Now what an unique experience. I really enjoyed my trip over here in the Mini E. With a fully electric powertrain, the Mini E offers a whole new world of emission free driving fun. This electric Mini E is a breakthrough of the Mini brand into a new age of mobility.

There will soon be over a 500 Mini E's tested in everyday urban driving in the United States and in Germany. Our customers feedback will assist us in developing a series of production vehicles within the BMW group. Now we chose Mini for this field test because Mini is the ideal city car.

Today I would like to address three main topics with you; first of all, 50 years of Mini, secondly an overview of the current status of the Mini worldwide, and last but certainly not least, the introduction of our exciting new products.

In a time marked by fuel crisis and petrol rationing, BMC boss Leonard Lord instructed his brilliant engineer Alec Issigonis to develop a British small car. Issigonis created a piece of history when he created the Mini; short for Miniature which made its debut in 1959 in August. And I am pleased to be able to share with you here an original 1959 Morris Mini Minor, in fact one of the first three to come off the production lines, and it still looks good today.


Now let me begin with a new entry level version the Mini One. The Mini One with 75 Horse Power, 55 kilowatts makes entry into the Mini world even more accessible. This model combines the fascination of Mini driving fun with maximum economy. Fuel consumption, 5.3 liters per hundred and Co2 emission levels of 128 grams per kilometer.

Now here comes another new member of the Mini team, the Mini One Clubman. This new model highlights the brands aspiration to combine product substance with driving fun and driving economy. The efficiency measures Auto Start Stop, Brake Energy regeneration and gear shift indicator all come a standard on both the new entry models; the Mini One and the Mini One Clubman.

Now you know why I am wearing a coat. The new Mini John Works, John Cooper Works Convertible creates a storm. It is the ultimate thrill of open driving in all whether condition, with more speed, more sportiness; this car simply begs you to drive with the roof down, and off course it has an always open meter to measure how long you drive the roof or with the roof down.