The Rolls Royce MINI to be Named “Goodwood”?

For 2010 MINI will roll-out the next of it’s high-end limited edition models with the help of Rolls Royce Motor Cars. Since we broke the story about the RR MINI last May, few details have made their way out of either Munich Germany or Goodwood England (Rolls’ headquarters). But that’s not to say we don’t have some of the basics down. For starters the car will feature Ming Blue exterior paint with ultra soft leather and high gloss plastic on much of the interior surfaces. More specifically look for a custom dash, headliner and other signature items. The images seen earlier in the year on MF showed much if this on an earlier test mule. While the final trim and specifications have changed slightly, we expect the car to carry on much the way we see it in the photos above.
However there is one big piece of information we haven’t pried from our sources yet; what the cars final name will be. For obvious reasons using the Rolls Royce brand name doesn’t really make sense on the MINI platform. But what could BMW use that harkens to all of the history, pomp and circumstance that the RR conjures up? Our sources are telling us the answer will be Goodwood.
The name is synonymous with high class motor cars for a couple of reasons. For one the Goodwood Revivial and the Goodwood Festival of Speed are both some of the biggest events on the UK’s motoring calendar every year. But more importantly Goodwood is the home of all Rolls Royce design, engineering and manufacturing.
So we have a name, we have a general spec. What about price? We know from early sources that the car should be priced around well above any current MINI in stock form. We’ve even heard $50,000 isn’t out of the question for what has to be called the ultimate (not the fastest mind you) factory MINI ever made.
We expect the Goodwood MINI to debut in early 2010 with sales beginning in the spring if all goes well. And unlike the WC50 US sales seem to be very much part of the plan.
18 Comments
<p>Definitely a very posh interior.</p>
<p>Manual climate control on a $50,0000 car? Really?</p>
<p>I believe it’s a auto unit, at closer look. It’s hard to tell being so shinny and black. I do like the leather interior. This would be a great option for future MINIs.</p>
<p>Manual climate control :(</p>
<p>This is got to be the most I’ll timed ‘upgrade’. By the way the name “GoodWood” will make for lots of laughs and giggles especially here in the US! Alright, carry on tah-tah! =P</p>
<p>Nice color (colour), non-metallic? But bespoke for the RR model would mean not available for the masses I suppose. I see someone at MINI feels for the car to look it’s best the unpainted arches have to go. Holding my breath for the mid-cycle refresh.</p>
<p>50,000 for a mni? I guess somone with money to burn would buy it, but for 50,000 there would be alot of cars ahead of the mini in that list.</p>
<p>$50,000 is reasonable for a Mini Roller – Mugen Civic Type-R is asking for $60,000+.</p>
<p>Just the saloon or will there be a convertible?</p>
<p>…MINI Goodwood.</p>
<p>…can you say,”double entendre?”</p>
<p>I think it’s great, but the black mesh net on the drivers side seatback has got to go. I mean really. For the RR version of the MINI, BMW should go whole hog and include those little drop-down veneer tables that fold into the front seat backrests. And while they’re at it, how about a bigger steering wheel?</p>
<p>Geeze Guys…This is only a test Mule…for gods sake, before ya start ripping into the final design let us see what it looks like first…</p>
<p>Personally I think it is a bit over-the-top but hey, people who Ride in the Royces gotta have fun too…Right?</p>
<p>Good “WOOD” he he…..</p>
<p>@Shawn Dillon: You beat me to it. If I were a bazillionaire, I would consider adding this to my stable, just to be able to say, have you seen my MINI Goodwood, baby? And then I would play that funky music from the Austin Powers movies.</p>
<p>Why not? Everything with “Wood” is getting a lot of attention nowadays.</p>
<p>Is this the Tiger Woods edition complete with room for the Ho’s?</p>
<p>The convertible could be called the Sportwood.</p>