2012 Mini Hyde Park and Mini Green Park: special editions bound for Oz

The two new limited edition models offer two exclusive colour and trim combinations while continuing the brand's tradition of naming special edition models after parts of London, joining the likes of the recent Baker Street and Bayswater as well as the Mayfair, Chelsea and Piccadilly.

Both the Mini Hyde Park and Mini Green Park are available in Hatch and Clubman body styles and will be sold across the brand's global dealer network. Mini Australia product communications manager Scott Croaker says the local division expects the first arrivals towards the end of this year.

The Mini Hyde Park sees a Pepper White body contrasted against Hot Chocolate paintwork on the roof and exterior wing mirrors – a combination available for the first time – and Hot Chocolate sports stripes down each side of the car and length of the bonnet. The bottom sections of the Mini's C-pillar, which are normally left black, have also been sprayed Pepper White completing the look Mini describes as "unobtrusive extravagance".

The Mini Green Park, said to expresses "the traditional British passion for sporting competition", continues the contrasting theme of the Hyde Park but with the roof and mirrors in British Racing Green paintwork to stand out against the Pepper White bodywork. The stripes too get the British Racing Green treatment to complete the design.

Inside both models receive the same Pepper White trim details on the doors with seats available in cloth and leather, or Leather Gravity with Carbon Black or Polar Beige highlights. While other markets receive a 'Mini Yours' leather-lined dashboard, Aussie deliveries will retain the standard Mini dash.

The range reaching our shores will include the Cooper Hatch and Cooper Clubman with the 90kW/160Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, Cooper D Hatch with the 82kW/270Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, and Cooper S Hatch and Cooper S Clubman with the 135kW/240Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder. All come standard with a six-speed manual transmission with a six-speed automatic optional.

While the new special editions are said to attract a 500 euro price increase overseas, price variations over the standard models in Australia should be minimal.

The current Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper Clubman are priced from $31,650 and $34,900 respectively.