Oh great, yet another special edition MINI, you're probably thinking. Well not quite: in fact, there are three.
And more MINIs can only be a good thing. These special editions mark half a century of MINI, as the names MINI 50 Mayfair and MINI 50 Camden suggest.
The Mayfair model seeks to capture the heritage and traditional features of the classic Mini. Styling features including unique 17-inch, 12-spoke Infinity Stream alloy wheels finished in white, three dimensional bonnet stripes in an all-new Toffee metallic finish, additional headlights on the radiator grille, mirror caps in black with Hot Chocolate pinstripes and a discreet "Mayfair" logo positioned next to the car's indicator lenses are all fitted as standard. The MINI 50 Mayfair is available in Hot Chocolate or Midnight Black metallic finishes with contrasting white roof, or Pepper White solid paintwork with black roof.
Seats in Leather Lounge specification reflect the car's classic exterior design cues. The white piping against Toffee-coloured leather is set off by stitching in a turquoise-green hue. The 'Mayfair' logo again features on the front seat backrests.
Meanwhile the MINI 50 Camden is predominantly silver, white and black in colour. A 17-inch alloy wheel in an all-new White Shield design is exclusive to this model and is notable through contrasting silver inner surfaces and matt, polished contour lines around the outer edge of the rim. Bonnet stripes extending from the headlamps toward the car's A-pillars are finished in an almost 3D silver stripe trim, accentuating the futuristic appearance of the car. The side indicator frames house a black and white Union Jack badge and "Camden" logo. These are in addition to a "MINI 50" logo on the door entry trim.
The trim panels in the doors are supplied in Fluid Silver as standard. Sports seats in Carbon Black Cloth and Leather Ray White upholstery boast leather surfaces matched to the bottom edge of the instrument panel and armrests in the door linings, all finished in Tech White. The seats themselves carry the "Camden" logo in the backrests.
Both new editions are available in MINI Cooper, Cooper D and Cooper S Hatch guises, featuring the same chassis and suspension arrangements as the standard models.
Meanwhile, if barnstorming performance be your bag, the third special edition is the MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50. Finished in John Cooper's signature colour - Connaught Green - it's based on the Hatch version of the current MINI JCW. The 1.6-litre, 211 hp turbocharged John Cooper Works-tuned engine sits beneath a body featuring numerous specification upgrades, both inside and out.
Signatures appear on the right bonnet stripe as well as on a plaque on the dash facia. The signature in fact belongs to John Michael Cooper, the son of John Cooper.
The car's 17" CHALLENGE cross-spoke alloy wheels are finished in Jet Black, giving the car a more menacing and dynamic appearance. The standard Xenon headlamps are encased in black internal reflectors, enhancing the car's presence. Lightweight and eye-catching Carbon parts are found in the shape of the bonnet scoop, tailgate trim, rear apron, mirror caps and interior dash.
The car will be produced in a limited run of 250 models, solely for distribution in Europe. Each one will display its unique production number, ranging from 001-250.
The MINI 50 Camden and MINI 50 Mayfair editions will go on sale in Great Britain from September 2009, with dealers ready to take orders now. Pricing and an on-sale date for the MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 edition will be announced in the near future. |
