The new MINIS is the cat’s pyjamas, the bee’s knees, and whatever other animal clothing / appendage you can think of. Best of all – now you have the chance to sit in the driver’s seat of this bad-boy for less than a decent laptop.

In celebration of the new MINI, the company has released a video that takes us on a journey from the very first Mini, running through all the way to the latest “new original” MINI Cooper/Cooper S Hatchback. Their momentum has been building all the way from the very first design to the latest, ultimate MINI, which has just been unveiled.

The hatchback sets the visual standard for the rest of the rides in Mini’s rapidly expanding lineup, and it also carries the torch for the fun-loving, chic brand. The new hatch’s design should eventually migrate in some form or another to the Cooper Coupe, Roadster, five-door Countryman, four-door Clubman, and the Paceman sometime down the road.

By the sounds of things, this is indeed the “new original” as MINI claims, and what an original it is, to inspire a new generation of MINIs.

The biggest new addition to the new MINI is hard to miss: the new-look MINI Centre Instrument is now more significant than ever.

An LED ring runs round the edge, and offers your MINI an entirely new means of communicating with you. Just as between best friends, you’ll find you don’t need to speak to understand one another. And talking of good friends, MINI Connected allows you to share all the fun you have in your new MINI in real time, via Facebook, Twitter and foursquare.

Check out a full rundown of the amazing specs here, and the full spiel from Mini (with some stunning pics) here.

Bet you didn’t know that you can now pick up your BRAND NEW MINI HATCH for UNDER R3,500 per month HERE?

What are you still doing reading this… RUN!

[Sources: Car and Driver, Mini, AutoExpress]