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The Mini Cooper was first introduced in 1961, shortly after the Morris Mini and Austin Mini were released. Created by Cooper Car Company owner John Cooper in conjunction with car designer Sir Alec Issigonis, the original Mini Cooper was produced until 2000, when a new range was released by BMW. The Mini Cooper was created as a performance-oriented version of the original design.
Upon its release, the Mini Cooper proved to be a success, particularly when the improved Mini Cooper S was released in 1963. Mini Cooper sales were high and the Mini Cooper was well received during the 1960s. During this time, several changes were made to the Cooper's appearance and performance. Several limited editions were also released during the original Mini Cooper's run, including the Mini Cooper RSP in 1990 and the Mini Cooper Monte Carlo in 1994. The Mini Cooper Sport 500 was released in 2000 and marked the end of the Mini Cooper's original run.
In 2000, BMW took over ownership of the Mini name and the brand became BMW MINI. Although the new Mini Cooper was different to its predecessor, many of the original design features were kept. The new Mini Cooper cars were unveiled in 2002 and offered a stylish design and new features. In 2006, an electronic stability control feature was added for the John Cooper Works GP special limited edition.
Over the years, the design was kept more or less the same, with minor changes such as a longer design in 2007. In 2011 release of the MINI Countryman offered a vehicle with better performance on different terrains, and a sleeker design.
A wide range of secondhand Mini Cooper cars and nearly New Mini Cooper deals are now available, and Mini Cooper cars have been highly successful over the years, earning several awards. In 2005, the model received an award for 'Best Mini Cooper Convertible' at the MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards.