BMW will give the go-ahead to a project that will see a super-luxury version of the MINI Cooper created by Rolls-Royce at the company’s Goodwood factory, a new report finds. Word of the MINI -Rolls tie-up first surfaced in June.
According to Autocar, BMW brass will approve the MINI-Rolls-Royce collaboration in the coming weeks. At least one prototype has already been created, with the project likely to be announced to the public sometime around mid-2010.
The trend of creating super-luxury MINI s started in the 1960s, with coachbuilders mainly focusing on the cars’ interiors. MIN and Rolls-Royce will stay true to that formula, with the small city car set to receive an interior upgrade worthy of the Rolls-Royce name.
Although the co-branding exercise may seem a bit odd – pairing BMW ’s least expensive brand with its most expensive brand – it’s likely to be the new fad in the luxury world. With fuel prices on the rise and conspicuous consumption out, even well-to-do luxury buyers are looking to downsize. Aston Martin has already announced it will produce a luxury version of Toyota ’s iQ minicar.
