Kiss and Mini team up to raise money for UNICEF

To help fund global relief efforts, Mini will auction four Countrymans emblazoned with the makeup likeness and autographs of Kiss band members.

Just in time for Father’s Day, the eBay charity auction opens on May 29 and runs for 10 days. Funds will go to UNICEF to help children in Japan and to aid in other global emergencies.

Each vehicle will be custom painted with a different design representing one of the iconic Kiss faces. To top it off, all four band members will sign each design.

The auction is part of a kickoff for Mini’s competitive test-drive tour in the United States, called “Mini Rocks the Rivals.”

Kiss members joined Mini at the New York auto show on Thursday to make the announcement, as four Mini Countrymans with Kiss-inspired designs were unveiled.

Apart from the auction, Mini will sell vehicle wraps of the Kiss designs revealed in New York. Those proceeds will also be donated to UNICEF.

The wraps are graphics applied on cars by Mini dealers, such as the Union Jack Flag sometimes applied to the Mini’s roof. But a vehicle wrap can cover the entire car. They are available for order starting on Thursday.

The “Mini Rocks the Rivals” campaign is a series of test-drive events that will take place across the United States from mid-April through early June. Each event will test the Mini Countryman against three of its closest competitors.

Each rock-and-roll themed event will feature Kiss soundtracks and album artwork. Go to www.miniusa.com/#/shop/RocksTheRivals-m for more details.

By Michelle Koueiter