New car news

13 April 2011 - 08:00

Mini Ray

Finally, apprentice hairdressers can feel as cool and hip as their ponytail-wearing employers in the salon car park. With sales down 23 per cent on this time last year, Mini is releasing a $25,500 Cooper, the Ray, to take the fight to obvious competitors, Alfa's MiTo and the new Audi A1.

Powered by a 1.6 four cylinder engine that produces 77kW and 153Nm (the Mini Cooper has 90kW/160Nm), the Mini Ray is not only cheaper on the price tag; it's also frugal at the bowser. Mini claims 5.4L/100km fuel economy and ‘well over 700km on a single tank of fuel' from the little engine.

There's a range of five colours to choose from, with contrasting mirror covers and guard vents to add a little, er, individuality (read: isolation) to the cheapest Mini ever.

Those apprentices better be quick, mind you. There's only 300 available at that price initially; hopefully Mini will find a market it never knew it had, and we'll see more of cut-price vehicles in the near future. Perhaps a sub-$20k Rocketman, if it lands?