Innocenti Mini

Innocenti Mini 90 / 120 Innocenti Mini de Tomaso
Overview
Manufacturer	Innocenti
Production	1974 – 1982
Assembly	Milan, Italy
Designer	Nuccio Bertone
Body and chassis
Class	Small family car
Body style	3-door hatchback
Layout	FF layout
Related	Mini
Powertrain
Engine	998 cc BMC A-series I4 1,275 cc BMC A-series I4
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,040 mm (80.3 in)
Length	3,120–3,170 mm (122.8–124.8 in)
Width	1,500 mm (59.1 in)
Height	1,365 mm (53.7 in)
Kerb weight	730 kg (1,610 lb) (approx)
Chronology
Predecessor	Innocenti Mini

Innocenti Minitre/990/650 Innocenti Turbo de Tomaso
1990-1993 Innocenti Small 500
Overview
Manufacturer	Innocenti
Also called	Innocenti Small
Production	1982 - 1993
Assembly	Milan, Italy
Designer	Nuccio Bertone
Body and chassis
Class	Small family car
Body style	3-door hatchback
Layout	FF layout
Related	Daihatsu Charade
Powertrain
Engine	548 cc Daihatsu EB I3 617 cc Daihatsu AD I2 659 cc Daihatsu EF I3 993 cc Daihatsu CB22 I3 993 cc Daihatsu CB-DT/CB60/61 turbo I3 993 cc Daihatsu CL10 diesel I3
Transmission	5-speed manual 2-speed semi-automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,045–2,205 mm (81–87 in)
Length	3,135–3,375 mm (123–133 in)
Width	1,515–1,530 mm (60–60 in)
Height	1,340–1,380 mm (53–54 in)
Kerb weight	638–740 kg (1,410–1,630 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Innocenti Mini

The Innocenti Mini is an automobile introduced by Innocenti in 1974. The vehicle was a rebodied, three-door hatchback version of the Mini, styled by Bertone. A five-door prototype was developed around 1980, but was never put into production. After having been sold to de Tomaso in 1976, the Innocenti Mini ended up being powered by Daihatsu-sourced three-cylinder engines and continued in production in incrementally updated forms until 1993.

Prior to developing the Mini 90 / 120 hatchback variants of the Mini, Innocenti undertook assembly of the original Mini design using CKD kits. Introduced in November 1965 as the Innocenti Mini 850, later versions included the 1001, the Cooper, the Cooper 1300 and the Mini T, the latter being an estate car and the only non-saloon variant produced. Assembly ceased in early 1975. Only the very earliest Minis were built using CKD kits. Most of the production was built using shells and components that were locally sourced. The Innocenti Mini shells differ in many ways from contemporary British built ones.

Innocenti, under the ownership of the British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC) developed rebodied versions of the Mini, known as the Innocenti Mini 90L and 120L, which were released at the Turin Show in 1974. The new, Bertone-styled Mini was originally launched in two versions, the 90L and 120L – the former having the 998 cc A-series engine putting out 43 bhp (32 kW; 44 PS), and the latter the 1275 cc unit, with an extra 20 bhp (15 kW) on tap. These outputs were later uprated to 49 bhp (37 kW; 50 PS) and 65 bhp (48 kW; 66 PS) respectively. As for the English-built Mini, the Innocenti received the "dry" rubber cone suspension, which provided excellent handling but at the cost of a very bumpy ride. All Leyland-engined Innocentis received a four-speed manual transmission.

At one point there were even plans for the Bertone-designed Mini to replace the original British Mini, but these came to nothing. Within a year of the car's launch, BLMC went bankrupt and in May 1976 Innocenti was sold to De Tomaso and GEPI. BL retained a 5% stake. The new owners renamed the company Nuova Innocenti ("New Innocenti") and continued to build the car without any real change.