"A complete departure from the expected, it grabs your attention from the very first second," says brand communications manager Roger Fitzsimons.
In fact, it almost doesn't show the car at all - at least not for the first 20 seconds: "It's all about building an iconic brand," according to Fitzsimons.
He may be right. Do we really need to see another car driving through a leafy lane at dusk? Judging by the incredible consumer response Mini's had, probably not.
The opening sequence of a man leaping slow-motion Matrix-style through the air before landing in a gorgeous hot orange MINI Cooper S convertible, has both a cinematic and intriguing quality which has viewers hooked.