The 1959 Mini was designed by Alec Issigonis to maximize passenger space in a small car.
Issigonis placed the engine transversely at the front and drove the front wheels, allowing most of the car’s short length to serve the cabin. Small wheels pushed to the corners and compact rubber-cone suspension further improved interior room.
The car was sold initially as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor. “Mini” became the common name, and the model later became a cultural icon as well as an important engineering influence.
The Mini did not invent every element of front-wheel drive or transverse engines. Its importance came from combining them in a highly efficient, affordable package that influenced many later small cars.