JEDDAH, 8 April 2007 — Five years after its initial launch and “unprecedented success” in the Middle East, Mohammed Yousuf Naghi Motors (MYNM), exclusive dealer of BMW, Rolls-Royce, MINI and Alpina in Saudi Arabia, launched the new MINI at a media conference, followed by a display for visitors, at north Obhur, Jeddah, over the weekend. The new car marks the first generation change since 2001.
“MINI has been a great success story since its relaunch in 2001. Sales in the Kingdom have consistently exceeded all expectations and the new MINI looks set to continue the successful path that the original started,” said MYNM General Manager Musa Al-Aruri.
Available in a range of two models, the MINI Cooper and the MINI Cooper S, the new car has been enhanced and refined in design and comes with an “evolutionary look” and boasts an all-new drive-train technology for even greater agility.
The 1.6-liter turbocharged power unit featured in the new MINI Cooper S offers particularly impressive performance on the road. Its maximum output of 175 hp and specific output of 109.5 hp/liter allow acceleration to 100 km/hr in 7.1 seconds, providing a top speed of 225 km/h. “These are figures which definitely set the standard for a four-cylinder light-alloy power unit in this class,” he said.
The new MINI Cooper combines a superior driving pleasure with all-round economy. The two-door car reaches 100 km/h in 9.1 seconds, with top speed of 203 km/h.
Mated to the four-cylinder engine is a standard six-speed manual gearbox, while an optional automatic gearbox is available, also boasting six speeds. A sports button, available on the MINI Cooper S, allows for even better traction and control at high speeds. “The agile and sporting character of the MINI is maintained with a perfectly matched six speed transmission, perfectly matching gear increments to the power and performance of both engines,” he added.
“The new MINI has a lighter, more efficient redesigned 1.6-liter engine, which offers both power and fuel economy,” said Saleh Kattuah, MINI brand manager, MYNM. Both manual and automatic transmissions offer perfectly synchronized ratios to get the most out of both the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S, resulting in a truly enjoyable drive.”
Aside from its newly designed engine and sporty suspension, the MINI offers a range of customizable options ranging from exterior colors to interior trims, making the MINI a uniquely tailored vehicle.
On the safety front, the new MINI comes with a total of six airbags as standard, comprising front, side and curtain airbags. The MINI Cooper S also features run-flat tires as yet another standard feature, allowing the driver to cover a distance of up to 150 km at a maximum speed of 80 km/h, even when a tire is completely flat.