Mini Coopers really come to life when finished in the marque's signature appearance packages, such as Union Jack roofs and checkered flag mirror caps. Well, the automaker will be offering some new designs for the third-generation three-door hardtops, debuting this spring.
Minis have always been about personalization, and since the brand's relaunch under BMW's roof, owners seemed to appreciate the cheeky designs that included roof graphics, grille-mounted headlights, and racing stripes for the hood. All those features are coming back for the new 2014 three-door Hardtops, and along with them the company is introducing a lineup of four Mini Characters, or design lines: Vivid Green, Speedwell Blue, John Cooper Works Pro, and Essential Black.
The four new appearance packages will be matched in design and colors, and will offer a whole range of extras within each design line. Essentially, buyers will be able to coordinate their optional extras from among a distinct line of accessories for each of the four main design groupings.
Various Union Jack designs will be offered for the roof.
The Vivid Green line will offer rich green colors matched against a black background, focusing on a youthful appearance. Speedwell Blue will combine red, white, and blue colors of the Union Jack with warmer brown tones, meant to be a sporty design line. Essential Black will offer a somewhat understated checkered pattern that's been a favorite of Mini owners over the years, while the fourth design line, John Cooper Works Pro, will feature a checkered flag with black, red, and gray colors.
All the accessories are coming back for the third-generation Mini Cooper Hardtop, and that includes mirror caps which will be available for every line except Essential Black. The mirror caps themselves will be offered in Union Jack, Black Jack, Chequered Flag Black/Grey, Chequered Flag Black/White, and in John Cooper Works Pro Carbon. In addition, there will be two new designs called Gold Jack, and Big Bang.
The popular roof graphics will return for the 2014 Mini Cooper as well, and buyers will have a total of nine versions for the metal roof, and six for the optional glass roof to choose from. Both roof versions will feature designs such as Black Jack, Union Jack, Chequered Flag Grey, and Chequered Flag White. The metal roof will also offer designs called Speedwell Blue, Vivid Green, John Cooper Works Pro, and Chequered Flag Black.
The foil side graphics will be all new, and they'll be unique for each of the four lines. In addition, design accents can also be added to the side indicator surrounds, and buyers will have four designs to choose from in each of the four main design lines.
A wide variety of floor mat designs will be on offer among the four design lines.
A few new Mini accessories have also been added to the roster of personalization options, and they will include a floormat and a tray made from an anti-slip waterproof material designed to protect the luggage compartment from getting dirty. The floormat and the tray will be offered exclusively with the Essential Black line. Other options will include door sill cover strips backlit with LEDs, additional main beam headlights, a synthetic fabric car cover, and sun protection elements for the rear window. These options will be available across the four main design lines.
The hardware options will include 18-inch forged aluminum wheels in a cross-spoke design. That's right, Mini wheels are up to 18 inches now, though 17-inch light alloy wheels will continue to be offered in a multispoke design, finished in bright silver metallic or liquid black color. The hubcaps themselves can be offered in a number of colors for a little extra contrast, including bright orange, chili red, apple green, and bright yellow.
Jay Ramey grew up around very strange European cars, and instead of seeking out something reliable and comfortable for his own personal use he has been drawn to the more adventurous side of the dependability spectrum. Despite being followed around by French cars for the past decade, he has somehow been able to avoid Citroën ownership, judging them too commonplace, and is currently looking at cars from the former Czechoslovakia. Jay has been with Autoweek since 2013.
