In 1959, the British Motor Corporation (BMC) released a car unlike almost anything else on the market. It was small — really, really small — but, thanks to its stunningly clever design, four adults could sit comfortably inside (albeit perilously close to the ground). Its boxy design led it to quickly become a cultural icon and symbol of the British car industry. In just six years, BMC had sold over 1 million Minis.

Egypt can take small, but significant, credit for its role in the development of the Mini. The disastrous Suez crisis of 1956 led not only to the rapid dissolution of British global power, but also to petrol rationing in Britain. Interest was raised in more fuel-efficient vehicles among carmakers and drivers, and the development of the Mini followed in earnest.

If the Suez crisis led to the development of the Mini, it was the classic 1969 film The Italian Job which earned it an eternal place in popular culture. The climactic ending of the gold-heist movie saw three Minis, loaded with stolen bullion, outrun a series of cars through the scenic streets of Turin. The small, zippy nature of the Minis is outlined in the chase to maximum effect; the cars are shown driving almost vertically up the side of the domed Palazzo Vela, down the long, steep set of stairs fronting the Gran Madre di Dio church and finally escaping the police by driving into conveniently Mini-sized sewer pipes.

Fast forward to 2007, and history seems to be repeating itself; high fuel prices have led to high demand for compact, fuel-efficient cars. Retro is the new buzzword in aesthetic circles. The Italian Job is once again a hit in the cinemas, and again its use of the iconic car has driven interest in the brand, relaunched as the new MINI (yes, now all in capitals).

However, as sixties cultural icon Bob Dylan sings in the soundtrack to 2000’s Wonder Boys, “things have changed.” Mini, the quintessential British symbol, is now owned by Germany’s BMW; The Italian Job is now served reheated as a lackluster American remake, climaxing with a Los Angeles traffic jam; and the new MINI — now required to meet strict safety and emissions standards — weighs in almost twice as heavy, two feet longer and a foot wider than the original.

All this extra size and weight is a byproduct of the major advancements in automotive technology that have taken place since the original Mini rolled off the production line — in a time when things like seatbelts and rear view mirrors were sold as optional accessories. The new MINI is packed with modern auto technology, including a continuously variable transmission, electronic stability control, ‘drive by wire’ throttle control and a high-tech multi-link suspension system usually associated with much larger rear-wheel-drive cars.

One thing remains the same — the new MINI is still seriously fun. The design is simply cool — cool in a way that no longer seems in vogue with carmakers. On the outside, the boxy design lives on, featuring customizable contrasting colors on the roof and mirrors and racing stripes on the bonnet. The interior is blessed not only with the funkiest-looking speedometer on the market today, but also with colored mood lighting, varying from dull yellow to spaceship blue and everything in-between, all with the twist of a knob.

For Egyptian drivers looking for German quality, British style sensibilities straight out of the sixties and Cairo-friendly dimensions, the MINI is a good bet. Its sub-hatchback size would come in handy for parking on those nightmarish streets, and the various models come with a range of powerful, high-torque 1.4- and 1.6-liter engines, placing the car in the lowest range of import tariffs.

The entry level MINI Cooper One comes with a 1.4-liter, 70kW engine that can bring the car up to a respectable 185 kilometers per hour while still consuming less than six liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. For those looking for something a little bit zippier, the MINI Cooper S comes with a 128kW, 1.6-liter engine, and will take you from 0-100 kilometers per hour in 7.1 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 225 kilometers per hour. Both cars handle extremely well, given their low center of gravity, light weight and smart design — and both are guaranteed to look unique on the streets of Cairo, where something with looks like this is sure to turn heads.

The new MINI launches in Egypt in May and is available from the Bavarian Auto dealership in Heliopolis.  et