Rolls Royce MINI Confirmed as Limited Edition Model

hardingsan May 26th, 2009 Link

boo fancy, expensive, limited model runs. isn’t that what the f1/wc50 is supposed to be?

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mp May 26th, 2009 Link

enough with all the blue colors…

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Richard Bowman May 26th, 2009 Link

cooper s silver shadow ??……….

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JonPD May 26th, 2009 Link

Very cool news, I honestly would rather pay for a high end build Mini any day over a so-so performance Mini like the WC50.

Pretty much have given up on Mini ever making a true performance car and have decided my future fun car will likely come from some other manufacture.

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goat May 26th, 2009 Link

Great looking deep dark blue. Crazy price. Interesting times to be a MINI enthusiast though.

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Seth L May 26th, 2009 Link

Head still ‘asplodin over this one. Oh! I hope it has wire wheels!

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Miniadventures May 26th, 2009 Link

Sir Alec Issigonis should rise from the grave and kick some serious 4$$… MINI was born of simplicity, usability, and functionality… Rolls Royce stands for none of these! R53 Forever! Lets Motor! You got it right the first time why not stick with it?

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MINI vanilli May 26th, 2009 Link

$25,000 markup for a nameplate, paint color, reworked dash and headliner, while still keeping the same mechanicals as a regular MINI. LOL!!! its amazing someone intelligent enough to have a spare $50,000 laying around for this MINI would be tricked into buying this car LOL LOL!!

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Chris B. May 26th, 2009 Link

One name/word: BMW. The most marketing driven automotive company in existence. This is yet another fine example.

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Aaron May 26th, 2009 Link

I sort of agree with Miniadventures. I feel this is going too far. I know the car will put a smile on the faces of those driving around in their RR-Pimped-MINIs, but I don’t know…I feel like a little bit of the heart of MINI will have died.

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Minipuma May 26th, 2009 Link

Seems like an odd time, with the economy, to be upscaling the MINI to “rolling bling stock”. I just heard something on the news recently about how “frugal is the new black” even amongst the well-heeled residents of Beverly Hills… i.e., even people who can afford something like a MINI/Rolls Royce feel self-conscious about being seen to have that kind of money right now.

But hey, if you’ve got nothing better to do with 50 grand… go for it!

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Dave Pevsner May 26th, 2009 Link

@Aaron: from the things i’ve been seeing and hearing, it’s clear to me that BMW has no regard for whether or not they dilute the mini brand. but as far as i’m concerned, let people have their fun with these wonky limited edition spin-offs, just make sure there’s still a simple, sensible base model for me. one that’s easily customizable, and has a security sensor shelf that is apparently a perfect size to double up as a hideaway prophylactic compartment. oh, wait…R50 for the win.

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greg May 26th, 2009 Link

$50k? Hello Lotus Elise SC. Goodbye Mini.

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Viley May 26th, 2009 Link

People are overreacting here. C’mon, this isn’t the future of MINI, its a limited edition small run model. If you got the bucks for a limited edition luxury MINI, get it and cheers to you for having something rare. If not, go get a regular R56 and smile the same, or a used R50/53. This is a one-off, not the way the brand is going, let us all take a deep breath. My vote: neat idea. Why not?

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JonPD May 27th, 2009 Link

LOL to this diluting the brand, spend some time looking at the history of the classic and you will see a amazing amount of custom coach builders that built some high spec classics in the day.

So in my rather limited view how on earth will this dilute the brand worse than building a luxury suv that has ZERO historical precedence and goes directly against everything Sir Alec believed in.

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Dr Obnxs May 27th, 2009 Link

OK, $50k minis with custom interiors aren’t my bag of tea at all….. There are lots and lots of other cars I’d buy at that price point…..

But if there are those that want them, fine by me….

Matt

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Pete May 27th, 2009 Link

Whoa! Another $50k MINI?! Hey, MINI, for that kind of money we can buy a real Rolls Royce, albeit a few years old but a Rolls just the same! Or a lot of other cars…

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jarrett May 27th, 2009 Link

Wow to bad this news didn;t come out april 1st

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Aaron May 27th, 2009 Link

I never said anything about this “diluting the brand”. I just think it’s going too far. To me this is getting to be like the folks who put crazy wheels on their grand marquis. I love the MINI, but it seems a bit off to have a car with plastic mesh in the bumpers, a fake hood scoop and black plastic fenders along with a RR interior. Maybe they will change the exterior for this edition too?

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lilcoopr May 27th, 2009 Link

This is really interesting information… It makes sense that BMW would try fitting their engines in MINIs to save money and combine parts of the brand, but to see Rolls Royce teaming up with MINI was a little odd. I’m anxious to see what it will look like and what the price will be. No matter what, there will always be someone buying it as I’m sure it will make a great collector’s item!

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chris May 27th, 2009 Link

Actually Mini has a long history of coach-built luxury editions by firms like Radford and factory luxe editions such as a Wolseley Hornet and the Riley Elf. To me a link up with RR is just the modern interpretation of this tradition.

Sure it’s not for me and if you need to ask ‘how much’ it’s likely not for you either. It also doesn’t mean that there isn’t a decent market for fully coach-built special editions, or expensive luxury options by RR to add to your MINI. Can’t wait to see the output from this collaboration.

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greg May 27th, 2009 Link

Do you have any Grey Poupon?

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gokartride May 27th, 2009 Link

Actually, this should not come as a surprise as we saw somw very nice, very clever interior treatments of MINIs way back in 2003 and they were amazing, illustrating just how far one could go w/ the interior and it still look very MINI. Not everybody’s cup of tea, but as a special edition…fine. Heck, I’d rather see them spend their creative energy cranking out cool special editions than continuing to stretch the MINI’s size.

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misslindsey May 27th, 2009 Link

Only worth $50k if it comes with the hood ornament.

Seriously – I’d much quicker (if ever) write that check for a RR MINI than a JCW MINI. IMO, $50k JCW says you got taken. $50k RR MINI says you’ll put up for nice stuff.

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C4 May 28th, 2009 Link

The “Imelda Marcos” edition MINI. Just what the brand needs!!!!!

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MotoringFile » Archive » Rolls Royce MINI Still Not Approved? Jun 3rd, 2009 Link

[...] Last week we reported on the potential for a Rolls Royce branded MINI. Today, we have updated information and a few photos courtesy of Total MINI. While Rolls Royce is building a MINI, it would appear that full production is still up in the air. Theswitchback.com apparently spoke with a MINI spokesperson who confirmed that a Rolls MINI had been produced and is being considered but is still not been approved for production. [...]

MotoringFile » Archive » Autocar Reports the Rolls Royce MINI is a Go Jun 17th, 2009 Link

[...] + MF Exclusive: Rolls Royce MINI Confirmed as Limited Edition Model / MotoringFile [...]

J. Peacock Sep 17th, 2009 Link

Just once, in my car worshipping life, I would like to have a car that makes me feel “like I made it”. I have rode in a Rolls Royce before and they scream rich inside and out! I would like to have a car that looks every day on the outside yet provides the feeling of a Rolls Royce on the inside. I’ll never own one of my dream automobiles as they are out of my lower middle class income. Thanks to a modest inheritance I am able to afford a Mini designed by Rolls. If all the rumors that are going around about a Rolls Royce designed Mini are correct, they will be making only 2500 world wide, there are 2200 dealers in the US. Chances are I will indeed have the only Rolls inspired Mini in my area. I just put a $1K down at my dealer and, if the car is made, I get the first and hopefully only one to be sold locally. I may not be rich but at least I’ll feel like a millionaire for once in my life, all for a whole lot less than any car on my dream list! JP

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MotoringFile » Archive » Rolls Royce MINI Confirmed? Nov 19th, 2009 Link

[...] items. The exterior will be finished in Ming Blue (seen above in these prototype images and here) first used by Rolls in 1992 on a special 25th anniversary Rolls-Royce Corniche IV of which only 25 [...]