Innocenti Mini

Innocenti Mini 90

The Innocenti Mini was a small Italian car, which was produced from 1975 by the Milan Automobile Manufacturers Innocenti. The car is technically based on the mini of British Leyland, but had an independent, Bertone designed body, which made ​​him look much more modern. Equipped with 0.9 or 1.2 -liter four- cylinder engine, it was first sold under the names Mini 90 and Mini 120 sold. Later, other engines and model designations were added. From 1982, the Italian small car emancipated itself from its British roots. He received Japanese drive technology and has been revised several times. At this time he put the name " Mini" from. The cars were then named after the size of their displacement. After 1991, Fiat was acquired majority stake Innocenti, the production of the small car ran out; In 1993, the last Innocenti Mini was produced.

• 3.2.1 Conventional wheelbase 3.2.1.1 Innocenti Tre
• 3.2.1.3 Innocenti Turbo De Tomaso

• 5.1 From Italy
• 5.2 from other European countries
• 5.3 From Japan

History

The company was founded in 1931 Innocenti produced since the 1950s, various British Leyland models under license. They were primarily intended for the Italian market. After the death of its founder in 1966 British Leyland took over the operation. Since then, Innocenti produced mainly the Innocenti Mini licenses which initially sold well. In the late 1960s, modern -designed competitors such as the Autobianchi A112 or the Fiat 127, however, came on the market, the competitiveness of the Italian mini sank. Although British Leyland developed the so-called ADO 74 has a slightly larger and more modern successor to the Mini, the Innocenti had great hopes; but a few months before the bankruptcy of British Leyland in 1974 the work on this project were set without replacement.

As in 1974, the failure of the ADO project loomed 74, Innocenti started their own responsibility with the revision of the Mini. British Leyland supported the development work, but decided already in the concept phase against a sale of the car in the UK. The new Innocenti Mini was first shown to the public at the Turin Motor Show in the autumn of 1974; a few months later, the mass production began. After British Leyland had become and nationalized insolvent, the British company the traditional company Maserati sold his Innocenti -Shares up to a residual of 6% to Italian businessman Alejandro de Tomaso, who already Benelli had next to the sports car manufacturer is named after him, and shortly thereafter should acquire. After Innocenti had the production of new vehicles in 1975 temporarily suspended, put De Tomaso 1976, the production of the small car away. In the following years, the company moved initially continued technical components from the UK. 1981 broke the alliance between de Tomaso and British Leyland. De Tomaso had to revise the mini then.

The car received a new suspension for the model 1982 and was equipped in the future instead of the British engines with engines of Daihatsu. This change led to a significant increase in sales on the Italian market.

From 1975 to 1993, Innocenti 232 387 vehicles of the Mini ago.

Construction

The basic technical structure of the Innocenti Mini corresponded initially largely of the British Mini. The dimensions differed little from each other: The wheelbases of both cars were identical (2040 mm); the Innocenti was an inch longer and wider than ten cm Leyland Mini, and weight surpassed it by 55 kilograms in the base version. Later it was extended by 160 mm series with the designation Innocenti 990 used on the front of the car Innocenti the same subframe as the British Mini; however, the rear structure was independently: Here Innocenti had developed its own subframe, which was more open than the British construction. He allowed a larger fuel tank. The spare wheel was housed lying at the Innocenti, and the battery was - unlike the original Mini - in the engine compartment. Characterized the volume of the luggage compartment has been increased. The rubber suspension of the Mini was unchanged in the first years. The revision of Innocenti held in 1982 a new, conventional suspension feeder. The engines were initially by British Leyland, from 1982 they were purchased from Japan.

The body of the Innocenti Mini was completely self contained. It was designed in 1974 by Bertone. In contrast to the British Mini, she was straight and smooth. A special feature was the great, swinging opening tailgate, which made accessible the trunk. One advantage of the Innocenti was the fold-down rear backseat, which additionally increased the trunk volume.

Individual models

Each version of the Innocenti Mini differ primarily by the used drive technology and - in later versions - by the wheelbase. Between 1975 and 1981, the Innocenti Mini were closely related to the Mini by British Leyland; from 1982, however, showed the car on technical reference to Daihatsu.

British Leyland era

In the first years of production Innocenti used engines and transmissions from British Leyland. During this period three versions of the Italian small car.

Innocenti Mini 90 and Mini Mille

Basic version was presented in 1974 that Innocenti Mini 90 He used a 0.9 -liter four- cylinder engine with initially 43 and later 48 hp. The top speed was 134 km / h From 1980, a technically unchanged version of this vehicle was offered as Innocenti Mini Mille. She pointed to newly designed bumpers made ​​of plastic.

Innocenti Mini 120

The Mini 120 was the more powerful version of the Innocenti. The 1275 cc four-cylinder engine made ​​here 65 hp, 10 hp more than the same engine in the Mini 1275 GT.

Innocenti De Tomaso

The Innocenti De Tomaso introduced in 1976 was a revised version of the Mini 120, the outwardly differed mainly from the 120. The De Tomaso version had wide plastic bumpers with front spoiler, alloy wheels, integrated fog lamps and an air scoop on the hood. The engine was taken from the 120 unchanged, the motor output rose by a revised intake manifold and exhaust to 70 hp. The top speed was 160 km / h The production of the Innocenti De Tomaso ended in 1983. His successor was the 1985 when Innocenti Turbo De Tomaso.

Daihatsu era

From 1982 Innocenti used for engines and transmissions primarily Japanese components that were obtained from the small-car specialist Daihatsu. During this time a large number of different versions, which differ by the engine, but mainly by the length of the wheelbase was born. In the early years of the era, the Daihatsu Innocenti retained the wheelbase of the Leyland Mini. With the introduction of the 990 series in 1986, the wheelbase was stretched by the volume models 160 mm; the base model, which temporarily received a two-cylinder engine, and also the most powerful model, however, retained the short wheelbase.

Conventionally wheelbase

Innocenti Tre

After the independence of British Leyland Innocenti in 1982 presented the model Innocenti Tre ( for Cilindri tre = three cylinders ) as the base version of the small city car. Later it was named Innocenti SE. The car featured a 1.0 -liter three-cylinder engine from Daihatsu with an output of 52 hp. Also, the manual five-speed transmission was sourced from Japan. The top speed was 145 km / h With the introduction of the Series 990 in model year 1986, the production of Tre was abandoned.

Appeared in 1986 on the conventional short wheelbase as the new base version of the Innocenti 650 with a 0.6 -liter two-cylinder engine. The engine's power was 31 hp; the maximum speed is specified at 120 km / hr. Its production was in 1988 reinstated.

It was replaced in 1989 the Innocenti 500 iS, which was powered by a 0.5 -liter three-cylinder engine with 31 hp. The model was produced until 1993.

Innocenti Turbo De Tomaso

As a sports version of the Innocenti Turbo De Tomaso acted whose engine was charged and gave 72 hp. The 1985 introduced Turbo De Tomaso was the most powerful version of the Innocenti Mini. Its top speed was 165 km / h

Extended wheelbase: the Series 990

The Innocenti 990 was introduced in 1986. Compared to the previous model versions of the wheelbase was extended by 160 mm; according to the total length of the car grew to 3375 mm. This series goes back to a study of the Italian subcontractor Embo had developed in 1982. As drive were different engines, each with a displacement of 993 cc and three cylinders.

• A 1.0 -liter gasoline engine with 53 hp engine was the basis of the series 990 dar.
• Economical version was the 990 diesel with a 993 cc big three -cylinder diesel engine. The engine delivers 37 hp, top speed was 125 km / h At times, the diesel was also offered with a turbocharger.

Dissemination

The Innocenti Mini was sold until 1981 in most European countries through the network of British Leyland dealer. In the UK, however, the car was not officially available; only 1979 imported a distributor some models to the UK. After the official presentation of the car did not fit into the model range of British Leyland. Outside observers, however, go on the assumption that British Leyland feared for the success of their own, outdated models. Also in Germany drove the Leyland dealer until 1981 the Innocenti Mini; later took a free importer sales.

Competitors

The Innocenti Mini competed mainly with Italian small car. Since the 1980s, he was noticeably more expensive than its competitors. The company tried to make up for the price differential by a superior standard equipment.

From Italy

• Autobianchi A112
• Fiat 127
• Fiat Panda
• Lancia Y10

From other European countries

• MiniMetro
• Seat Panda

From Japan

Many Japanese automakers produced in the 1970s and 1980s their own offers in the so-called Kei -car class; particularly intense Daihatsu and Suzuki were represented in this market. Most of these small vehicles were reserved for the domestic market. In larger quantities, only the Daihatsu Cuore was exported to Europe.