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Adrian PatonMINI turns 50
May 29th 2009 16:00
MINI 50 Camden (l) and 50 Mayfair (r)
Iconic British marque, MINI, is turning 50 years old and as you'd expect, such a brilliant milestone deserves a big b'day celebration and that's exactly what's happening at the MINI United Festival at Silverstone in the UK.
To commemorate this special occasion, two new models - the MINI 50 Mayfair and 50 Camden - will be available for the 2010 model year. Featuring special edition trim levels with unique colours and options, the Mayfair (brown) and Camden (white) can be optioned with any MINI model.
Special body paintwork, light-alloy rims tailored to the car, special materials and surfaces within the interior as well as a range of colours tailored specifically to the MINI 50 Mayfair and, respectively, the MINI 50 Camden underline the exclusivity of these special models available only for a single model year with production commencing in September 2009.
The jubilee placard proudly surrounded by chrome trim on the radiator grille provides clear testimony to the tradition of the brand now going back fifty years, bearing the number "50" in typical MINI design and boasting the colours of the Union Jack - red, white, and blue.
For further specifics, check out the press release below.
The Official MINI Press Release:
Looking Back, Looking Ahead. MINI 50 Mayfair and MINI 50 Camden
The worldwide MINI Community is celebrating the 50th birthday of the brand on the occasion of the MINI United Festival at the legendary British race track in Silverstone from 22–24 May 2009.
Two special models also on the starter grid in Silverstone are the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden, two cars which will most certainly convey the great spirit at the anniversary party into lasting driving pleasure on the road. For through their characteristic design and exclusive features alone, these two models live out both the great tradition and the visionary power of the MINI brand.
Both the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden are available with two petrol engines and one diesel. They will be launched into the market in September 2009, production of the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden starting exactly fifty years after the official presentation of the classic Mini and being limited to just one year.
The modern drivetrain and suspension technology featured by the MINI also gives these two anniversary models truly fascinating agility in combination with exemplary fuel economy and emission management. Particularly the 128 kW/175 hp four-cylinder with its twin-scroll turbocharger and direct gasoline injection powering the MINI Cooper S 50 Mayfair and the MINI Cooper S 50 Camden offers truly outstanding performance on the road. And all this comes with combined cycle fuel consumption to the EU standard of just 6.2 litres/100 km (equal to 45.6 mpg imp) and a CO2 rating of just 149 grams per kilometre.
Featuring fully variable valve control and offering engine output of 88 kW/120 hp, the power unit of the MINI Cooper 50 Mayfair and the MINI Cooper 50 Camden likewise has everything it takes for truly sporting performance. Average fuel consumption of just 5.4 litres/100 km or 52.3 mpg imp in the EU test cycle, in turn, as well as a CO2 rating of 129 grams per kilometre, set new standards in terms of efficient motoring pleasure.
Last but certainly not least, the 80 kW/110 hp four-cylinder diesel in the MINI Cooper D 50 Mayfair and the MINI Cooper D 50 Camden combines supreme economy with impressive torque and pulling power. And here average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 3.9 litres/100 km, equal to 72.4 mpg imp, and a CO2 rating of 104 grams per kilometre, mark unparalleled records in the premium segment.
The MINI anniversary: looking back and looking forward.
For the first time since its market launch in 2006, the latest generation of the MINI offers the opportunity in the car's anniversary year to enjoy supreme driving pleasure in particularly exclusive style. Hence, the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden follow the principle already applied by the classic Mini to accentuate individual highlights in the character of this highly successful performer from Great Britain. The anniversary of the brand therefore offers an ideal opportunity to look back at the fascinating tradition of the car and to look forward at the unique future and outlook of the MINI.
Both of these perspectives are expressed by the names of the new models. As in the past, the two anniversary models are named after boroughs of London also very popular and well-known far away from the British capital. Mayfair is lauded the world over for its exclusivity growing so significantly over the years and decades, while Camden is the home of a trendy and culturally versatile urban lifestyle.
Setting their respective standards, both models represent those values so typical of MINI that have grown over five decades as well as the car's potential for ongoing development.
Characteristic design, exclusive features.
Both in their design and their features the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden stand out clearly from the current, "regular" production models. Numerous features helping to make these two cars truly unmistakable are indeed reserved to these individual anniversary models, making each version truly unique in its own right. Special body paintwork, light-alloy rims tailored to the car, special materials and surfaces within the interior as well as a range of colours tailored specifically to the MINI 50 Mayfair and, respectively, the MINI 50 Camden underline the exclusivity of these special models available only for a limited period.
The jubilee placard proudly surrounded by chrome trim on the radiator grille provides clear testimony to the tradition of the brand now going back fifty years, bearing the number "50" in typical MINI design and boasting the colours of the Union Jack – red, white, and blue.
In addition to the wide range of regular features already provided on the respective engine variant, each MINI 50 Mayfair and each MINI 50 Camden comes not only with sophisticated paintwork, seat upholstery and trim, but also with a wide range of other comfort features. Apart from air conditioning, seats adjustable for height and with electric heating, the Lights Package as well as the on-board computer, these features include the Storage Package, additional storage options, a 12 V power socket in the luggage compartment and angle adjustment on the rear-seat backrests.
MINI 50 Mayfair: noblesse oblige – dedicated to extravagant style.
Back in 1982 the classic Mini already came as a special Mayfair model combining supreme comfort and an extravagant look. Today the new MINI 50 Mayfair interprets this style of sophisticated understatement in a new, modern way. High-quality materials, stylish details and a colour scheme offering classic elements throughout determine both the outer and the inner looks of this very special car.
For the first time and only on this anniversary model the body of a MINI Hatch is finished in the special Hot Chocolate metallic paintwork colour so far available exclusively on the MINI Clubman and the MINI Convertible, combined with a white roof. On request the body is also available in Pepper White or Midnight Black paintwork as an alternative to this highly attractive brown colour.
The MINI 50 Mayfair comes on 17-inch, white-painted 12-spoke light-alloy wheels in Infinity Stream Spoke Design exclusive to this particular model. In their design, the wheels follow the classic multi-spoke look, with the spokes themselves being slightly concave to give the car a truly powerful appearance. The white paintwork on the wheels, finally, interacts with the white contrasting colour of the roof.
Yet another new feature is the engine compartment lid with almost three-dimensional stripes in light-brown Toffy metallic and white pinstripes at the edges. Additional headlights on the radiator grille, mirror caps with paintwork changing from brown to black on the way up, and a discreet "Mayfair" logo on the direction indicators at the side round off the exterior design of this anniversary model.
The combination of Toffy paintwork with white highlights is also to be admired within the interior of the MINI 50 Mayfair again absolutely exclusive in its character. The seats demonstrate their unique style through their finish in Lounge leather complete with piping round the edges, Toffy colour, and additional white piping.
A further highly attractive effect is provided by double-cap seams on the seats finished in the same, modern and technically appealing turquoise-green colour as the frame around the "Mayfair" logo to be admired not only next to the direction indicators at the side, but also on discreet seat trim adorning the inner surfaces of the front-seat backrests.
The gearshift lever knob on the manual gearbox likewise comes with turquoise-green double-cap seams providing a visual link to the seats.
As yet a further highlight, the Carbon Black interior colour is combined with special trim on the dashboard finished in brownish black to reflect the colour of the mirror caps. The trim bar finished in Toffy at the bottom becomes black as it moves further up, providing a perfect transition to the dashboard likewise finished in black.
The Colour Line at the bottom of the instrument panel and the armrests on the door linings as well as the gearshift lever knob are likewise finished in Toffy, while the trim panels on the doors are in Piano Black.
All this is further embellished by a Toffy Brown inlay in the lower half of the steering wheel rim, footmats with white piping, the Chrome Package also available on other MINI models, as well as door entry trim proudly bearing the "MINI 50" model designation and the "Mayfair" logo.
MINI 50 Camden: dynamic and progressive all in one.
With its dominating colours Silver, White and Black, the MINI 50 Camden even at very first sight highlights its technical clarity and sporting character. Body paint in White Silver metallic is combined with a white roof, and the MINI 50 Camden is also available in Midnight Black metallic or Horizon Blue metallic.
The 17-inch light-alloy rims likewise exclusive to this model stand out in particular through the contrast between their silver inner surfaces and the matt, polished contour lines around the rim hump and on the outer edges of the spokes, thus characterising the futuristic impression of this likewise very special model.
With its lines extending towards the A-pillars, the sporting, almost three-dimensional silver stripe trim on the side shoulders of the engine compartment lid accentuate the sporting and dynamic character of the MINI 50 Camden.
Like on the MINI 50 Mayfair, the mirror caps come in twin-tone stripes extending upwards on the MINI 50 Camden merging from silver into pure white. In combination with the xenon headlights featured as standard on the MINI Cooper S 50 Camden, the headlights themselves boast black-tinted lenses as a particularly progressive highlight forming a clear contrast to the rest of the exterior in its brighter colour.
The side indicator frames house the Union Jack in black-and-white and the "Camden" model designation forming the logo of this special anniversary model also to be admired, together with the designation "MINI 50", on the door entry trim.
The interior of the MINI 50 Camden comes in an equally contrasting colour scheme combining the Carbon Black interior colour with special trim on the instrument panel interchanging from white to silver, like the caps on the exterior mirrors.
The trim panels on the doors, in turn, come in Fluid Silver, while the sports seats in cloth/Ray leather boast leather surfaces, just like the bottom edge of the instrument panel and the armrests in the door linings, finished in Tech White.
The black centre strips on the doors, in turn, come in a discreet pattern with interrupted white stripes, while the seat panels on the inner half of the backrests bear the "Camden" logo.
Twin-tone double-cap seams – black on the outside, turquoise-green on the inside – visually combine the leather and cloth surfaces on the seats. Green and white seams also provide additional colour highlights on the black gaiters around the handbrake and gearshift levers, and on the gearshift lever knob.
The rim on the leather steering wheel is highlighted additionally by a white seam, while turquoise-green colour highlights as well as design lines on the mirror caps and the trim surfaces to be admired on both the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden come as a common feature shared by both anniversary models.
Highly exclusive but featured as standard: HiFi system and Mission Control.
In addition to the particularly wide range of standard features on the two anniversary models, the MINI 50 Camden also features a top-end audio system. This new HiFi system from car audio specialist Harman Kardon sets standards for enjoying music in a MINI. The high-performance digital amplifier, for example, just like the loudspeaker units, is perfectly tailored to the MINI.
An optional feature is a USB port for connecting external audio sources and a special interface for an Apple iPod. And last but not least, the customer also has the choice of an interface for integrated control of the car's audio and telephone functions on the latest Smartphones such as the Apple iPhone.
The market launch of the new MINI 50 Camden also marks the debut of a new generation of in-car entertainment systems. Referred to as "Mission Control", this entertainment system processes and evaluates a wide range of vehicle, driving and ambient signals, providing the driver with relevant information and instructions in that unique style so typical of MINI.
Mission Control underlines the status of the MINI as a genuine personality in the world of motoring and intensifies the driver's feeling and impression of interacting directly with the car, the signals coming from the car itself being used to generate new, situation-based dialogues time and again.
These dialogues are based, among other things, on information regarding safety and comfort settings, requesting the driver and passengers, say, to buckle up their seat belts and use the air conditioning, and incorporate current information on driving conditions such as the current status of the vehicle, with the focus on criteria such as outside temperatures or the level of fuel in the tank.
In addition to the entertainment aspect, the system offers a functional aspect supporting the driver over and above existing functions in properly interpreting all kinds of information and using data for appropriate action.
Mission Control in the MINI 50 Camden is the first step into a brand-new world of interactive in-car entertainment, offering a driving experience never seen before.
MINI 50 Mayfair and MINI 50 Camden: ambassadors for the character of the brand.
Fifty years of MINI – this great anniversary offers the opportunity, looking back and into the future, to highlight some significant highlights of the brand and its character.
The origin of the brand in Great Britain and the style of MINI both timeless and unmistakable are just as significant in this context as the sophisticated, future-oriented technology and sporting potential of this small premium car. Both the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden highlight precisely these qualities through their design and equipment concepts precisely tailored in a specific direction.
The harmonious configuration of the two anniversary models also provides ample room for customisation. Following the usual MINI standard, each MINI 50 Mayfair and each MINI 50 Camden is built exactly to the customer's order. Additional options for personal comfort are provided, for example, by the MINI navigation system, automatic air conditioning, the Vision Package made up of a heated windscreen, a rain sensor, the interior mirrors with an automatic anti-dazzle function and automatic headlight control, as well as Comfort Access. Further options are foglamps, Park Distance Control, and a glass sliding/vent roof.
Six-speed automatic transmission together with shift paddles on the steering wheel are available as an alternative to the six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard. The optional Sports Button varying the control maps of the gas pedal and the steering as well as, where fitted, the shift times of the automatic transmission, ensures further enhancement of driving pleasure in both the MINI 50 Mayfair and the MINI 50 Camden.
[Source: MINI]
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