Over a period of time, car majors have counted on the visibility quotient of action-packed Bollywood movies to promote their upcoming vehicles and carve a niche in the market without much effort. The latest example is that of BMW, which has decided to offer a perfect launch pad to its MINI Cooper by featuring the small car in the film Players that went on the floor on 6th January 2012.
The film was successful to pull the crowd at the box-office, with the sporty and luxury BMW models adding much numbers. As a matter of fact, the trend of introducing new car models in big banner movies is gaining popularity among viewers.
In the past, Hollywood movies like James Bond series, Mission Impossible and Fast and Furious have shown pulse racing car chases that featured futuristic car models in abundance. Prior to Players, Don 2 became the talk of town with a 67 cars action sequence that was shot in Berlin, stealing the show.
Following the footsteps of Italian Job, the 1969 hit film, the Abhishek Bachchan starrer Players has used BMW Mini Cooper, Mazda MX5 and modified Chrysler 300C limo in various action scenes. As a matter of fact, the new BMW models have also been displayed at the 11th edition of Delhi Auto Expo. It must be noted that the BMW Mini Cooper hatchback earns the title of world’s best mini sports car.
The German automobile maker came out at the expo with both petrol and diesel variants of Mini Cooper. BMW stand also showcased the Mini Countryman which has been offered with a crossover appearance. The Mini Cooper boasts of a 1.6-litre petrol engine that is capable of generating a maximum power of 122 hp. On the other hand, the diesel-run Mini Cooper is also equipped with the same 1.6-litre engine that returns a peak power of 110 hp.
The Mini Cooper model is likely to carry a price tag ranging between Rs. 18 lacs and Rs. 32 lacs. On the other hand, the price of Mini Countryman would fall within the bracket of Rs. 20 lacs and Rs. 25 lacs.
Using high-end platforms, the BMW models are set to contend with much aplomb against the likes of Volkswagen Beetle and Fiat 500 in the Indian market.
