Wednesday 16th January 2019

Cooper S 60 Years Edition kicks off Mini birthday

Limited to 500 examples, the new trim level goes on sale in March. But there's more to come from Mini...

---

Obviously the 60th anniversary of the Mini is a big deal for the modern day iteration of the brand. The modern day Mini might have about as much to do with Alex Issigonis's creation as the current HMS Prince of Wales does with the last ship to bear its name, but BMW's Oxford-based outpost still regards itself as the keeper of the original car's outsized legacy - and frankly there's no better carer of a treasured British marque than anxious-to-please German owners (see Bentley and Rolls-Royce for further examples).

If the prospect of a limited edition Mini Cooper S seems like scant reward for sixty years of peerless small car heritage then rest assured that the British Racing Green model is merely the firing pin in a full-on 21-gun salute. Later in the year, Mini will launch its first fully electric for-sale model, the Cooper S E, a car which is widely expected to meld zero emission function with broader hot hatch sensibilities. It's likely to share much of its running gear with the latest BMW i3, but retain both the current Mini's platform and its inimitable styling.

Being forward thinking - and we'll assume, cleverly packaged - that newcomer ought to be a fitting bookmark in the brand's next chapter. The Mini 3-door Hatch Cooper S 60 Years Edition (mmm... snappy) less so, but of course you have to start somewhere. Alongside the paint, you get piano black exterior trim, black roof and exterior mirror caps, special anniversary design bonnet stripes and model exclusive 17-inch light alloy wheels. Completing the look, there's a '60 Years' emblem up front and an additional set of Mini spot lamps fitted to the radiator grille.

And it'll do 200mph thanks to a snap-on nitrous kit. Oh no, hang on, it's the standard Cooper S running gear. Mated to the automatic transmission as standard. Well, you'll just have to revel in the 'distinctly designed' interior instead, which features more of that emblem and seats finished in Mini Yours Leather Lounge in Dark Cacao with contrast stitching (actually rather fetching in the pictures), and a-l-o-t of standard kit. Which it ought to when the asking price is £29,990 - fully £7k more than a Cooper S Sport with the manual 'box you definitely want.

So it's not really for us then. But with just 500 being made available in the UK, it will certainly not struggle to find homes among the firm's regular clientele. And let's not be too harsh on Mini; high-priced special edition models are standard fayre for automotive anniversaries, and Oxford has much to celebrate sixty years after Leonard Lord instructed Issigonis to change the world. The cake and candles though, are yet to come.

---

[Nerdherder]

Looks good in BRG. Not sure about styling of the frontage.

[griffdude]

Are they still going to have those rear lights after brexit?

[anonymous-user]

£7k premium for a name badge and some brown leather? MINI successfully predict the strengthening of the Yen. Quick, get them on the boat.

[morebeanz]

However popular, it remains a ridiculously fussy car to look at. How many unnecessary extra bits can you get on such a small car.

[Pintofbest]

griffdude said:

Are they still going to have those rear lights after brexit?

What?

[thiscocks]

Thought they started making them in 2001? Oh..

[s m]

Pintofbest said:

griffdude said:

Are they still going to have those rear lights after brexit?

What?

Based on the Union flag so I don't see why they wouldn't

[cerb4.5lee]

Automatic gearboxes are taking over the world now, and even the fun small(ish) hatchbacks can't escape the bloody things! I still struggle with how expensive the Mini is for a shopping car as well.

[cerb4.5lee]

morebeanz said:

However popular, it remains a ridiculously fussy car to look at. How many unnecessary extra bits can you get on such a small car.

I've never liked the looks of mine either, it is very ungainly and not very well resolved styling wise for me. I do really enjoy the way it drives though, and it always raises a smile for me in that regard.

[morebeanz]

cerb4.5lee said:

I've never liked the looks of mine either, it is very ungainly and not very well resolved styling wise for me. I do really enjoy the way it drives though, and it always raises a smile for me in that regard.

Totally understand that, and the non special edition non cooper models almost look better in their simplicity.

And to declare my position on it, I am actually looking at one as a run around myself!!

[rare6499]

Love the colour!

I think the Cooper is the best looking of the lot. The JCW with its horrible front bumper ruins the front end of the car. The rear is still the best view.

[epom]

I like it, except for the rear lights. I wonder can you get EU ones??

[oilit]

the EU lights have a W on the left hand side, and the shape of a boat anchor on the right hand one - but its reserved for the exclusive use of the President of the EU commission - JCJ

He was afterall awarded 2008: European Banker of the Year

On a more serious note, I have always had a soft spot for the inspired by Goodwood Mini...but they do seem to hold their value..

Edited by oilit on Wednesday 16th January 11:56

[JLC25]

7k extra? I love the colour and the interior but, 7k?

You can get the best version of the Cooper S if you really want to celebrate the Mini (R53 GP) for a whole lot less.

[WCZ]

Zygot said:

£7k premium for a name badge and some brown leather? MINI successfully predict the strengthening of the Yen. Quick, get them on the boat.

other options too which aren't mentioned

[MrC986]

cerb4.5lee said:

Automatic gearboxes are taking over the world now, and even the fun small(ish) hatchbacks can't escape the bloody things! I still struggle with how expensive the Mini is for a shopping car as well.

There is a new JCW 3 door hatchback Mini in my local dealer with a retail price of over £38k and the one sales guy advised me that they sold a new Countryman with 4wd for nearly £50k last year....I know they have an extensive options list, though that is barking mad IMO. You have to also remember that the new Minis now share the same platform as a 1 series which is why they've put a bit of "padding" on quietly

[CCCMINI]

"fully £7k more than a Cooper S Sport with the manual 'box you definitely want."

It comes with near enough £6,000 of optional extras over and above a "standard" Cooper-S, not including the additional spot lights. So it's no-more expensive than any other similarly specced MINI Cooper-S, the reason it's special and people will buy it is the unique paint (not mentioned in the article but this is a new version of BRG for MINI), and the interior finish which has not been seen before, along with some of the unique "60th anniversary" touches.

Chris CC

[Todd Bonzalez]

This is quite expensive. I was expecting it to have pro nav etc.

The 7 speed DSG is ace though imho.

Mine arrives March and I also did BRG and black roof/black pack

[CCCMINI]

It comes with:

Navigation Plus (pro-nav)
Comfort Plus Pack (front and rear PDC, dual zone AC, heated seats, rear camera, folding mirrors etc)
Comfort Access
Anthracite headlining
Darkened Rear Glass
Piano Black Exterior
Fuel cap & door handles in Piano Black and additional LED spot lights (black)
MINI Yours Leather Lounge in Dark Cacao
Plus all the "60th Anniversary touches" logo projectors, badges, stripes etc

Chris CC

[Todd Bonzalez]

CCCMINI said:

It comes with:

Navigation Plus (pro-nav)
Comfort Plus Pack (front and rear PDC, dual zone AC, heated seats, rear camera, folding mirrors etc)
Comfort Access
Anthracite headlining
Darkened Rear Glass
Piano Black Exterior
Fuel cap & door handles in Piano Black and additional LED spot lights (black)
MINI Yours Leather Lounge in Dark Cacao
Plus all the "60th Anniversary touches" logo projectors, badges, stripes etc

Chris CC

Nav plus should have the 8.8 screen shouldn't it? The press pack images show the normal screen.