World Permier: DSQUAREDÂ² Life Ball MINI 2011

Sections: Design | Official News | R56 (Hatch) May 21st, 2011 20 Comments

Official Release: Dean and Dan Caten, better known as the Canadian designer duo DSQUAREDÂ², today unveil their exclusive Life Ball MINI 2011 in Vienna. The twin brothers refashioned their MINI Cooper S to ensure that it would be armed for adventures of all kinds. Among its striking features are the front guard, rally headlamps, tinted side windows with grilles and the spare tyre on the tailgate. But thatâ€™s not all: the vehicleâ€™s raised chassis and deep-tread all-terrain tyres instantly evoke a sense of adventure. When it came to the interior, our two designers similarly scrutinised every detail. If road signs are unclear, thereâ€™s a compass to help you head in the right direction, while floormats made of structured aluminium sheeting protect the inside from dirt. The trademark DSQUARED2 maple leaf on the leather head restraints and the side doors rounds off the cabin of this robust MINI with a stylish flour. Dean and Dan are delighted with the result: â€œOur MINI â€˜Red Mudderâ€™ is 100 per cent DSQUAREDÂ².â€ Tonight this one-off will be gliding along the red carpet at the legendary Life Ball.

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This year sees carmaker MINI supporting Europeâ€™s biggest AIDS charity event for the 11th time. Each year a one-off MINI is created for the Life Ball, the proceeds of which support projects combating HIV/AIDS. Since 2001 more than half a million euros has been generated by these specially styled Life Ball MINI models on behalf of Aids Life. Gery Keszler, the founder and organiser of the Life Ball, is impressed by this longstanding collaboration: â€œMINI has been a partner of the Life Ball for 11 years and each year it demonstrates anew its creativity, enthusiasm and passion for this good cause. This yearâ€™s Life Ball MINI designed by DSQUAREDÂ² provides further persuasive evidence of this.â€ In previous years, designers such as Agent Provocateur, Donatella Versace, Diesel, Missoni and Gianfranco FerrÃ© obliged with their own designs for a Life Ball MINI.

The social commitment of the BMW Group. Worldwide measures to combat HIV/AIDS are one of the main elements of the corporate and social policy pursued by the BMW Group. The companyâ€™s involvement in South Africa is particularly wide-ranging, covering a comprehensive workplace programme for employees and their families, plus a number of different projects in the local communities and further afield. The carmaker is also committed to fighting this pandemic in other affected countries, such as Thailand or China. Membership of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBC) underlines its long-term commitment at its various locations.

Written By: Gabe

Trpaulk

ME LIKIE!!!Â
Anonymous

AMAZING!!Â I want one!Â
Anonymous

Wait a minute – those wheel arch trims are flared extra wide – that is not the stock trim, is it? Is that the arch trim used on the Challenge cars? What’s the part number for those? Is this something you can already get under JCW accessories? I could see a lot of people interested in those widened arch flares, to fit wider rubber. In fact I’m surprised no third party had stepped in to make these before.

I feel like somebody has been holding back on us here – MF, please get to the bottom of this. Where are they from?

Oh, and note the Bridge Spokes, the wheel that just won’t quit.
http://about.me/bentyyc Ben Tsui

Â Oh, Canada!
minipuma

Â Wow.
http://twitter.com/fourblades fourblades

Â Wonder what else they did with the suspension, I see they removed the rear seats and steering has been replaced. Wonder how the Clubman would have looked like if it wasÂ DSQUAREDÂ² designed.
Bor

Â great looking car, I’d buy one
http://www.facebook.com/people/Wolfgang-Gullich/100001637967903 Wolfgang Gullich

Â This would go very well with my Wrangler Unlimited!
dez

Â Yeah I’d buy one…Â

@lavardera:disqusÂ Â I think those fenders maybe be custom. Â here is a video with a little more on building it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG7jghd3P88&feature=relmfu

Anonymous

You can see them putting the arch trim on, but no word where it came from.

Banj

I really like the black mesh grille headlamp covers. Does anyone know where to find these for an R56?
Anonymous

…very cool…Â
Jollyrogers33

I also like it.Â It would look good in BRG as well.Â I would like the parts list for the mods.Â
MINIme

OK, so these guys need to restyle a Countryman S All4!!Â This is the direction MINI should have taken from the factory with that car… Â
Chris Underwood

If MINI were to offer this, in AWD, I’d be all over it – as would a good number of others, I’m sure.
Harry Dill

Diesel power + AWD would make this a winner! Â A canvas drop top version might also be nice along with an updated Airstream Bambi in tow and a couple of rugged mountain bikes on the roof. The black wheels coordinate beautifully with the enlarged black wheel arches, although the entire black wheel trend is rapidly getting old and hackneyed. The coarse tread, off-road tires significantly amplify the character of the design and enhance its distinctive appearance. How about an amphibian version with flotation tires. Time to get busy MINI designers! Â We are waiting for more exciting designs and versatility — Pike’s Peak and The Baja 500 aren’t far off on the horizon.
KPH

Â If this reappearance of Bridge Spokes continues they’ll just have to return to the Configurator.Â These guys did a great job and it shows they just might know a thing or two about the off-road scene.Â I bet it would work well in the desert or not too muddy logging roads.
Pingback: The off-roader Mini should have built [Custom Cars] | CarPlaceKC
Ric Liang

I like the running boards on the side, you really need those to get into a MINI. LoL
otter

This is much closer to what I was hoping for with the Countryman.Â Hopefully the enthusiasm that the DSQUAREDÂ² Red Mudder has evoked will convince MINI that the forthcoming Paceman needs to keep its prototype attitude (or even pick up some more) when it goes into production.Â

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