All-new Mini goes on sale in the US

Widely regarded as one of the most iconic cars of all time, the Mini arrived in its third generation avatar late last year.  Bigger and more flamboyant than ever before, the 2014 model is distinctly familiar but enhanced in every single way. 

The car is on its way to hit the US market as Mini has just announced the pricing details of the hardtop model. Priced at $19,950, which translates to around Rs 12.49 lakh – the new Mini reportedly comes with significant improvements in technology, engine efficiency and driving dynamics. The car is also more spacious and quieter than before, with improvements in refinement levels inside the cabin.

For the first time in its history, Mini uses BMW-sourced engines in the form of turbocharged three and four-cylinder engine options. The base-spec model gets a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder engine with 133bhp of power and 220Nm of torque. 

The high-performance Cooper S, on the other hand, gets a bigger, 2-litre four-cylinder engine with 187bhp of power and 280Nm of torque. Naturally then, the Copper S is more expensive than the standard model, with prices starting at $23,600 (Rs 14.78 lakh).