MINI London 2012 Edition launches to celebrate Olympic Games

MINI London 2012 Edition - in patriotic red, white or blue

The launch of the MINI London 2012 Edition to celebrate the Olympic Games neatly pulls together two of MINI’s marketing tactics; shove out as many limited edition models as you can and give them a London theme.

True, this edition of the MINI uses the London moniker intact instead of using a badge from a London area, but it’s consistent with the current MINI special edition target. As is MINI’s aim to cash in on any bit of publicity it can – sometimes tenuously – get a hook on.

There will – surprise, surprise – be just 2012 MINI Londons built and they will be available as a Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper D or Cooper SD just as long as you don’t mind a Red, White or Blue paint job. Or, to be specific, a Chilli Red, White Silver or Lightning Blue paint job.

Whichever model you choose, and whichever patriotic paint job floats your boat, you will get white door mirror covers and a white roof with the London 2012 Olympic graphic painted on.You know, the one the Olympic mob pinched from a London playgroup.

Again, whichever model and paint job you opt for you will also get a Union Jack stripe running up the bonnet, across the roof and down the back, and some graphics on the side scuttles.

Inside the MINI London gets a bit of a Union Jack theme going with piping on the headrests and blue and red stitching and white piping on the black leather seats. You even get a London 2012 logo stitched on the front seats and a London skyline graphic etched on the fascia trim in front of the passenger.

The standard equipment is decent with black leather lounge seats, a DAB radio, AirCon and Cruise. Prices start at £17,800 for the MINI Cooper and rise to £20,860 for the MINI Cooper SD. The order book is now open with deliveries planned for March 2012.

Just in time for the 2012 Olympics.

(11 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)

MINI Cooper Hatch                             £17,800

MINI Cooper D Hatch                         £19,080

MINI Cooper S Hatch                          £20,125

MINI Cooper SD Hatch                       £20,860

By Cars UK