The BMW Group has selected the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed as the venue for the first public appearance of the first special edition of the latest Mini generation: the Mini Seven. The Goodwood Festival kicks off on June 23.
In 1959, the British motoring public were shown for the first time the virtually identical Austin Seven and Morris Minor. The first example of what we now call the classic Mini came off the production line as the Austin Seven. It had front-wheel drive, a transversely mounted front engine, a wide track, short overhangs, and a surprising amount of space for passengers and cargo in such a small car. It was light, agile, and fun to drive. Sound familiar?
Those design goals reappeared in 2001 when the BMW Group introduced the new Mini, a car that’s still relatively small, very agile, still fun to drive, reliable, and safer. The new Mini can arguably be called the first of the small car premium market segment. The newest Mini Hardtop is true to the classic body concept, although it is larger than the first-generation new Minis and comes in both two-door and four-door versions.
The Mini Seven special edition of the new Mini Hardtop also comes in two- and four-door versions. The Lapisluxury Blue color available on the Mini Seven comes from the Mini Yours collection. Mini says the non-metallic finish “is the most intensive blue tone ever applied to the body of a Mini.”
Three other colors are available for the Mini Seven: non-metallic Pepper White, Midnight Black metallic, and British Racing Green metallic. With all of the colors, the Mini Seven gets the same roof and exterior mirror caps finished in Melting Silver. The hood stripes are also Melting Silver and are exclusive to the Mini Seven.
The two-tone 17-inch light-alloy wheels were created especially for this special edition. Eighteen-inch light-alloy wheels in the Mini Yours Vanity Spoke two-tone are optional.
The side scuttles around the indicator lights on the front wheel arches have the Mini Seven special logo consisting of the word “Seven” and the number seven. The logo is also on the driver and front passenger door sills, and on the trim of the central instrument.
Standard interior trim on the Mini Seven includes sports seats with fabric and leather combining black leather and fabric side sections adorned with Diamond Malt Brown pinstripes and seams. Cross Punch Carbon Black leather, Lounge Satellite Grey leather, and Mini Yours Lounge Carbon Black leather are alternatives.
The new Mini Hardtop—including the Mini Seven versions—come with either the 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine or the two-liter, four-cylinder motor, both with Mini TwinPower turbocharging. Maximum horsepower on the three-cylinder engine is 135 horsepower in the Cooper models while the four-cylinders top out at 189 horsepower in the Cooper S versions.
Any Mini Seven model can be had with the optional six-speed Steptronic transmission if the standard six-speed manual is not to the buyer’s liking. Cooper S models can also come with a six-speed Steptronic sports transmission with quicker shift times and shift paddles on the steering wheel.
Handling of the Mini Seven derives from a single-joint spring strut axle in front, a multilink rear axle, electromechanical power steering, and good-sized brakes. Dynamic Damper Control is an option. Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is standard and includes Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) mode and Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC) for the front axle. The Cooper S comes with Performance Control, which is basically an anti-understeer system.
Like others in the new Mini generation, the Mini Seven can come with the Mini Head-Up Display, Parking Assistant, rear view camera, and the Driving Assistant system including camera-based active cruise control, collision and pedestrian warning with initial brake function, high beam assistant, and speed limit sign detection.
Individual options for the Mini Seven can include driver and front passenger seat heating, a panorama glass roof, Comfort Access, the Harmon Kardon hi-fi speaker system, Park Distance Control, power-folding exterior mirrors, and auto-dimming rearview and driver’s side mirrors.
The standard screen for the Mini Connected infotainment system is 6.5 inches high, but an 8.8-inch screen is available with the navigation system option. Smartphone integration is extensive.
This is the second time since being acquired by BMW Group that Mini has brought back the Mini Seven special model; the first was in 2005.
Expect the new Mini Seven to become available later this summer. Prices will be announced closer to the actual sales release.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of Mini USA.]
