AS the new millennium began, motoring experts at Fleet NewsNet's print sister publication Automotive Management voted the Mini the European car of the 20th century.

Rover Group, meanwhile, is planning to start production later this year of the new Mini, promising the car will be bigger and more powerful, will feature state-of-the-art technology, and will appeal to fleet user-choosers considering cars such as the Peugeot 206 GTI and Mazda MX-5.