2006 Special Editions Announced

From MINI PR:

This September, MINI will add three new models to the existing hatchback range. MINI One Seven, MINI Cooper Park Lane and MINI Cooper S Checkmate.

Since launch, MINI customers have always benefited from the availability of the cost effective Sale, Pepper, and Chili option packages. These packages remain, but the ‘Seven’, ‘Park Lane’ and ‘Checkmate’ models add exclusive equipment and additional standard specification, giving the MINI driver even more choice when it comes to personalizing their car.

The new models offer unique specification, colours and trim. Prices are as follows (UK):

• MINI One Seven: 12,565 (all UK Pounds)
• MINI Cooper Park Lane: 15,260
• MINI Cooper S Checkmate: 17,635

Andy Hearn, MINI UK General Manager said: “MINI’s desirability in the UK continues to set-it apart from it’s competitors. New and used car sales continue to rise and the arrival of ‘Seven’, ‘Park Lane’ and ‘Checkmate’ adds to the mouthwatering choices for potential MINI buyers. With the new models MINI is set to continue the excitement enjoyed over the last four years by both our customers and the Oxford factory.”

All three new MINIs offer exclusive equipment, plus other MINI options as standard.

MINI One Seven
The new MINI ONe Seven exclusively feature Solar Red metallic paint, ‘Seven’ cloth and ‘Seven’ interior trim, MINI Seven decals and 15″ Delta spoke alloy wheels. Additional MINI options which feature as standard on ‘Seven’ are Automatic Stability Control and Traction (ASC+T), sports leather steering wheel, rear spoiler, floor mats, passenger seat height adjust, storage compartment pack, front fog-lights, manual air conditioning, on board computer, interior lights pack and white indicators.

MINI Cooper Park Lane
The new MINI Cooper Park Lane exclusively features Royal Grey metallic paint, ‘Park Lane’ leather and interior trim, ‘Park Lane’ decals, silver roof, two-tone sports leather steering wheel, 16″ Bridge spoke alloy wheels and silver bonnet stripes.

Additional MINI options which feature as standard on ‘Park Lane’ are ASC+T, rear spoiler, chrome line interior and exterior, floor mats, passenger seat height adjust, storage compartment pack, front fog-lights, automatic air conditioning, on board computer, interior lights pack, chrome mirror caps, front sports seats and white indicators.

MINI Cooper S Checkmate
The new MINI Cooper S Checkmate exclusively features Space Blue metallic paint, ‘Checkmate’ cloth/leather interior trim, ‘Checkmate’ decals, silver rood and mirror caps, 3-spoke two-tone sports leather steering wheel, 17″ Flame spoke alloy wheels and silver bonnet stripes. Additional MINI options which feature as standard on ‘Checkmate’ are limited slip differential, floor mats, passenger seat height adjust, storage compartment pack, front fog-lights, manual air conditioning, on board computer, interior lights pack, anthracite headlining and xenon headlights.

The three new models will join the existing seven model line-up of MINI One, MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper S, MINI One D, MINI One Convertible, MINI Cooper Convertible and MINI Cooper S Convertible.

Four years since it’s launch, the new MINI continues to break sales records across the globe. MINI sales in the UK are up 12 per cent year-to-date and this is matched at a global level across the 70 different markets with over 90,000 cars registered in 2005.

MF Analysis: Stickers, chrome, and some new colors. Yes these are the special editions we’ve all been hearing about. Furthermore, as we mentioned a few months back, the US market will likely not see these cars as special editions at all. Instead the US market will get many of the new features and special colors as a la carte options. It looks like MINIUSA may be offering the Checkmate “Special Options” package which will include most of the Checkmate appearance options plus a few items from the Sport Package.

The JCW options that have been mentioned previously may still be on tap for November production, but we won’t see them in these special editions.

BTW congrats to Paul for getting wind of these UK special editions last year.