A worldwide marketing campaign to boost Oxford's profile as the home of the new Mini could lead to a major jobs boost.

BMW plans to project the city as a centre of hi-tech excellence in its promotion of the car which made its UK debut yesterday at the British International Motor Show in Birmingham.

The news was welcomed by Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Oxford East MP Andrew Smith who said the car maker had "great ideas" to boost the image of the city. He said the car could lead to the creation of more jobs outside the Cowley factory.

He said: "They have great plans for the redesign of the Cowley plant and for presenting Oxford as the home of the new Mini.

"There are cities all over the world where people are encouraged to go to see their car being built and to buy their car. Given the number of foreign visitors, this could put the Cowley plant right on the tourist map."

"This is going to have a double impact on Oxfordshire and create jobs outside the car factory as the city is promoted across the world in new ways."

BMW's managing director at Oxford, Herbert Diess, confirmed that another 230m would be pumped into the plant, on top of 290m already spent. The investment will secure 2,500 jobs at Oxford.