 6.1 seconds, whereas the latter is a second slower. 

The story for the JCW is completely different. The JCW is powered by a 2.0-litre, MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology engine that belts out 231 bhp and 320 Nm of twisting force. The engine is mated to an 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission and does the 0-100 km/h run in 6.1 seconds, despite a broad gearing. 

With all this, the MINIs come loaded plenty of safety features, namely, front airbags, Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control, ABS, Cornering Brake Control and Run-Flat tyres. Overall, the MINI is a niche package and while only a select few choose to indulge in British luxury, there is no denying that MINIs are always the most fun to drive, be it around the town or on race tracks. 

You can book either of these MINIs from MINI authorised dealerships or via their MINI Online Shop.