![\"The](\"http:\/\/blog.privatefleet.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Mini-Paceman-1_2338807b.jpg\")
<\/a>The Mini Paceman<\/p><\/div>\n
Within the first 7 months that the model was on show to the public, only 93 were sold. In fact, overall MINI seems to not be doing too well in its introduction to Australia. This did get me thinking; what is going on here? Is there any explanation?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Traditionally, the Mini is a very British invention. In fact, not only does it characterise what it meant to be involved in British culture, but \u00a0the Mini Cooper was a fully fledged film star. ‘The Italian Job’ is one of THE most successful British films of all time, gaining worldwide success. Here is a fun fact:<\/p>\n Due to the Italian filming location for the film and various funding sources, the cars for the film were originally going to be Fiats. Fiat was the most popular everyday car in Italy throughout the mid-20th century after all. But the film makers put their foot down and it was confirmed that the Mini would be the car used in the film.<\/p>\n Original Theatrical Trailer for ‘The Italian Job’ (1969)<\/a><\/p>\n The Stars of the Show – ‘The Italian Job’ (1969)<\/p><\/div>\n However, in more recent years, MINI was taken over and transformed, when the name was bought by BMW. And so began the modernisation of the Mini. At first, the relaunch of the MINI Cooper brought back the entire Cooper-craze across the world. The Mini even found fame in the USA with the absolutely terrible re-make of the Italian Job, made bearable only by Charlize Theron if I am truly honest.<\/p>\n One of my personal confusions with this new Mini was the fact that it was well, massive. I can assume it was some sort of symbolic oxymoronic construction having a rather large car being called Mini, but still. The old Mini was small, zippy, plucky and full of character. This new one however, although definitely an individual sexy little so and so, had lost some of that original character, mainly down to the fact that it was no longer that small.<\/p>\n Everything was going so well\u2026 It may not have been the old Mini but it was definitely a positive step\u2026 It was all going well…<\/p>\n Too well…<\/p>\n The new MINI – It went through various forms after the initial relaunch<\/p><\/div>\n As with so many of the great things that exist upon this fair planet, everything took a sudden downhill tumble. It would appear the BMW owners decided they wanted to squeeze as much life as possible out of the MINI name. I am sure there are a few good ways to use the MINI name to bring out some new cars. I always thought a MINI GT or Supercar would have been wonderful. They may have looked a little on the strange side, but I liked the idea behind the Coupe, Convertible and Roadster. It was making the MINI into a fully fledged road going brand. The only thing I would have definitely said should be avoided was the spacious 4×4 route. I mean who would be stupid enough to start introducing a 4×4 edition of the MINI onto the market. Only a complete idiot would do something like tha-<\/p>\n *phone rings* “\u2026hello? You’re joking right? They didn’t did they? a 4×4 MI- well thank you for telling me”<\/em><\/p>\n Well this is a little awkward. It turns out that is what MINI actually decided to do. At first they thought the best thing to do would be to elongate the Cooper into the Clubman. Horrifically enough, this then ‘inspired’ them to construct the ClubVAN. I mean seriously guys, what is going on? The best way to describe them is taking a the front end of a MINI and adding the back end of a Ford Transit onto its behind. Words fail me. Literally fail me.<\/p>\n And then came the turn of the Countryman and the Paceman. The SUV\/4×4 style MINI that was meant to give the customer the perfect MINI for when ‘they ran out of road”.\u00a0<\/em>The problem with introducing a 4×4 MINI is that MINI is owned by BMW. And BMW are not exactly known for manufacturing the best off road machines known to man. I mean the BMW X5 failed both on road and off road.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>