Thursday 19th November 2009

'Rolls-Royce' Minis On The Way

R-R trim shop to craft bespoke interiors as Mini dealer option

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Rolls-Royce trimmed Mini 'spy shots'...

Rolls-Royce and BMW execs have confirmed the existence of a project to develop a bespoke luxury version of the BMW Mini, which will potentially be offered as the 'ultimate' option through Mini dealers.

One car - based on a JCW Mini - has already been prepared by the Rolls-Royce wood and leather workshops, and was shown confidentially to Mini dealers at their annual gathering earlier this year.

Unlike Aston Martin's Cygnet - a project to rebrand the Toyota iQ and thus help reduce the company's CO2 footprint, the Rolls-Royce trimmed Minis are not designed to be offered for sale via the R-R network. Indeed it has not even been decided whether the cars will carry any Rolls-Royce badging.

...reveal luxury interior trim

The project was instigated by Mini brand marketeers looking for ways to emulate some of the luxury kudos associated with the original Mini through the work of coachbuilders like Wood and Pickett and Radford.

No time-scale has been announced for the project, and Rolls-Royce says there's no imminent production plan - but that 'concept work' is ongoing.

 

[blindswelledrat]

Perfect example of how you can't polish a st

[ronin.]

Luxury mini - oxymoron...

Pile of filth

[Gylen]

sttest thing ever. I hate that.

[Staffy1984]

Does it really have to be RR.

Surely they could have clad it in wood and leather themselves!!

Couldn't they have got alpina to do the same job for less.

Looks really nice, but seems like a complete waste of money for anyone looking to buy one of these. this is all price dependant of course, but I can't see one of these holding much more value over a standard JCW.

[Patrick Bateman]

I love Mini interiors, this one is no different.

[Steamer]

Will sir also require the stupidly big pink tie option today?

[blindswelledrat]

Patrick Bateman said:

I love Mini interiors, this one is no different.

Fair enough, what you do in teh bedroom is your business alone.
Live and let live etc

[P4ROT]

Wonder if they'll do engines as well?

[ST8ALTH]

There only remains one question....... WHY????

[Tahiti]

Not my thing but I'm sure they'll sell a few if it goes to full production.

[Spunagain]

blindswelledrat said:

Perfect example of how you can't polish a st

True but you can roll it in glitter!

Didn't they do this to the Rover mini in the late 80's? (Do a rolls style interior tart up, not roll it in glitter)

[blindswelledrat]

Spunagain said:

blindswelledrat said:

Perfect example of how you can't polish a st

True but you can roll it in glitter!

Didn't they do this to the Rover mini in the late 80's? (Do a rolls style interior tart up, not roll it in glitter)

But it still smells and tastes like a st

[LukeBird]

Aaaah for the moneyed chav (nee footballers wife)...

[Caruso]

I don't see why a small car shouldn't be fitted out with a very luxurious interior? Although RR badging would devalue the RR brand. But if they need to do it to get avg emissions down for the range then so be it.

[Cassius81]

Seems like a sensible move to me, whether you like the car or not (I am not a huge fan, but like the interior).

Mini owners love personalising their cars (indeed, isn't it a big selling point?) and I'd imagine that BMW make a lot of money on options.

So why not add an "ultimate" level of personalisation? It will be lapped up by trendy central London types...

[3Dom]

Original Article said:

The project was instigated by Mini brand marketeers

This is the problem

[mat205125]

[Oddball RS]

Its just a pony idea, but then again so is an Aston toy car, people if you don't want to make expensive top end cars, don't its that easy, stop listening to your over paid expensive tie and lots of aftershave department.

[LukeBird]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

But you know it won't be...
It'll be the BMW equivalent of people who drive around in Smarts with Mercedes badges on the front.

[Garlick]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I quite like the look of this too, quite a lot actually.