THE new Mini hatch, completely new from the ground up, is priced from £15,300.

Every component has been back to the drawing board in an effort to optimise its performance, style and function.

The result is ‘the new original’, a Mini that’s distinctly familiar but enhanced, with improvements in technology, engine efficiency and power delivery, driving dynamics, quality and personalisation.

Inside it’s more spacious and quieter, with improvements to acoustics inside the cabin.

New technology also ensures that the new Mini is the most connected car in its segment and the first car to offer the option of LED headlamps for both dipped and main beam.

Five new exterior colours have been added to the palette, while the roof and exterior mirror caps can be finished in a contrasting colour, black or white, at no cost.

Roof rails are available for the first time. Other ways of adding a touch of individual style include black or white bonnet stripes.

Keyless-go is now standard across the range. The start/stop toggle switch features a heartbeat illumination that pulses before the engine is started.

Three new engines are available, each featuring TwinPower Turbo Technology for environmental efficiency, while six-speed manual transmission is standard.

The Mini Cooper Hatch has a three-cylinder petrol engine with a peak output of 134bhp. The Mini Cooper S Hatch is powered by a four-cylinder petrol engine which develops 189bhp. And the Mini Cooper D Hatch comes with a three-cylinder diesel engine with an output of 114bhp. The latter model is the star performer for fuel efficiency, with an average combined economy of 80.7mpg.