2008 MINI Cooper

The Mini Cooper is a small two-door, four-seat, economy car made by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) since 1959. Its space saving front wheel drive layout allows 80 per cent of the area of the cars floor pan to be used for passengers and luggage. The vehicle is in some ways considered the British equivalent of its German contemporary the Volkswagen Beetle, which enjoyed similar popularity. The Mini was voted the second most influential car of the 20th century. The Mini Cooper is considered sportier than the other variations of the Mini. BMW acquired the British company behind the MINI brand in 1994, and soldmost of it in 2000 while retaining rights to build cars using the Mini name and began doing so in 2000. Popular variations are the Cooper GP, Hardtop, Hatchback, and Convertible, Clubman (5 inches taller than the Clubman and slightly faster than the Countryman), Countryman (a five-door crossover), Coupe/Roadster and Paceman (three-door crossover based on the Countryman).