Article from the Electronic Telegraph, tuesday 9th September 1997

THIRTY-eight years after its original launch, the new Mini for the millennium finally broke cover yesterday.

Rover owner BMW, anxious not to be upstaged by its arch rival Mercedes Benz at the Frankfurt motor show, was forced into revealing the new car, which will not be launched until 2000.

Rover has been teasing the public all year with a number of nearly-Mini concepts, and the new car looks like a stretched version of the ACV-30s seen in January.

But despite its new technology and £12,000-£13,000 price tag, traditionalists will find much to cheer about the new Mini. Its shape, particularly the roof line, is very reminiscent of the Sixties version and it will be front-wheel drive.

Rover will be hoping that it will sell as well as the original, which has sold 5.4 million since 1959. "It is a worthy successor to the great tradition," said Rover's design and engineering director, Nick Stephenson.

There will also be a tuned-up Cooper version endorsed by John Cooper, head of the old BMW Grand Prix team.

He said: "There are hundreds of Mini clubs around the world. I think any one of those members would be proud to drive this new car."
 
 
 
 

The picture that follows is a collage of Television pictures by Simon Robertson