<P> In some markets, such as Australia and the US, only the Mini Cooper and Cooper S are offered . Other trim lines of note, sold in varying markets around the world, are the Mini Seven, Mini Park Lane, Mini Check Mate, and Mini Monte Carlo . </P> <P> The Mini Hatch (US: Hardtop) was designed by Frank Stephenson, and drew inspiration from the original two - door Mini . Development of the car was conducted between 1995 and 2001 by Rover Group in Gaydon, United Kingdom and BMW in Munich, Germany . During this development phase, there was continual contention between the two design groups, especially concerning the positioning of the car; Rover wanted a straight economy car, whilst BMW supported a small, sporting car . Ultimately, BMW prevailed, and in 1999, they assumed control over the entire project following the departure of BMW's CEO, Bernd Pischetsrieder . When BMW sold off Rover in 2000, it retained the Mini project, and moved the planned production site of the car from Rover's Longbridge plant, to BMW's Oxford plant in Cowley, Oxford, England . The team of designers working on the 2001 Mini had finished the full - sized clay mock - up of the Mini in plenty of time for a presentation to the board of directors . However, the American chief designer, Frank Stephenson, realised that the model did not have an exhaust pipe . His short - term solution was to pick up an empty beer can, punch a hole in it, strip off the paint and push it into the clay at the back of the car, which took just a few minutes . The overall design for the mock - up was so good that the board members told him not to change a thing, resulting in the distinctive exhaust tip seen in production cars . </P> <P> The first generation of the new Mini received a facelift in July 2004 for the upcoming 2005 model year . This was also when the new convertible was introduced; it was never available with the pre-facelift design . Aside from minor design changes (mostly up front) and improved equipment, the Rover R65 manual gearbox replaced a Getrag five - speed . </P> <P> The vehicles produced during the 2001 to 2006 model years included four hatchback models (UK and some international markets: Hatch, US: Hardtop, other markets just plain Mini): the standard "Mini One", the diesel - engined "Mini One / D", the sportier "Mini Cooper" and the supercharged "Mini Cooper S"; in 2005, a convertible roof option was added to the Mk I line - up . In November 2006, BMW released a facelift version of the Mini Hardtop as a 2007 model - year vehicle . </P>

When did the 5 door mini come out