Last week was the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The MINI made its US debut at the NAIAS in January 2001. At that time it was still more than a year away from going on sale in the US. So when the NAIAS 2002 took place, MINI still hadn’t gone on sale.
Pictured is the MINI at the NAIAS 2002 press kit published by MINI Press. Press kits are highly collectible items, especially those for the launch of a new model or in this case, a new brand. This press kit announcing the launch of MINI in the US is an important one (almost as much as the worldwide launch press kit, to be seen later).