The now iconic Mini made its debut in 1959 as a result of fuel shortages caused by the Suez Crisis. Produced by the British Motor Corporation and originally known as the Austin Seven or Morris Mini-Minor, the model was designed to maximise space and keep costs to a minimum. The name was changed simply to ‘Mini’ in 1961 and it went on to become the best selling British car of all time.

The original Mini stayed in production until 2000, going through several versions in that time but retaining its distinctive style throughout. Variations included an estate model and the Mini Van as well as the Mini Moke - a utility vehicle developed for military use but which was ultimately unsuitable for the purpose due to its lack of four wheel drive.

A collaboration with the Cooper Car Company in 1961 created the Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S - designed as performance cars for rally competition. The models were highly successful during the 1960s, winning the Monte Carlo Rally three times in four years.

The classic Mini sold over five million units and has featured prominently in dozens of films. An international poll found it be the world’s second most influential car of the twentieth century in 1999, the winner being the Ford Model T. By this time Mini was a part of the Rover Group, which BMW disposed of in 2000 after several years of losses - ending production.

BMW retained the rights to the name, though, and in 2001 released an all new version known as the MINI. Several models have been introduced to the range, including the MINI One and a convertible version which debuted in 2005. The new MINI has been criticised by some classic enthusiasts for its larger size and increased weight but it has proved enormously successful and is in great demand.

EuroNCAP Safety Ratings for Mini cars
The European New Car Assessment Programme produces reports on the safety of vehicles based on the results of several crash tests. As well as measuring how the car will hold up in a crash the risk to a pedestrian struck by the car is assessed. The star ratings (maximum 5) of key Mini models are shown below.