In 2001, after acquiring the rights to the Mini brand, BMW introduced the modern Mini, a series of compact cars inspired by the Classic Mini. Also known as the Mini Cooper, this new series of cars features styling derived from the original Mini, but with modern technology and safety. The Mini Cooper has been largely offered as a hardtop hatchback or convertible, yet variants such as the Mini Coupe and Mini Roadster have also been available during production. Performance versions of the Mini Cooper, such as the Cooper S and John Cooper Works GP, are among the most notable variants. The Mini Cooper has been built in three generations: 1st Gen (2001-2008), 2nd Gen (20007-2015), and 3rd Gen (2014-).