Special Mini celebrates six decades
MINI Australia will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the iconic British Mini this year by offering a 60 Years Edition with a claimed $8500 in extras for a $4000 price premium.
Available in both Cooper and Cooper S guises in three- and five-door hatchback body styles, the limited-build 60 Years Edition will come – appropriately – in British Racing Green with a white roof and tan leather interior with green piping. Non-sentimental buyers can opt for an alternative dark blue with black roof and black interior.
Pricing starts at $33,900 plus on-road costs for the manual Cooper three-door hatch – $4000 above the regular price of $29,900 – and tops out at $45,150 for the manual five-door Cooper S. Opting for an automatic transmission adds $2500.
Powertrains remain unchanged, with the Cooper propelled by a 100kW/200Nm three-cylinder turbo petrol engine and the Cooper S stepping up to the 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 141kW and 280Nm.
Mini Australia general manager Brett Waudby said the 60 Years Edition offered excellent customer value with specific design details that encompass the Mini legacy, such as iconic exterior finishes and timeless interior elements.
“It’s a fitting tribute for six decades of spectacular innovation,” he said.
The paint job that Mini says is a new interpretation of British racing green is offset by bonnet stripes in black and white in a tribute to Mini’s racing history that includes victory in the Monte Carlo Rally.
Special black 17-inch alloy wheels are standard. The Cooper gains keyless entry, LED headlights, front seat heating and wireless phone charging.
The Cooper S gets a panoramic glass sunroof, a Harmon Kardon sound system and a head-up display.
The Mini was born in August 1959 when the Morris Mini-Minor rolled from the English production line.
Designed by Sir Alec Issigonis, the Mark 1 three-door hatch is credited with redefining small-car motoring around the world by successfully incorporating front-wheel drive into a compact, affordable, spacious and spritely package.
The brand was reinvented by BMW in 2001 with the introduction of the new-generation Mini.
In Australia, Mini sales this year have slipped 14.6 per cent, to 1143 units to the end of April. However, the Mini hatch dominates the light luxury-car segment with a 72 per cent share. Next best is the Audi A1 with a 22.3 per cent slice.
Last month, Mini Australia introduced its first electrified Mini, the S E All4 plug-in-hybrid Countryman.
2019 Mini 60 Years Edition pricing*
| Cooper 3-Door Hatch (a) | $33,900 |
| Cooper S 3-Door Hatch (a) | $43,900 |
| Cooper 5-Door Hatch (a) | $35,150 |
| Cooper S 5-Door Hatch (a) | $45,150 |
*Excludes on-road costs
