Mini, Rolls-Royce collaboration set to go ahead
November 20, 2009 by Matt Brogan
According to a report published by Autocar, BMW will give the green light to a project that will see a super-luxury version of its Mini Cooper created by Rolls-Royce.
The report confirms news posted by CarAdvice back in June, and says that at least one prototype has already hit the road with the project likely to be revealed to the public by mid next year.
Following a trend that started in the 1960s, the super-luxury Mini will adhere closely to the same formula with an interior-only revision deemed worthy of the Rolls-Royce name.
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Why????
Cheapens the Rolls Royce brand IMHO.
Anyone remember the Worsley Hornet and Riley Elf?
BMC once walked this road too.
Isnt this just like the Aston Sygnet?
No it’s not like the Aston Martin Cygnet and it doesn’t cheapen Rolls Royce.
For a start, the problem with the Aston Martin Cygnet is that it’s bringing a slow Toyota supermini into a performance brand. Rolls Royce however is not a perforemance brand. They are a luxury brand and adding luxury to a Mini is just fine, it’s adding performance to a Toyota IQ that can’t be done.
It doesn’t cheapen the Rolls Royce brand at all because of one reason – they’re Minis. Some may not agree, but The Mini is one of the most prestigious cars in the world and certainly the most prestigious in it’s class. It has class in a way that no other supermini does and it’s still very chic and cool after all these years and it probably always will be. They will still be badged as Minis, so that’s no problem and they will have one of the best interiors on the market. I see no problems and I hope they do a brilliant job.
Rolls Royce has always been a slightly fun brand anyway and they have a history of this. I think a relationship with Mini (other than the BMW one of course) is quite appropriate.
How is Mini one of the most prestigious cars in the world??? Iconic, yes, but definitely not prestigious. The original Minis were produced as a cheap, small, zippy means of basic transport, hardly prestigious cars.
Also, “BMW will give the green light to a project that will see a super-luxury version of its Mini Cooper created by Rolls-Royce”. So yes, it IS the BMW one, which is all Mini is now anyways.
What next….? will VAG [for example] make a “Micro” Veyron based on the Golf GTi?
No they are making a Mini Nardo based on the Polo GTi
I think it is a brilliant idea. Brings prestige and luxury to the Mini, and creates awareness of the Rolls Royce brand for the younger generations. But there is a difference between becoming aware of a brand and splashing a million-plus dollars on a car.