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.
<p>LOVE THE NEW STRIPES WHEN THERE IS A HOOD SCOOP!</p>
<p>Good move to keep people buying before the ’07s are available. I’m not surprised that these are mostly chrome, paint and decals–engineering is obviously too busy with the ’07s to make any ral contributions to the ’06 line-up.</p>
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>Hope you don’t mind me posting I’ve taken time to download, edit, and upload all the Seven, Checkmate and Park Lane photos I could find to add to the press release over at MINI2 here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mini2.com/news/news306.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.mini2.com/news/news306.html</a></p>
<p>Not sure on the Grey, but the others look OK to me.</p>
<p>Great pictures–really like both the space blue and the royal grey. None of the packages work for me though–but as long as you spec these colors out without the packages, all will be well. I just hope you can get the silver roof without the checkmate package–I guess we’ll see. And the old style bonnet stripes in silver…But I’m sure those will be available aftermarket anyway.</p>
<p>Those 17″ Flame spoke alloy rims look pretty darn nice! I also like the idea of a silver contrasting roof…</p>
<p>Hey Paul – you’re welcome to post here anytime. Thanks for grabbing all the pics and posting them on MINI2. I’d recommend everyone who wants to see more – <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mini2.com/news/news306.html">check out MINI2</a>.</p>
<p>question: What is the significance of the number seven and the cooper? It must be related to the original mini in some way but I’ve never been able to figure it out.</p>
<p>I like the seats of the MC Park Lane model. Very classic looking.</p>
<p>Aside from cosmetics and new colors (That solar red still looks like Chili Red), nothing really special in terms of performance.</p>
<p>Also remember that Air Conditioning is optional equipment in UK market cars, so these special editions appear to be a big deal overthere.</p>
<p>I like the new bonnet stripes as well.</p>
<p>Is that a 2-spoke steering wheel on the park lane?</p>
<p>Love the rims on the checkmate.</p>
<p>Thanks for the additional photos, Paul.</p>
<p>Sad we again won’t be seeing these in the US.</p>
<p>Thanks Gabe.</p>
<p>While I’m here, slh, the Mini was launched as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor in 1959, so the Seven is a very historic reference. Checkmate was a 1990 Rover Ltd. Edition Mini, Park Lane was a 1987 Rover Ltd Edition.</p>
<p>In a way I find it nice they are referring to old names (like the new Clubman model too), but in another, I wish they’d be a bit more original.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In a way I find it nice they are referring to old names (like the new Clubman model too), but in another, I wish they’d be a bit more original.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I agree. It’ll be interesting to see how the option packages are dealt with in the US.</p>
<p>While I love the new silver roof, bonnet stripes, dark blue and those sweet seats in the Park Lane, I could do without the rest of it.</p>
<p>WOW, that blue looks GOOOOOOOOD!</p>
<p>It looks like they have changed the look of the head lights again; if the Checkmate comes with xenon headlamps then they have gotten rid of the projector beam style lights…</p>
<p>i love the Solar Red and Space Blue. i’ve been hoping for a long time that there would be a metallic red available, and now it’s finally here. i’m willing to bet that SB/S is going to be a very very popular combo, they are just two colors that go very very well together.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Checkmate comes with xenon headlamps then they have gotten rid of the projector beam style lights…</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I would chalk it up to that photo being of a pre-production model. MINI wouldn’t produce an projector style Xenon for one year and than regress… it would be quite a step back.</p>
<p>I’m starting to like RG/S</p>
<p>no more word on recaros?</p>
<p>blynch: those appear to be the halogens. I would guess that the xenons spec was finalized after that photo was taken.</p>
<p>The only item I’m not too keen on is the check pattern treatment on the side of the checkmate. Otherwise they look great.</p>
<p>i like most of what’s going on with the checkmate, the notable exceptions being the graphics and the steering wheel, lukewarm on the alloys. love the sill plates though. gabe, i think i’ve come closer to solidifying my 06 order.</p>
<p>I gotta say….. those wheels on the Checkmate look like someone welded a bunch of horse shoes together. Make them rust colored and they would like downright homey down on the ranch.</p>
<p>— Jay</p>
<p>Observations – MINI One Seven:</p>
<p>The black dash looks great.
There is a small storage hole instead of parcel shelf?</p>
<p>Observations – MINI Cooper Park Lane:</p>
<p>The Royal Grey looks to be a bit darker than Dark Silver (but also metallic?).
The 16″ Bridge spoke alloy wheels look really good.
It has special Park Lane door sills.
It only mentions front foglights but shows the rear foglight in the photos.</p>
<p>Observations – MINI Cooper S Checkmate:</p>
<p>Space Blue looks great, can’t wait to see it in person.
The 17″ Flame spoke alloy wheels look like the Web spoke wheels but much cleaner.
It has special Checkmate door sills.
It only mentions front foglights but shows the rear foglight in the photos.</p>
<p>I like the new style bonnet strips (but still not a fan of the mail slot). The Park Lane is the best of the three.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>There is a small storage hole instead of parcel shelf?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That’s been available everywhere but the US market since ’03. It takes the place of the parcel shelf if you get the glove box (which of course is standard in the US).</p>
<p>James, the rear foglight is standard on all cars in Britain it is law to ave one fitted so is just taken as given and not an option 😉 hope this helps</p>
<p>i have to say all 3 look great :)</p>
<p>I love the space blue/silver combination and those new 17″ wheels. The seats in the Park Lane are retro-classy as well. Here’s to hoping sometime next year I can replace my ’04 IB/B MCS with an ’06 MCS with the blue, the silver roof, and the airbag-equipped Recaros.</p>
<p>Gabe, That silver Rood and Mirrors sounds awesome….</p>
<p>‘Checkmate’ decals, silver rood and mirror caps, 3-spoke two-tone sports leather steering wheel</p>
<p>I have to agree about the horseshoe wheels. Not the best I’ve seen.</p>
<p>The interiors, on the other hand, I think they did a great job on. Nice touches on the interior of the 7. I’d love to check out those seats in person. Are those already available and I’m just out of date? My 2004 has the saggy, baggy sports seats.</p>
<p>I’m surprised at how nicely the little dash decal looks on the 7 also. I had always thought anything there would just make the dash look too cluttered.</p>
<p>I have to say, however, that the idea of “special edition” MINI’s seems a little bit off to me. With the list of personal touches available every single MINI that comes off the line is a special edition. I still have yet to find anyone with <strong>exactly</strong> the same spec as me.</p>
<p>Nice. I like the new bonnet stripe, and the Royal Grey looks NICE. Also, definitely feeling the 7’s wheels.</p>
<p>I agree with Kurt. Those new bonnet stripes are definately one of the first options I’m getting if they travel across The Pond.</p>
<p>I like the colors, but still prefer Dark Silver to Royal Grey. To me, those Checkmate wheels look like a midway point to the creation of the web-spoke design. They’re not for me.</p>
<p>Love the colors, SB is for me! I really like the interior of the Checkmate. I hope it makes it’s way over here, but I still would take the recaros over it though. Lay off the wheels, they’ll probably give you luck X20! I’d take them.</p>
<p>But my only question is what does the U on the hood stand for? lol
Is it german? Ubersomething?</p>
<p>The Checkmate wheels look to me like horseshoes.</p>
<p>Those Park Lane seats remind me of the Wood and Pickett specials from the 60’s. Very natty!</p>
<p>Pete</p>
<p>Not sure if anyone noticed it but if you look at the interior pic of the MINI One Seven you can clearly see the elusive anthracite tach ring.</p>
<p>I really like the cloth and dash combination on the Seven also the wheels on the checkmate.</p>
<p>Is there an estimate when the 2006 pricing and options will be announced for the US?</p>
<p>I find it interesting that if these are supposed to be UK spec cars, why are they all left hand drive????????</p>
<p>Bill</p>
<p>That’s because to all brand-wide photography is most likely taken care of by the mother-ship in Munich. These photos will serve all markets that offer these editions. My guess is that this will be almost the entire world except for the US.</p>
<p>Anyone know what kind of seats are in the Park Lane? are these the rumored Recaro sport seats?</p>
<p>I’m looking forward to the Riley Elf, Wolseley Hornet and Vanden Plas versions.
Seems nostalgia and retro-thinking is being used by MINI marketing boffins.
Where is the interior woodgrain finish on the Park Lane version.</p>
<p>I’m looking forward to the Riley Elf, Wolseley Hornet, and Vanden Plas versions.
Seems retro and nostalgia is being used by MINI marketing boffins.</p>
<p>Ugh. The only thing I like are the seats in the Park Lane – remind me of the seats in my ’68 Triumph. Hate the bonnet “stripe” and the colors or OK, no great shakes.<br />
The wheels on the Checkmate are ugly, they do look like a bunch of horseshoes put together, all right, but no “Yeeee hah” here, I’m afraid.</p>
<p>Is the Delta spoke wheel on the Seven the replacement for the 15″ holey’s? Can you surmise it will be the standard wheel on the Cooper or one of the other 15’s?</p>
<p>I really hope they’re not bringing back that 2-spoke steering wheel that appears to be on all 3 special editions. I much prefer the 3-spoke wheel I’ve seen on the 2005 US market models. Is the 2-spoke wheel still used in Europe?</p>
<p>The 2-spoke is still available outside the US. It will almost assuredly not be coming back to the US market.</p>
<p>Thanks, Gabe. Like Rollin, I am also curious to know if the Delta wheels from the Seven will be replacing the 15″ 7-hole wheels here in the U.S.</p>
<p>I for one like the 2-spoke steering wheel and the button placement for volume and track control. Never liked the “nintendo” buttons on the 3-spoke… I wish there was an option for US buyers to still have the 2-spoke (at least for my next MINI).</p>
<p>“The 2-spoke is still available outside the US. It will almost assuredly not be coming back to the US market.”</p>
<p>Gabe I can’t understand why the 2-spoke won’t be available in the US? When I was looking to buy the 2004 Mini, I wanted to see the 3-spoke. The dealers here in the San Francisco Bay Area told me that hardly anyone was ordering the 3-spoke. The perfered the 2-spoke steering wheel. I’m glad I got mine with the 2-spoke.</p>
<p>I really like the Mini Park Lane Rims, very nice. I also like the Mini One Seven Rims, but my choice would be for the Park Lane Rims. I love the Royal Grey Paint. If the Royal Grey Metallic Paint, Park Lane Rims, and the 2-spoke Steering wheel all became available in the US for the Non S Cooper, I would think about trading my 2004 Mini for a 2006.</p>
<p>Gabe, Sorry about the bold. I put it in quotation marks. Didn’t mean for it to be in bold. Sorry. Couldn’t figue out how to make it appear in italics.</p>
<blockquote>I for one like the 2-spoke steering wheel and the button placement for volume and track control. Never liked the “nintendo” buttons on the 3-spoke… I wish there was an option for US buyers to still have the 2-spoke (at least for my next MINI).</blockquote>
<p>I do like the placement of the controls on the pre-’05 MFSWs, but I prefer the look of the 3-spoke wheels on my ’05. A combination of the two would be nice. :-)</p>
<p>I’m with Volkan & Ralph – When ordering my ’06, I wish that I could transfer my ’03 steering wheel. The 3-spoke wheel looks cheap.</p>
<p>Hrm. The interior shot of the Seven shows <em>no</em> toggles. What’s up with that?</p>
<p>Are the current bonnet stripes being replaced by this new style, or will we have two options?</p>
<p>I love the new seats but wish they would use the fake leather. Am I the only one? I love my leatherette (sp?) It’s awesome they still look brand new and in my opinion are much more durable and grip better than real leather. I just wish we had more fake leather options instead of just black…</p>
<p>My 2007 will be fully optioned to the hilt with fake leather! :)</p>