The Mini goes maxi! Latest model of iconic hatchback is revealed as biggest yet and comes with iPad connector

First built in 1959, it was known as a revolutionary small car - but now, it appears that for Mini, bigger is definitely better.

The wraps today came off the new Mini, which enjoys so many hi-tech gadgets that it has grown in size to be the biggest-ever version of Britain’s best-loved small car.

The new Mini is two and a half feet longer, seven inches wider and two inches taller than the original Mini of 1959.

It had its world premiere at the Oxford factory which will build it with the help of 1,000 new robots installed as part of a major £750million investment that helps preserve 5,500 jobs at the plant.

The car was unveiled before VIP guests including Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin who said Mini had undergone ‘a remarkable renaissance’ under German parent company BMW.

New Mini: The car, which is due to go on sale in spring 2014 and will be built in Oxford, is 10cm longer than the current Mini and 77cm longer than the original Mini

New technology: A large fighter aircraft-style head-up display projects information relevant to the driver on an extendable see-through monitor set into the upper section of the dashboard

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said Mini, which produced this 1960s classic, had undergone 'a remarkable renaissance' under German parent company BMW

Production line: The car had its world premiere at the Oxford factory which will build it with the help of 1,000 new robots installed as part of a major £750million investment that helps preserve 5,500 jobs at the plant

Checking it out: The new Mini Hatch, based on an entirely new platform, is unveiled at the Cowley factory

Differences: The front seats' bases have been lengthened by about 23mm for extra comfort and support

Prime Minister David Cameron described the Mini as a ‘classic British icon’ and welcomed the investment that will help boost British exports – with many heading abroad to right-hand drive markets such as the Continent and the USA.

Mini said the design of the new range was ‘evolutionary’ rather than revolutionary. There will be three versions of the new car - the ‘basic’ Mini Cooper, the diesel-engined Mini Cooper D and the Mini Cooper S.

Designed to fit four people and their luggage, Mini said the new hatchback car is ‘completely new from the ground up’ with every component either replaced, reworked, or brand new.

But it is also nearly 4in (98mm) longer, more than 1.5in (44mm) wider and about 0.3in (7mm)  taller than the car it replaces to make room for  ‘enhanced’ should space, larger footwells, and more wriggle room for adjusting  front seats whose bases have been  lengthened by about 1in (23mm) to provide extra comfort and support.

Boot space has also been increased by around a third to 211 litres. Drivers can plug in their iPads and iPods to play their music via a cable and can controlled them through the Mini Connected system.

Bigger build: The new Minis will also be displayed at this week's Los Angeles motor show before the cars go on sale in spring next year priced from £15,300

New build: The new Minis are fitted with start-stop functions to avoid burning unnecessary fuel while idling at traffic lights

Inside: The engine of the new Mini is viewed during its official unveiling event at BMW's plant in Oxford

Sparks flying: The latest reincarnation of the popular car which first took to the road in 1959 shows a Mini that is quieter, longer, wider and taller than its predecessor

Options: Mini Driving Modes allows the driver to switch between normal, 'sport', or fuel saving 'green' modes using a rotary switch at the base of the gearstick or selector lever

Design: Drivers can plug in their iPads and iPods to play their music via a cable and can controlled them through the Mini Connected system

Among the new technology is:

• A large fighter aircraft-style head-up display which projects information relevant to the driver on an extendable see-through monitor set into the upper section of the dashboard.
• A camera-based cruise control system called ‘Driving Assistant’ which scans the road ahead via a camera behind the rear mirror and automatically keeps a predetermined distance from the vehicle ahead. This includes a collision and pedestrian warning system which applies the brakes. The set-up also includes a road-sign detection assistant.
• A rear-view camera and parking assistant are also available for the first time.
• A new hi-tech circular instrument cluster near the steering column displays speed, revs and a colour panel for messages.
• A larger central circular instrument cluster in the middle of the dashboard has an 8.8in screen on which to show technical or entertainment information using LED lighting. When Park Distance control is activated, the remaining distance to obstacles is shown via a ring of light in green, yellow or red. It also gives visual signals to drivers using the navigate system the closer the driver gets to a turn-off point.
• Mini Driving Modes allows the driver to switch between normal, ‘sport’, or fuel saving ‘green’ modes using a rotary switch at the base of the gearstick or selector lever.

The new Mini features three brand-new supercharged but frugal and fuel-efficient engines designed to deliver  better than ever performance and give owners ‘even more fun behind the wheel’.

WILL IT FIT IN MY GARAGE? HOW THE OLD AND NEW MINI MODELS COMPARE

NEW MINI COOPER HATCH

Length: 12ft 6 inches
Width: 5ft 8 inches
Height: 4ft 6 inches
Seats: 4
Engine: 1.5 litre petrol
Gears: Six speed manual or automatic
0-62mph: 7.8 seconds (cf 6.7 seconds for MINI Cooper S)
Top speed: 130mph (cf 145mph  for MINI Cooper S)
MPG: 62mph (cf 80.7mpg for  diesel MINI Cooper D)
CO2: 109g/km
Price new: £15,300 (cf £18m,650 for MINI Copper S)
On sale: Spring 2014

ORIGINAL 1959 MINI AUSTIN SE7EN

Length: 10ft
Width: 5ft 1inch
Height: 4ft 4 inches
Seats: 4
Engine: 848cc petrol
0-60mph: 27.1 seconds
Top speed: 72mph
MPG: 40mpg
CO2: unknown
Price new: £497
On sale: 1959-2000
Number sold: 5.3m

Impressive: When used in conjunction with the navigation system, the automatic gear-boxes car can 'read' the road ahead to fine-tune the gear-changes to make them as fuel-efficient as possible

Rear view: German car-giant BMW revitalised Mini¿s fortunes when it produced its first generation British-built 21st century MINI in 2001

In production: There will be three versions of the new car - the 'basic' Mini Cooper, the diesel-engined Mini Cooper D and the Mini Cooper S

Creation: There is a choice of three transmission systems: six speed manual, six speed automatic and a six-speed sports automatic

History: Other great motoring marques that have rolled off the Oxford production lines include Austin Healey, MG, Wolseley, Riley, Austin, Triumph and Rover

The Mini Cooper S petrol version will accelerate from rest to 62mph in just 6.7 seconds up to a top speed of 145mph. 

Idea: The launch has been timed to coincide with the 107th anniversary of the birth of the car's designer, Sir Alec Issigonis

The new Cooper D diesel version offers average fuel-efficiency of more than 80.7mpg - and around 90mpg when cruising.

There is a choice of three transmission systems: six speed manual, six speed automatic and a six-speed sports automatic. The new Minis are fitted with start-stop functions to avoid burning unnecessary fuel while idling at traffic lights.

And when used in conjunction with the navigation system, the automatic gear-boxes car can ‘read’ the road ahead to fine-tune the gear-changes to make them as fuel-efficient as possible.

The new Minis will also be displayed at this week's Los Angeles motor show before the cars go on sale in spring next year priced from £15,300.

The launch of the new Mini has been timed to coincide with the 107th anniversary of the birth of the car's designer, Sir Alec Issigonis, whose original revolutionary small-car - dubbed a ‘10ft square box’ - was launched in 1959 to worldwide acclaim.

German car-giant BMW revitalised Mini’s fortunes when it produced its first generation British-built 21st century MINI in 2001.

Getting the job done: Factory workers produce Mini cars at the BMW's plant at Cowley in Oxfordshire

Fast car: The Mini Cooper S petrol version will accelerate from rest to 62mph in just 6.7 seconds up to a top speed of 145mph

Factory: Designed to fit four people and their luggage, Mini said the new hatchback car is 'completely new from the ground up' with every component either replaced, reworked, or brand new

Alloy wheel: The firm said the introduction of the new Mini has seen a significant investment in the most extensive workforce training programme undertaken at the plant

Enjoyment: The new Mini features three brand-new supercharged but frugal and fuel-efficient engines designed to deliver better than ever performance and give owners 'even more fun behind the wheel'

It too was much larger than the original, largely to account for new safety legislation and driver and passenger demands for more space and comfort.

Mr Cameron said:  ‘I was lucky enough to get an early preview of the new Mini - a classic British icon - during a visit to the factory in Oxford last month.

'Today is proof of the remarkable renaissance of Mini under BMW. The new Mini will set high quality standards. I am proud of the part the UK workforce has played'
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin

‘This £750million investment is great news for both the local and wider economy, along with the 5,500 workers whose jobs are safeguarded by this launch.

‘Car manufacturing is a vital engine for growth. Production is back up to pre-recession levels and a car rolls off the line every 20 seconds in the UK. But we're not complacent.'

Mr McLoughlin said: ‘Today is proof of the remarkable renaissance of Mini under BMW. The new Mini will set high quality standards. I am proud of the part the UK workforce has played.’

Harald Krueger, BMW Group's board member for production, said: ‘The UK is the heart of Mini production - thanks to the experience, competence and strong commitment of all our employees.’

In blue: Car giant BMW, which has been manufacturing the Mini since 2001, has finally taken the wraps off the new Mini that will be available in the UK in spring 2014

From behind: The unveiling also comes as the Oxford plant, originally called Cowley, celebrates 100 years of car-making

References: The numberplates are postcodes for BMW Swindon Pressings (left) and Mini Plant Oxford (right)

Improvements: Original Mini designer Sir Alec was born on November 18, 1906 and was the guiding light in the introduction of the Mini in 1959 when it was dubbed 'the classless car'

A spokesman for Mini said: ‘A £750 million investment across three of BMW Group’s UK manufacturing facilities marks the launch of the new car with a new 1,000-robot body shop at Plant Oxford, the debut of new technologies at the steel body pressings operation in Swindon, and new machining and assembly facilities to produce a new generation of three and four-cylinder engines at the Hams Hall engine plant near Birmingham.’

The firm said the introduction of the new Mini has also seen a significant investment in the most extensive workforce training programme undertaken at the plant.

Original Mini designer Sir Alec was born on November 18, 1906 and was the guiding light in the introduction of the Mini in 1959 when it was dubbed ‘the classless car’.

The nippy and manoeuvrable Mini became arguably the most popular car of all time. More than 5.3 million ‘original’ Minis were produced before BMW started making its own bigger and more-powerful version in 2001, with a minor facelift in 2006.

The unveiling also comes as the Oxford plant, originally called Cowley, celebrates 100 years of car-making. The first vehicle, a Bullnose Morris Oxford, was produced on March 28, 1913. The plant has produced more than 11.65million vehicles, including more than 2.2million of the BMW Minis.

Other great motoring marques that have rolled off the Oxford production lines include Austin Healey, MG, Wolseley, Riley, Austin, Triumph and Rover.