New MINI Takes Its First Silverware

The new MINI is celebrating its first major award just ten days after going on sale. Auto Express magazine, the UK's best-selling weekly motoring publication, awarded new MINI its coveted Supreme Honour at this year's New Car Honours Awards. The Auto Express judges recognised the individuality and personality, the superb build quality, the unmatched driving enjoyment and the segment-busting ownership package that tempted over 50,000 potential MINI buyers to MINI dealerships during its launch weekend.

Trevor Houghton-Berry, General Manager for MINI, collected the New Car of the Year award at Claridges in London, and commented: "The extended MINI team at BMW has earned this enormous vote of confidence. They have worked tirelessly to give new MINI a launch deserving of the most famous marque in UK motoring.

"This award is testimony to the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm that all involved in designing, building and selling the car have put into the project. A special mention must go to the production workers at Plant Oxford. They are building a car of truly outstanding levels of quality. From the chassis through to the paint finish this car sets new standards. It's certainly going to be hard to 'blow the bloody doors off' this one!"

David Johns, Editor in Chief at Auto Express magazine said: "This is a car that impressed us with its attention to detail, love for life and amazing value. It borrows themes from the past and mixes them with state-of-the-art technology. The MINI is a car that reminds you why you fell in love with driving in the first place and, as in 1959, the rest of the industry has suddenly found itself playing catch-up."

The new MINI went on sale in the UK on July 7 from 148 MINI dealerships amid unprecedented scenes of activity. One dealership reported almost 2000 visitors during the first weekend and orders topped 4,000 by the end of July 8, with over 1,000 taken on the Saturday and Sunday alone.

MINI was not just recognised by Auto Express as a great looker and a great mover, but it had to provide a great ownership experience. MINI offers this with MINI Select finance packages from £199.99 per month (13.8 per cent APR), insurance ratings of 5 for MINI One and 8 for MINI Cooper, a five year/50,000 mile parts and labour service pack called MINI tlc for just £100 and a three year/60,000 mile warranty.

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