These days a small car is a Smart, iQ, maybe a Yaris, Mazda 2 and so on. The car that really started the whole mini car thing was, wait for it, the Mini. You tend to forget just how tiny the things were until you see one in the street. Everything else dwarves it. The BMW MINI is huge compared to this. And with each successive new model, it keeps on growing. This one was in Glebe Point Road today, and I was amazed at how straight the body is. Not a ripple on any panel. Really beautiful. Nice mods too, little bolt on flares, mags, purple paint. Sweet. Unfortunately one of the thoughts that's inescapable is that if you got clobbered by a Honda Civic, you'd come off second best. How about a Cayenne, Q7, Land Bruiser? I don't want to think about it. I'll just appreciate the car for what it is. I've read somewhere that Mini's drivetrain packaging - engine, transmission, final drive all in one unit - influenced the design of the Lamborghini Miura.
