So what if BMW now own MINI and an American designed the new model? Us Brits will always be proud to call the Mini British. And one very British insurance company is showing support for the new MINI by lowering the recommended ABI insurance group to make sure it is cheaper to insure.

Admiral will insure the new MINI One at insurance group 4 instead of group 5 and the Mini Cooper at group 6 instead of group 8. This will last for the rest of 2001 and should mean cheaper insurance for all the MINI fans, new and old expected to buy one.

Admiral pricing and underwriting director, David Stevens, explained why Admiral decided to do it, “The Mini is probably the most popular British car of all time. The UK motor industry has had a fairly bad time in recent years and we wanted to show our support for a British success. Not only this but the new MINI also has some of the best safety features on any small car.”

BMW claim the new MINI has a body at least twice as structurally stiff as the average super mini. Better brakes and six airbags should make it an extra safe drive. They are expecting a four-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests.

The launch of the new MINI is the most eagerly anticipated in recent years, and so far the motoring press has been making encouraging noises. Top Gear magazine, said it, “…has oodles of character, is cute and doesn’t want to be staid or boring.” Maybe the new MINI will become a legendary icon as the old one did.