Mini's £50,000 little Rolls-Royce 15 | 04 | 2011
FANCY A MINI? Got a spare £50,000? Well if the answer to both questions is yes, then let us introduce you to Mini's most exclusive special edition yet: a Rolls-Royce-fettled Cooper S.
The car, which will be unveiled at ext week's Shanghai Motor Show, has been labelled the ‘Mini Inspired by Goodwood’. The car's bespoke cabin was overseen by Rolls-Royce interior designer Alan Sheppard.
Not surprisingly, you'll want for nothing inside the car. The cabin comes complete with many elements synonymous with the Sussex-based luxury brand, including Corn Silk beige leather on the fascia, deep lambswool fleece carpets, and walnut burr veneers on the instrument panel and door pulls, centre console, seats, door sides and pillar trim.
The list of opulence though just goes on. There’s a piano black finish on the steering wheel-mounted controls and centre console switches, Rolls’ own typeface features on the speedometer and revcounter, and the roof lining, sun visors and boot compartment cover are coated in a Rolls-Royce-spec cashmere blend.
Outside there's a strange mix; there's the front and rear bumpers from the Cooper S, and the non-vented bonnet from the Cooper D. The standard colour will be metallic Diamond Black, which was developed, again, by Rolls-Royce Design — but Mini’s own Reef Blue metallic will be offered as an option.
Under the bonnet, the car is powered by the standard Cooper S turbo petrol engine, producing 181bhp and 177lb ft (192lb ft on overboost). That’s enough for the Goodwood edition to hit 62mph in 7.0sec. The transmission is a six-speed manual, but a six-speed automatic will be a cost option.
The mightily expensive Mini Roller also comes with xenon headlights, Harman Kardon speakers, automatic climate control and parking sensors.
Due to be built alongside regular three-doors and the new coupés and roadsters at Oxford, Mini will produce only 1000 examples of the Goodwood edition.
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Jim McGill