Autocar - First for car news and reviews

What is it?

With the current emphasis on cheap cars right across Europe, it makes plenty of sense for BMW to launch a lower-cost Mini, the First, which in effect takes the price back to where it was when the Mini One first hit the market eight years ago.

If you’re happy with steel wheels and a low-output version of the British-made 1.4-litre petrol engine, you need pay only £10,950 for the new model.

What’s it like?

When you drive the First, its lack of pow...Read the full article

Another BMW marketing workout in cynicsm. Instead of setting yourself for 'oh look, I couldn't really afford to buy alloys on my Mini' just get a decently specced Fiat 500 and be done with it.

A small note, this car comes with hub-caps, which makes it marginally better than the more expensive ONE which comes with plain old steel wheels standard fit.

Keep it simple with no extra`s (stripes and union jacks esp!) and a Mini First in a non metallic colour is the most attractive model in the whole range. I like it.

manicm:

just get a decently specced Fiat 500 and be done with it.

A decently specced 500?  How about the chic Grande Punto Sporting with 120bhp Turbo.  Goes like the absolute clappers and has loads more space, not to mention being fully equipped.

Plus, the Mini is no longer a style icon, far too common and obvious.

Oh, and it is not 10 grand, its 11 before you put anything in it, so cheap/good value it aint.

Fair play for making a cheaper version, but it REALLY irritates me when manufacturers re-tune engines for cheaper cars.  It's just a software tune, and it probably cost BMW more to develop this new tune, with associated stability control mods etc, rather than just leave it as it is, as and give the buyer the full use of the engine that they've actually paid for.  I'm not sure what the economy figures are for this compared to the normal 1.4, but often the economy figures are identical, as the engine is just capped at a certain bhp, meaning there's no economy benefit either.

Autocar:

it makes plenty of sense for BMW to launch a lower-cost Min

That's what a MINI was always supposed to be about anyway: lower cost.

Proof, if it were needed, that BMW have lost it's way with the brand? 

Squonk61:

Proof, if it were needed, that BMW have lost it's way with the brand? 

No they have not they are just reacting to market conditions. For the past few years everybody felt rich so they bought ever more expensive versions of various models.

Now the economy is in recession buyers want cheaper versions, common sense really.

With talk of a new BMW sub brand, electric mini`s and the re-invention of the 3 series as an eco-warrior i think BMW know what they are doing.

And before the avalanche of accusations that i love german cars begins i dont drive a BMW or a Mini. 

Chips:

I'm not sure how you can compare a Mini to a Fiat 500 - the depth of engineering and quality in the Mini is on another level to that offered by the 500. As a consequence, the Mini feels like a quality product and drives like a quality product - the 500 doesn't and the price differential reflects that, it's as simple as that really.

Very true, but how many average customers really care at this price point?  I may care and so may you, but enthusiasts make up such a small sector of the market now for this sort of car. 

TegTypeR:

but how many average customers really care at this price point?

Don`t underestimate the "average" man in the street. We all appreciate a bit of quality in our cars.