Special anniversary, special MINIs

Yes, it's 50 years ago this year that the then British Motor Corporation introduced the car known as the Mini Minor.

A product of the fertile mind of Greek-born engineer Alex Issigonis, the little front-drive exercise in ultimate packaging efficiency followed another design from Issigonis - the more conventional (but iconic in its own way) Morris Minor.

What is quite amazing is that the 1959 car that conceptually gave birth to today's vast range of front-drive hatchbacks -- including the Volkswagen Golf that opened the floodgates in the mid 1970s -- never really went away.

Right up to the time BMW introduced today's version to Australia in 2002, it was still possible in many parts of the world to buy a new, original Mini.

And BMW did such a good job of capturing the essence of Issigonis's trail-blazing concept that the latest iteration has almost seamlessly followed in the original front-drive footprints.

MINI executives in Australia at the 2002 launch suggested the new car was pretty much what it may have been had the brand continued to evolve under the original British ownership.

Fast forward to 2009 and MINI is celebrating the first 50 years with a couple of limited edition anniversary models: the "50 Mayfair" and the "50 Camden".

The two anniversary MINIs borrow their names from two "distinguished boroughs" of London -- Mayfair decidedly upper crust and Camden more trendily avant garde.

Both models are available in Cooper, turbocharged Cooper S and Cooper D spec. The 50 Mayfair comes with exclusive design, 17-inch 12-spoke alloy wheels (original Minis were 10-inch), Toffee metallic bonnet strips edged with white pin stripes, two extra headlights on the grille, leather front sports seats and sport leather steering wheel. Xenon headlights with washers are optional on Cooper and Cooper D Mayfair models and standard on Cooper S.

A new colour option is also available in Mayfair models: Hot Chocolate metallic combined with a white roof. It is also available in Pepper White or Midnight Black.

The modish Camden version also gets exclusive 17-inch alloy wheels, with bonnet stripes in twin-tone silver/white and Union Jack flags housing the side indicator lights. As with the Mayfair model, xenon headlights are standard on Cooper S and optional on other versions.

Inside, the 50 Camden comes with Carbon Black/Tech White cloth-leather trim, sports seats and a leather steering wheel with white stitching.

The 50 Camden also comes with high-performance Harman Kardon audio, as well as a new "Mission Control" audible alert system that talks to the driver if, for example, a door is open or a seatbelt is not attached. It will also advise on things such as current outdoor temperatures or how much fuel is left in the tank.

The 50 Mayfair and 50 Camden are also available with a wide range of the factory options that are an intrinsic part of MINI culture and will go on sale in Australia from November this year.

Recommended retail prices, MINI 50 Mayfair, 50 Camden

Cooper 50 Mayfair $37,000
Cooper D Mayfair $39,650
Cooper S Mayfair $44,800
Cooper Camden $36,100
Cooper D Camden $38,750
Cooper S Camden $43,900

Watch MINI's 50th celebration video 'Rebel without a Pause' here

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