Detroit Auto Show: MINI is Named North American Car of the Year

    DETROIT, Jan. 5 -- MINI has scooped the prestigious title
'2003 North American Car of the Year'.
    
    The award, given by a group of 50 full-time automotive journalists from
Canada and the United States, was presented to Jack Pitney, general manager of
MINI USA at a breakfast ceremony during the NAIAS in Detroit, MI.
    The award recognizes the most outstanding vehicle of the year based on
factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction
and value for the dollar.
    Jack Pitney said: "We are completely thrilled to win this foremost award.
The journalists on the NACOTY panel are among the most respected automotive
authorities in the world, and for MINI to receive this recognition from them
is truly an honor. "
    This award comes after MINI was awarded 4 stars by both the NHTSA and the
IIHS for crashworthiness, named the most appealing compact car in J.D. Power
and Associates 2002 APEAL study, Best Total Value by strategic Vision, and
"Most Significant Vehicle of the Year, 2002" by the editorial staff at
Edmunds.com.
    The Classic MINI is Britain's best selling car with over 5 million sold
and remains a cultural icon around the world, driven by everyone from The
Beatles to Royalty.  The Classic Mini was sold in the U.S from 1960-1967. MINI
(now in uppercase) made its reentry into the U.S. market in March 2002 with
the all-new MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S.  The shortest cars on American
roads have a 2003 starting price of $16.975. MINI has sold over 24,000 since
its 2002 relaunch, more than double classic Mini's eight year 1960s sales
total.  Consumer information on MINI can be found at http://www.miniusa.com.