Mini announces new limited edition models

MINI Australia has announced it will launch a duo of limited edition models, the Clubman Masterpiece and Cooper Hatch Ice Blue, in the fourth quarter as part of a continued push to increase the exclusivity of its local line-up.

Just 30 units of the $55,300 plus on-road costs Clubman Masterpiece will be available from October which, according to Mini Australia, will add $17,900 in extra value for a $11,400 premium over the $43,900 Clubman Cooper S on which it is based.

It will be available in a white-silver metallic colour not usually available in the Clubman, teamed with multi-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels, black bonnet stripes with LED driving lights, black mirror caps and roof rails, a Mini Yours lounge leather seat treatment, the debut of Mini Connected with Apple CarPlay and wireless phone charging, plus other “high-end features and technology”.

CarPlay and wireless charging has also become an option across the range (standard on Clubman JCW and Countryman JCW) from July production, but previously purchased new Minis cannot be updated due to hardware changes.

In November, Mini Australia will then introduce a Mini Cooper Ice Blue, with a 40-unit allocation split evenly between three- and five-door hatchbacks with the 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine only.

The brand claims it will add $8200 in extras for a $5000 price rise over the Cooper three-door ($27,400) and five-door ($28,600) hatch body styles.

The “heritage” paint colour Ice Blue will be complemented by 16-inch gloss-black alloy wheels, black mirror caps and roof, black bonnet stripes, LED headlights and driving lights and Edition dashboard badging.

The usually optional Pepper Package and Multimedia Essentials Package ($3000 combined – including dual-zone climate control, reversing camera, satellite navigation, Bluetooth audio streaming and front armrest) will also be included.

Mini Australia product planning manager Daniel Silverwood said that past success with the Mini Carbon Edition has meant the local outpost would now push for a greater number of limited editions in the future, starting later this year.

“One of the key successes we had last year was a small but exclusive limited edition on the five-door hatch of the Cooper S, known as the Carbon Edition,” he explained at the national media launch of the Mini Countryman JCW this week.

“Because there’s not actually a John Cooper Works version of the five-door hatch range, we combined the Cooper S with the genuine Mini tuning components to make it 155kW and with an amazing exhaust note.

“But also we added a range of features, it had a unique sticker package and we badged them individually numbers one to 40. The customer would also receive on hand over a car cover with a number matching the number they bought.”

He further said that the Carbon Edition was a “really good initiative because the further exclusivity, personalisation, is something that really excites the Mini community”. He said the 40-unit allocation sold out straight away.

Mr Silverwood explained that because a John Cooper Works (JCW) version of the Clubman was now available, the new Masterpiece would instead focus on “luxury and exclusivity”.

“When we introduced the Clubman in 2015 we also showcased a range of personalisation and craftsmanship that wasn’t necessarily available in vehicles in this category and price point,” Mr Silverwood continued.

“What we’re seeing is Cooper S customers are generally ticking a few option boxes anyway, and with the Clubman rather than single options we have these package options around infotainment and climate and comfort, so we know that a number of customers are gravitating to these style of features anyway.

“(And) with the Cooper we’re going back into the recent history and pulling out a colour from the past and doing a short-run edition, so this (Ice Blue) is part of a global collective from a few markets pulling together and creating a viable case to resurrect a colour.”

Mr Silverwood confirmed that these would not be the last limited-edition Mini models in Australia, adding: “We’re hoping this will be the first of some future projects that we do with other markets with the factory’s cooperation.”

2017 Mini Hatch Cooper Ice Blue pricing*

Three-door (a)	$32,400
Five-door (a)	$33,600

*Excludes on-road costs

2017 Mini Clubman Masterpiece pricing*

Clubman Masterpiece (a)	$55,300

*Excludes on-road costs