1. Fair cop ready for Mission Australia’s three MISSION MINI competitors - equipped with an Aussie-flagged MINI Cooper S - will be in Barcelona on he trail of art thieves and their loot from November 7-11.

PR executive Natalie Perrin (29) and brand manager Damon Garret (26) are pumped to be assisting ‘Young Lions’ star Alexandra Davies with her enquiries. Just 81 aspirant detectives drawn from a global search of 24,000 hopefuls will help special agent Sam Cooper nail the bad guys. The Aussie squad will battle teams from 17 countries in the race to recover the art. You can follow their progress via www.mission.mini.com.au.

2. MINI beats Beetle in Compact combat

MINI has scooped its first J.D.Power award, judged the most appealing car in its class just months after sales began in the United States. The APEAL Study (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout) is the most respected annual new car consumer survey in the USA, and it placed the MINI Cooper top in the Compact Car segment. The MINI deposed the VW Beetle,Compact car champ since 1998.

3. MINI’s family planning

The introduction of MINI Brand worldwide has been such a success BMW Group is already planning to expand the family of three models, to further capitalise on the growth in compact premium-market vehicles. “We will be further extending the MINI brand with new variants such as a diesel engine. Later, we intend to broaden the MINI product range so that we ultimately create a product family,” says Dr. Michael Ganal, Member of the Board of BMW AG.

4. MINI the prestige import favourite

September VFACTS reported MINI as the most popular imported Prestige vehicle sold in Australia for the month. The 156 MINIs sold exceeded Jaguar and Volvo’s respective passenger car range totals, and was just five shy of Saab. Early indications point to strong sales in October for a repeat performance. 5. MINI boom in global sales

In the first nine months of 2002, sales of MINI across the world reached almost 105,000, shattering the 100,000 target set for the entire year. The MINI factory in Oxford has twice increased production capacity and is now working round the clock, seven days a week. Very few car factories in the world work at such a pace. Almost 17,000 MINIs were delivered in September through 1400 MINI dealers in 60 markets. MINI has 23 Australian dealers.

6. MINI stars in US crash tests

MINI Cooper was awarded a safe and sound four stars in The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s crash test results (for front, side and rollover impact ratings) - published in October. MINI is the smallest passenger car sold in the USA, which makes its rating all the more creditable. A MINI spokesman said: “We are delighted that the NHTSA tests confirm MINI Cooper’s excellent occupant protection in crash situations. MINI Cooper’s overall safety performance is further enhanced by its inherent active safety abilities.” 7. MINI on two wheels (again)

MINI daredevil driver Russ Swift had UK motor show visitors enthralled with his team’s two-wheeled driving stunts at the Birmingham show. A fleet of MINIs performed Italian Job-style stunts in front of packed 1000-visitor theatres seven times a day. The cars completed about 2300 handbrake turns each during the show.

8. MINI roofless appeal

Following the success of flag decals for the MINI’s roof (the latest being an Australian flag) the MINI decal range is to be expanded from 15 designs to 50 early next year. And for drivers keen to let the sunshine in, a full-length fold-back electric-powered vinyl roof is to be introduced within months.

9. MINI factory visit

From next year, MINI Cooper buyers awaiting delivery can take a virtual tour of the factory to get a clear insight into how their cars come together. A password-protected Internet site will guide owners along the Oxford production line, saving a return airfare to England (and all that bad weather).

10. Mounted MINIs get their men and women

Excitement is mounting in Canada as MINI sales begin to lift off (the wall). Some of the fever has been due to innovative billboard advertising incorporating life-size MINI Coopers  and a Union Jack picked out in tyre tread patterns, illustrating MINI’s consummate manoeuvrability, chic style and fun flavour. Another display graphically emphasises cornering skills. The wall-mounted MINIs weigh 300kg each and are steel-reinforced fibreglass replicas.

11. Age no barrier to MINI fun

Melbourne owner Len Fielding may be the oldest buyer of a new MINI Cooper in the world. The 86-year old traded a 1985 Rover 3500 on his Pure Silver MINI Cooper CVT in July. Mr Fielding and his wife also own a BMW 5-Series. The MINI Cooper CVT is not his first, having owned and driven a MINI several decades ago. An 81-year-old Japanese woman who traded a classic MINI within days of the new MINI going on sale in Tokyo was believed to be the oldest buyer, prior to Mr Fielding’s purchase.

12. Classless appeal continues

MINI’s appeal to all ages and types of drivers continues. The MINI Roadshow comprising five cars zooming around chic city centre locations in Brisbane and Sydney has drawn massive crowds of enthusiastic voyeurs from a broad cross-section of society each time the cars stop. Double-parked in Paddington’s Oxford Street, the MINIs even charmed the notorious grey ghosts while admirers examined the cars. Bondi residents were cheered to see the five-car formation running rings round the roundabout on the beachfront. The MINI Roadshow rolls into Melbourne (this week), and then zoots off to Adelaide.