Rolls Royce MINI Still Not Approved?

Sections: 50th Anniversary | Rolls Royce Special Edition | Rumor Jun 3rd, 2009 32 Comments

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.

Apparently there has been one Rolls MINI already created for the famous Park Lane MINI dealership in London that could give us a glimpse into what the car could be if it goes into production. A member at Totalmini.com did managed to snap a few photos, like the one seen above. You can see all of the photos here. However we would stress that this is not the Rolls Royce MINI that we’ve been told about.

For what it’s worth our sources were fairly certain that the car was a go as of last week. In fact we were told quite a few dealers in the US have already been told to start taking names for an order list. That said we won’t know for certain until we get further word from sources at MINI.

Written By: DB

Jon

I’m sorry; I just don’t see the point…
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=653192548 Aurel Savin

hmmm … that interior looks rather “stuffy”
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=610504117 Dylan Bland

Aside from the colour, can somebody please explain to me the difference between the MINI in these photos and a regular MINI. Aside from the colour.

If this MINI is approved as it is in the photos, it will severely damage the RR brand imho.

If I owned a genuine RR I’d be gutted.
rhawth99

Just a tarted up and over priced MINI. I don’t see the point.
Ted

LOVE THE PINK CARPET!!! And you all thought the R56 was puffy looking on the outside. The door panel looks like it is made from marshmallow. Yes, centre stack bits are sleek in the gloss black but overall the interior is horrible. I guess rich people have better taste than the rest of us!
http://www.lilcoopr.com lilcoopr

I’m kinda stunned that it doesn’t have more technology in it, like at least the nav system!

That blue with the beige interior looks good though!

Hope there’s an umbrella in a special umbrella holder in the RR MINI too ;)
Fred

Strictly for garage, show days, bragging rights? Looks too pretty to be touched by human hands. Or driven.
DBM

I hope there is a special compartment for grey poupon!
JonPD

Still think a coachbuilt Mini has its place still. Remember this statement by DB “However we would stress that this is not the Rolls Royce MINI that weâ€™ve been told about.”. I still betting on a very classy treatment of the Mini by the talented workers at RR, they could teach Mini a thing or two about interior fit and finish.
VMMVMMM

I also don’t see the point. To me this is a stupid idea, akin to Hummer producing a MINI. Not sure what they think this will accomplish. Just sounds like someone’s dumb idea born out of boredom, possibly.
viley

Its a craftsmanship thing. You don’t pay for the gadgets, you pay for the extreme detail work and for everything firring to within a milimeter, as well as the high quality materials. Its a tactile experience, not a motoring one. I, for one, say thumbs up. The interior is beautiful!
goat

In automotive interiors, black forgiveth all plastic sins. I’ve been saying for a long time that the least expensive “running change” MINI could make to the centre stack would be to run black resin (glossy as in these pics is ideal) in the existing molds rather than the current silver resin. A world of difference in appearance results. Neat to see that at least one car has been given this centre stack change.
greg

Hey! I already used the grey poupon gag. Get your own material.
JP

RR is among the top two or three marquees in the world. A MINI with RR options would only devalue the RR emblem.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=902505721 Josh Hway

I just puked in my mouth. Mini got its name for being the car that performs and handles with the best of them; Porsche, Ferrari, etc, but doesn’t cost nearly as much. Now Mini is making some over priced crap that will appeal to no one. The people who buy Rolls Royce want Rolls Royce, and not some TINY little car that has the same kind of leather on the inside.

BY FAR…The dumbest idea MINI has ever come up with.
CraigE

I just puked in my mouth. Mini got its name for being the car that performs and handles with the best of them; Porsche, Ferrari, etc, but doesnâ€™t cost nearly as much. Now Mini is making some over priced crap that will appeal to no one. The people who buy Rolls Royce want Rolls Royce, and not some TINY little car that has the same kind of leather on the inside.

To the kind of person that can afford a real Rolls, this is a inexpensive fun fashion accessory. Think about it. If you can afford half a mil+ for a Rolls Royce, what is fifty grand for a custom MINI? I can guarantee you, if RR makes it, it will sell. It won’t sell in large numbers, but exclusivity is part of the plan with this kind of car.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1478389903 James Irmiger

Mmmmmmm Leathuh! ;)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1365900163 Dave Pevsner

i think the gloss black plastic looks a lot less gaudy than the stock silver plastic, so you can’t exactly call this a gaudy car. i’ll be the first one to agree that this is insanely overpriced for the typical mini buyer, but let’s hope that mini makes more widespread some of the ideas from this car, and if they keep production limited to four or five hundred around the world, i’m sure they can find buyers for all of them, even at Â£44K. a bit more than the $11K my mini cost me, but the fact that minis are made by BMW is not lost on wealthy buyers, who are just aching for cute little toy cars that park and handle better than the everyday S550 or 750iL that they normally drive.

i do know at least one former mini owner who was flat-out in love with his R53 cooper S until he traded up to an A3 s-line, and would be the type to get an RR-coached mini.
gokartride

It’s nice….we have seen lots of very cool and unusual custom interior treatments over the years…most originating in the UK if I recall. This seems to fit into that category. Who knows how far this will go beyond an experiment, but you never know…some ideas could evolve into real configurator options someday. Let them play.
JonPD

At the end of the day vastly support a coachbuilt Mini way over a SUV MINI. One of these two have a historical precedence(a hint, its not the soccer mom mobile)
viley

To all who hate everything new about MINIs and quote the “mini history”, realize you don’t have to buy it. And if you want to live up to the history of mini, take out your aircon, your CD players, iPhone hookups, and your OBC, then we’ll talk about you being a true purist throwing up due to a decision on a limited edition model.
Mike

I hope MINI puts this center stack into their next redesign.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=561823790 Brendon Ziegenbein

Genius marketing I feel for the mini (from a business standpoint of course)…. how ever if approved it will severely hurt RR. Mini is becoming to “commercialized” and not true to its heritage…..Bring back r53′s
GregW

The old Luxury Minis were the Riley Elf and Wloseley Hornet. They both had centre upright grilles and extended boot tail with fins. The Elf had full width Oak wood dashboard while the Wolseley only had a oak wood oval binnacle. Both had uprated seats. These were for the upper class customers wives. The Austin 1100 had a luxury version – The Vanden Plas Princess 1100 model. Vanden Plas were the poorer mans Rolls Royce. So a luxury MINI ain’t new. But how are they going to put luxury padded seats inside the already restrictive cabin and rear leg room?
JonPD

All that you have to do to understand this development is spend some time learning the history of the classic Minis in the late 60′s. More than a few shops opened up that were building a higher quality Mini. Harold Radford would be chief among these. I tend to think that a RR handled Mini would be a similar product but one with a complete warranty.
David

My dealer has confirmed that a Rolls Royce limited edition Mini is coming this summer. It will be blue. It will be a Cooper S. It will have a Cooper bonnet (i.e. without the air scoop). They think it will be Â£40Kish. No other details yet.
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C4

@Josh Hway:

Could not agree more Josh!

The prevalent MINI corporate mentality in year 2009 is 360 degrees opposite to the magnificent product planning and marketing that MINI had back in 2001-02. The success of the car has gone so far up in their egos that they don’t reason (Or listen) anymore.

I am afraid that MINI, will ultimately be, a victim of its own success. I hope someone throws a bucket of ice cold water over the heads of these “executives” that are making some of the dumbest and most disconnected ideas ever from a car company.

If they want to transform MINI into another “Imelda Marcos” brand, then so be it. But then, don’t you be coming back scratching your head and asking why your market share is eroding.

MINI should be worried about keeping the car up to date and ahead of the more fierce competition coming up around the corner. Worry about fixing current issues in this generation and bring back long lost customers into the fold.
C4

@JonPD:

Who cares? In the midst of the worst global crisis the world has ever since since 1932, a “RR” branded MINI flies on the face on the core values of the MINI and what the car is all about….AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION!

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