A lot of people were surprised when BMW re-launched the MINI brand under its banner. It was a bit bigger than the original MINI Cooper that characterized the London vibe of the ‘60s, but with German engineering supplied by BMW, married to the original go-kart handling, it was a much better automobile.

That was 25 years and more than six million vehicles ago. Just a year later, in 2002, MINI steamed across the pond to the U.S. Even though the market here was moving toward larger SUVs and pickups, MINI’s bet was that driving fun would have a lot of appeal. We agreed and Schomp MINI became the first MINI dealer in Colorado.   

A Quarter Century of MINI Style

More than a million MINIs have been sold in the U.S., and MINI has a roster of models full of character, with expanded utility, retaining great German engineering, British style and legendary go-kart handling. 

• 2001 – MINI Cooper debuted at the Detroit Auto Show.
• 2002 – The high-performance MINI Cooper S was welcomed at the L.A. Auto Show. Official sales began.
• 2003 – MINI Cooper and Cooper S were named the North American Car of the Year.
• 2004 – MINI Convertible “arrived” at the N.Y. Auto Show with a high-speed parking brake stop at the news conference outside the convention center.
• 2006 – First MINI TAKES THE STATES celebration takes thousands of enthusiastic drivers on road trips across America. In 2024 the trip was across the Western U.S. and featured a daily average of 650 MINIs.
• 2010 – MINI Countryman was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show
• 2026 – The MINI brand now includes two- and four-door MINI Cooper and Cooper S; MINI Countryman SUV; Cooper Convertible; all-electric Countryman SE All4; John Cooper Works Countryman All4, Cooper and Cooper Convertible; plus special limited-edition models.

Where MINI Came From

The very first MINI was designed by Sir Alec Issigonis in 1957 in response to the Suez Canal fuel crisis and introduced by the British Motor Corporation. It became its own brand in 1961. It was the first front-wheel drive car and achieved its legendary stance by pushing the wheels to the corners. It became a racing and rally icon and became the ‘60s symbol of the public’s love affair with all things British. 

It wasn’t a hit in America, though. Built small in a market that wanted big, and not meeting late-‘60s federal emissions standards, it was banned until BMW brought it back. Now MINI is a gas-sipping, fun-loving vehicle that’s recognized not just as a way to get around, but part of a whole lifestyle, and we’re proud, to still represent it in Colorado.