THE MINI 5-DOOR IS FOR DRIVERS WHO ARE NOT AFRAID OF FORGING THEIR OWN PATHS IN LIFE.
In life, there are two kinds of people: Those who blend in and are content to go with the crowd, and trailblazers that others will eventually follow.
But to walk the unbeaten path is to go down a road filled with uncertainty. It is a journey that not many will dare to embark on.
For instance, how many folks would choose a career as a designer, sculptor or chef, instead of being a lawyer, doctor or engineer?
Not many men would choose to shave with a straight razor and risk cutting themselves. Even fewer people would opt to write letters with a fountain pen, as opposed to typing e-mails or sending e-cards.
But to these offbeat individuals, unconventional methods are the most satisfying ways of going through life.
A designer can end up making products that people will need. A sculptor has the potential to indulge in his passion while pleasing art collectors. A chef’s culinary creations tantalises diners and inspires romance.
A straight razor, though dangerous, can still deliver the closest and cleanest shave possible. And writing letters with a fountain pen? It is slower and more tedious than using a regular ballpoint pen. But it’ll prove to the recipient that he or she is worth the effort. Each word had to be carefully considered – there is no “Backspace” key.
Like these unique individuals, the MINI 5-Door is a car that walks its own path.
Self-proclaimed purists might bemoan the fact that the MINI 5-Door is “too big”. Well, you can’t blame them. Compared to the MINI 3-Door, the MINI 5-Door is 161mm longer, 11mm taller and has a 72mm longer wheelbase. These folks will probably also be aghast at how the MINI 5-Door’s boot is 67 litres larger than that of the MINI 3-Door.
So today’s MINIs are larger and roomier than yesterday’s Minis. But that is not the point.
Perhaps purists have forgotten that MINI has always been an offbeat brand that marches to the beat of its own drums.
When the first Mini rolled off the production line in 1959, it broke several moulds. Unlike most cars of that era, its engine was transversely, not longitudinally mounted. It was front-wheel-drive instead of rear- wheel-drive. And despite its diminutive size, it could comfortably accommodate four adults.
Today’s MINI 5-Door continues to reflect the brand’s ethos. It is striking, expressive and confident. It does not have to conform to any expectations.
In short, the MINI 5-Door is as unconventional as its forebears. And for drivers who walk their own path in life, it suits them just fine.
