BMW is confident the new Mini, on sale next month, will sell its full allocation of 20,000 units in the UK next year, putting the carmaker among the top 10 best sellers.

A spokesman said: “Customers will be attracted by the Mini's competitive price and likely high residuals. We expect private buyers to account for just over 60% of sales and fleets just under 40%.”

Mini, forecast to sell 7-8,000 units this year, would trade partly on its heritage, but also appeal to BMW owners as a second or third car.

“We expect Mini to interest people in their twenties who know about it from films like the Italian Job but have never owned one – they will buy into the sense of history,” said the spokesman.

“It will also attract the older generation, who owned a Mini in the Sixties and want to revisit their youth.” BMW dealers have invested on average £100,000 establishing separate Mini sales points at their dealerships. The carmaker has been keen to create an individual identity for the Mini and has persuaded the SMMT to list it separately to BMW in its registrations data.

The spokesman said: “We are happy for BMW and Mini to share sites, as long as they have clearly defined showrooms, including dedicated Mini sales staff, within the dealership.”

Two models are available from launch: Mini One, priced £10,300 will take 40% of sales, Mini Cooper, £11,600, will account for 60%. Three options packages are offered: Salt, priced £250, for the One; Pepper, £300, and Chili, £440, for the Cooper.

BMW will reveal a supercharged Cooper S early next year, offering 163bhp and improved performance.