Mini Cooper
THE brakes appear to have been put on the long-awaited public unveiling of the 21st century Mini.
Enthusiasts hoping to catch a glimpse of it this spring will be dismayed to hear that it may not now make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March as anticipated.
They will be even more disheartened to learn that it could be next year before the new Mini goes on sale.
While early pictorial evidence of the changes is being cooed over by motoring aficionados, the car may not be seen "in the flesh" until either Paris or Birmingham motor shows in the autumn.
The cause of the delay is down to several factors, but the main ones holding up the launch are understood to be political hitches rather than technical snags.
BMW have recently decreed that all Rover projects be managed directly by their hierarchy. The resulting changes in the organisational structure have forced a rethink on the project schedule.
The company is also being careful not to create demand that its production department cannot meet. So confident are they of success that the launch is being checked until it is just perfect and the new Mini is ready to go into full-swing production.
Another key factor that could be causing BMW/Rover to shift the production date down a gear is that the supercharged Mini Cooper S programme is not up to speed with the basic Minor's redesign and the firm is keen to launch the souped-up big brother as soon after the Minor as possible.
The entry-level Minor has been spruced up with a black embossed Mini logo on a plain twin-spoke steering wheel.
There will be no rev counter, but there is believed to be a floor-mounted starter button which harks back to the classic 1959 Mini, although it is not yet clear whether this will be standard or optional.
The end of the indicator lever will have a natty green flashing lamp and the hazard warning switch is on the end of the headlight control stalk.
Steptronic gearboxes will be offered as an extra on both the Minor - which in its 90bhp, 1.4-litre version will sell for about pounds 10,000 - and the super-Coopers.
The Mini Cooper will have some tidy interior touches, such as a silver-on- green Mini Cooper logo on the steering wheel boss, with the supercharged model getting a large S motif instead. The S will also have dual dials above the steering wheel, showing engine revs and supercharger boost pressure.
It is believed the 1.6-litre, 125bhp Mini Cooper and 155bhp S are likely to cost from pounds 14,000 to pounds 17,000.
Apart from educated guesses and informed speculation that it will be autumn before it goes on display, either in the UK or France, there is as yet no indication when it will actually begin to roll off the production line for mass consumption.
Sunday Mail (Glasgow, Scotland)
January 30, 2000
Davidson, Vicky