With its legend created...
With its legend created by the C and D-Type Le Mans racers of the Fifties, the car set speed and performance records when it hit the road in 1961. Capable of 150mph, the first 3.8-litre machine was guaranteed instant status as a classic, and its appeal endures to this day. Even now, top examples fetch over ÷£50,000, almost as much as a new XK.
Check out the best spy...
Check out the best spy shots of the year so far – the MINI SUV has finally been snapped up close.
Our spies could barely believe their luck when they managed to seek out this prototype testing in Europe. While the bodywork appears to be near-identical to a standard Clubman, there are several visual clues to this being the new rough-road MINI.
The most obvious change is the increase in ride height. This will give the MINI greater ground clearance and extra visual muscle. The large wheels sit wider in the arches than standard rims, while the wheelbase is also a little longer.
Take a look underneath the rear of the car and the purpose of this MINI becomes perfectly clear. A rear differential is visible between the wheels, proving that this model is all-wheel drive. It won’t be a true mud-plugger, but it will aim to steal sales away from Land Rover’s larger Freelander.
Expected to be revealed later this year, the rough-road MINI has been confirmed for production but bosses are yet to confirm a name. Both Crossman and Monte are said to be in the running, with prices likely to start at around ?20,000.