The success of BMW's Mini adventure is continuing to gather force, with the Oxford-built car driving up the profits of the German motor firm.

In the first three months of this year, BMW sold a total of 27,691 Mini Ones and Mini Coopers -- backing up a director's claim that customer reaction to the car had been astounding.

Total revenue for the BMW group rose 14 per cent to 10.8bn euros (£6.8bn) with sales of the new BMW 7-series car powering ahead by 52 per cent.

Profits also spiralled to 632m euros (£395m), four per cent ahead of the same period a year ago. Managers now predicting BMW and Mini sales this year will break the one million mark.

"BMW was able to maintain its success in the first quarter of 2002 and thus continue the growth course set in the record year 2001," the group said.

Last week, BMW revealed £50m is being invested by BMW at the Cowley factory to boost production of the car, which has already exceeded projections. A further 200 permanent jobs will be created by the end of the year on top of the 500 staff who have accepted full-time jobs from the temporary workforce.

The group hopes to produce 100,000 Minis this year as it makes it available in a total of 50 countries worldwide.

A spokesman added that US dealers were asking for more models to cope with demand.