Maximising MINI

Image is all in today’s MINI (as it was in the original 1960s car) and the customer-savvy BMW-owned company continues to stoke the fire with a host of options that enable owners to build on the individuality that is central to the modern-day “brick’s” appeal.

With the introduction of the latest, third-generation MINI in Australia next month, the company will offer what it claims is “more choice than ever” via a series of individualisation packages offering coordinated elements that extend from the exterior to the interior.

Reliving the days of Monte Carlo rally victories, the MINI can still be ordered with things like oversize additional headlights, while the German-owned brand’s claim to British-ness is advertised via Union Jack graphics on the roof and the external mirror caps.

The difference today, over and above the choice of specific items such as wheels or body colour, is that the owner can choose from four coordinated bundles: Vivid Green, Speedwell Blue, John Cooper Works Pro and Essential Black.

Covering both exterior and interior style, each design line has its own specific colour-matching, applying to textile and all-weather floor mats, sun protection elements, door sill cover strips, exterior and interior mirror caps, roof and side graphics, side indicator surrounds, key lanyards, protective covers and luggage compartment items.

According to MINI, the Vivid Green pack emphasises a youthful, fresh look with “striking dashes of rich green against a (gasp) blue background”; Speedwell Blue mixes sporty flair with tradition via a reinterpretation of the Union Jack’s red, white and blue, combined with a warm, brown tone; John Cooper Works Pro pushes the racing theme with a black, red and grey chequered flag; and Essential Black is understated and elegant with a pared-back diagonal chequered pattern design.

It gets a little confusing after that. It is also possible to specify a treatment for internal and external mirror caps in Union Jack, Black Jack, Chequered Flag Black/Grey, Chequered Flag Black/White and John Cooper Works Pro Carbon, as well as two new finishes: Big Bang and Gold Jack.

And the roof too. This can be specified in nine variants for the standard roof (six if a sunroof is fitted), and includes Union Jack, Black Jack, Gold Jack, Chequered Flag Grey and Chequered Flag White. Additional options for the standard roof are Speedwell Blue, Vivid Green, John Cooper Works Pro and Chequered Flag Black.

But wait, there’s more. The side indicator surrounds can be singled out as well: In addition to the Union Jack, Black Jack, Chequered Flag Black/Grey and Chequered Flag Black/White themes it is possible to specify these in the MINI Characters Vivid Green, Speedwell Blue, John Cooper Works Pro.

And buyers also have the opportunity to further option-up their MINIs with a selection of foil side graphics in Vivid Green, Speedwell Blue and John Cooper Works Pro, as well as a new version of the John Cooper Works design in the colours Chilli Red and Jet Black.

It’s possible also to fit out the boot with a protective floor mat and tray, and to ward off the sun with “protection elements” for the rear and side windows.

A new range of alloy wheels includes 18-inch forged aluminium rims in cross-spoke design and 17-inch alloy wheels in multi-spoke design (available in Bright Silver metallic or Liquid Black).

It just doesn’t stop: The hub caps on all alloy wheels can be finished in Chilli Red, Bright Orange, Apple Green or Bright Yellow.

A new key cap debuts on this model too. It uses an integrated NFC (Near Field Communication) chip for non-contact data exchange between the key and the owner’s smartphone, allowing functions such as Bluetooth connection, volume control or app launch to be activated via the key.

Oh, and you can specify your third-generation MINI as a Cooper, a Cooper S, or a MINI D diesel...

Register to comment on this article.