25,000 gather to celebrate the past, present and future of MINI

MINI 50 Camden, MINI 50 Mayfair and MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 unveiled at global party.

More than 25,000 people from 40 countries made the trip to a sun-drenched Silverstone Circuit for MINI United 2009. In addition to top draw live entertainment provided by headliners Paul Weller and Calvin Harris, fans indulged in MINI Challenge racing, stunt driving, fascinating car displays and were treated to the unveiling of three new special edition models to mark the iconic brand’s 50th birthday. The MINI 50 Camden, MINI 50 Mayfair and MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 editions made their public debuts at MINI United 2009.

Ten thousand classic and new MINIs assembled at the legendary British race circuit for the bank holiday party. To mark the 50th anniversary, MINI took the wraps off a reinterpretation of a unique classic Mini owned by George Harrison. This one-off, presented to Olivia Harrison on Saturday night, was developed from a design brief produced by The Beatles star’s widow. Olivia Harrison accepted the MINI on behalf of the Material World Charitable Foundation, a charity which George Harrison founded in 1973. The car will be auctioned this year to raise funds for the foundation.

Olivia said: “George was a huge MINI fan and he would have loved this new version. The fact that the 50th anniversary celebrations for MINI will also benefit our foundation has made it an enjoyable as well as meaningful collaboration.”

There were many more unique models to get pulses racing among the fans. British fashion designer Paul Smith presented the model created by him in 1997, while designs by David Bowie, Kate Moss, Missoni and the acclaimed illustrator and graphic designer Alan Aldridge were also on display. Similar attention-grabbers were the original cars from “The Italian Job” and “Austin Powers” films.

Three special editions mark half a century of MINI
The MINI 50 Mayfair and MINI 50 Camden editions will go in to production in August 2009 for one year only.

MINI 50 Mayfair
This uniquely-specified model seeks to capture the rich 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.

The Carbon Black interior trim is paired with a dash finish identical to the exterior mirror caps.

Toffee colouring extends to the knee-roll below the dash, gearshift lever knob and an inlay situated in the lower half of the steering wheel.

Interior door trim panels are Piano Black, the floor mats carry white piping around their edges and the premium-finish Chrome Line Interior completes the interior line-up.

MINI 50 Camden
Predominantly silver, white and black in colour, the MINI 50 Camden has a striking appearance. Its dynamic character is denoted by body paint in White Silver metallic, in combination with a solid white roof. The MINI 50 Camden will also be available in Midnight Black or Horizon Blue metallic finishes.

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.

Like the MINI 50 Mayfair, the mirror caps are two-tone, in white silver with silver pinstripes. Xenon headlights are a standard feature, boasting black internal reflectors, adding to its unique, futuristic appeal.

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 interior trim is equally impressive in this special newcomer. Carbon Black colouring contrasts with a dash finished in white silver/silver pinstripes.

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. Stitching in a mixture of black and turquoise-green provides an additional colour highlight and also features on the black gaiters around the gearshift and handbrake levers.

Model derivative choices
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, the choice of two petrol engines and one diesel unit ensure there will be a version to suit every MINI customer. The popular CHILI pack is specified on both models as standard.

On-the-road pricing for MINI 50 editions:

MINI Cooper Mayfair £18,415.00
MINI Cooper D Mayfair £19,485.00
MINI Cooper S Mayfair £21,280.00

MINI Cooper Camden £18,165.00
MINI Cooper D Camden £19,235.00
MINI Cooper S Camden £21,030.00

The new MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50
In the mid-1960s the classic Mini’s profile on the world stage was boosted by a trio of giant-killing Monte Carlo Rally wins. It was the sports car tuning expertise of the legendary John Cooper that set Mini on its course in motorsport. 50 years on, MINI will launch the most exquisitely finished, highly specified and desirable model to ever bear the Cooper name; the MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50.

Finished in John Cooper’s signature colour - Connaught Green - the flagship model is based on the Hatch version of the current MINI John Cooper Works.

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. Mike had the idea for the edition to celebrate his father’s Formula 1 World Championship victory in 1959. In that year his father’s racing team won both the F1 constructors championship and driver’s championship with Jack Brabham at the wheel. These victories were repeated again in 1960.

The car’s 17” CHALLENGE cross-spoke alloy wheels are finished in Jet Black, giving the car a 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. Every car will display its unique production number, ranging from 001-250. This can be found next to the indicator lens on every MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 model.

Black Leather Lounge seats are edged in red piping, which is a combination unique to this edition. Nearly every option available to buyers of the existing MINI John Cooper Works Hatch is fitted as standard on the MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50. The on-the-road price is expected to reflect the car’s highly impressive specification and its array of unique features. Desirable standard equipment includes a Harmon Kardon Hi-Fi system, DAB radio, Full Bluetooth with USB audio, MINI Navigation system, Park Distance Control, Heated Front Seats and a Multi-function Steering Wheel.

The exciting MINI 50 Camden and MINI 50 Mayfair editions unveiled at MINI United 2009 will be on sale in Great Britain from September 2009. UK MINI dealers are 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.