NEW DELHI:
BMW India
will soon start assembling the new generation of its iconic compact car
Mini at its Chennai plant, a move which will help it offer its latest
products to Indian customers and garner some incremental numbers in the
fiercely competitive luxury car market.
The new
Mini Cooper
will be slightly larger than the current outgoing model, and also
lighter and more economical on the fuel front with 27% lower consumption
compared with current models sold in the domestic market.
"We are planning to bring the all-new MINI to the
Indian market
soon," said Philipp von Sahr, President of Indian operations at
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (BMW). "We have sold over
300 units of MINI last year and are looking at some impressive sales in
the second year."
The new Mini -- third generation since BMW
acquired the British brand - has been improvised over the previous
generations with more refinement on design and technology.
The
Mini Cooper is the first model carrying the new UKL front-wheel-drive
system, which will also be shared with entry-level BMW-brand models like
BMW 1Series, also assembled at the Chennai plant.
Besides the
subtle
modifications to its outer design, the new MINI will have a new range
of engine lines, both in the diesel and petrol variants. It will have
optional LED headlights and Head Up Display. While the car will have for
the first time a radar cruise control system that maintains a safety
distance from a vehicle in front and automatically intervenes or slows
down the car as a safety measure to avoid collision.
According
to the company release, the new Mini's length has increased by 98mm to
3821mm , which gives a 28mm longer wheelbase at 2495mm. While it is 7mm
taller at 1414mm and 44mm wider at 1727mm than the current models,
allowing the trunk volume to grow by 51 liters from the older car to 211
liters.
MINI competes with compact models like
Mercedes Benz A & B Class and is likely to face some serious competition from
Audi
compact A3 sedan. BMW has sold 249,702 units of the MINI -- an all-time
high -- in the first 10 months of this year globally. It had produced
about 310,000 MINIs in 2012.
Currently, there are seven Mini
variants including a 4x4 option and a convertible available across the
global market. According to company executives, around eight to 10
variants are expected for the new MINI that also includes a plug-in
hybrid. The Indian market is likely to see the diesel variant first
which will roll out from the Chennai plant later this year.
