I took a picture while I was traveling in some European cities.
I saw some Minis and they were perfectly matching in the cities.
However I still believe Mini's design fit into American cities as well...

 

The MINI is, according to my understanding, rather on the large side compared with most cars for the European market (this was mentioned to me by a friend who visited Italy recently. She said the new MINIs looked "huge" by comparison to other cars on the road). Even still, with narrow streets typically smaller parking spaces, it would be natural to want cars that fit a certain "form factor", to borrow from PC jargon.

I've noticed that the number of MINIs spotted per unit traffic volume tends to go up as I get closer to Baltimore, Philadelphia or Wilmington (the major cities in my region). Conversely, out here in the rural/suburban zone, SUV's and pickups hold sway.

 

When I was in Rome, I was surprised that the trafic was so busy.
There's no lane clearly indicated and so many motor cycles...
You are right. New MINI is bigger than other small cars such as Smart.
But I believe Mini's design would be perfectly matching in the busy downtown anywhere in Europe or in the States.

 

>>When I was in Rome, I was surprised that the trafic was so busy.
>>There's no lane clearly indicated and so many motor cycles...
>>You are right. New MINI is bigger than other small cars such as Smart.
>>But I believe Mini's design would be perfectly matching in the busy downtown anywhere in Europe or in the States.
>>
>>

ahhh .... driving in Italy ... where they say they have a speed limit, it's just no one has reached it yet!

Ciao

Geoff

 

>>ahhh .... driving in Italy ... where they say they have a speed limit, it's just no one has reached it yet!

I'm not brave enough to drive in Italy...
They drive so aggresively without traffic lights!!

 

my family in Italy always hands me the keys to their FIAT when i go visit ever since i was 18 years old (driving age there). there are really crazy drivers there and the narrow streets cause for a lot of mirror slapping. i shattered some lady's mirror while driving through the piazza hers shattered, mine just folded in, she stopped i kept going, oops! sorry lady i think its fun driving over there, especially in the summer

 

The MINI is a big car even in London, there were a few larger Volvo's and BMW's running around but most of the cars were the size of the MINI or smaller...

 

I too like driving in Italy. While agressive, the Italians are pretty good drivers on average. If you want to try real insanity behind the wheel, may I suggest either Guyaquil, Ecuador or Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana, two of my favorite sites for ***** to the wall terror (as in terrible) drivers. Imagine cities of 2+ million inhabitants with no functioning traffic lights.

 

>>my family in Italy always hands me the keys to their FIAT when i go visit ever since i was 18 years old (driving age there). there are really crazy drivers there and the narrow streets cause for a lot of mirror slapping. i shattered some lady's mirror while driving through the piazza hers shattered, mine just folded in, she stopped i kept going, oops! sorry lady