The success of the BMW Group's MINI brand stems from its commitment to creating unique and emotionally rich brand and product experiences for its customers. Since its birth in 1959, every sound of MINI has been a fusion of more than half a century of classic precipitation and contemporary innovative forms, and recreates MINI's unique style with a flashing aura. The racing DNA is deeply rooted in MINI, and the greatest achievements in the brand's history have been achieved in rallying. It all started with a brilliant female racing driver, Pat Moss, who won the classic Mini's first international rally title for the first time in May 1962. Today, MINI has launched the Pat Moss Commemorative Edition model, paying tribute to the pioneering female power of the racing world.
In the 1960s, an era when even female drivers were rare, female racing driver Pat Moss drove the classic Mini Cooper between Noordwijk in the Netherlands and the French Riviera – after 7 days and 4,000 km of competition, defeating more than 140 male competitors and reaching the top of the Dutch Tulip Rally, which is unheard of. The Dutch fame of World War I brought classic Mini, Pat Moss and her navigator Ann Wisdom to fame. The two female racing drivers have written an enduring legend in the male-dominated rally.
Today, 60 years later, MINI presents the Pat Moss Commemorative Edition three-door and five-door editions, limited to 800 units worldwide, to commemorate the beginning of the classic Mini's extraordinary motorsport career and pay tribute to the legendary racing driver's dazzling achievements in the history of international racing.
The classic design is the same – the "104" race car, the champion signature, the tulip motif
Iconic innovative designs, sleek details, are the biggest features of the Pat Moss Commemorative Edition. The commemorative edition's exclusive design inspiration draws on the dazzling racing achievements of this classic British luxury brand, as well as the outstanding racing brilliance of Pat Moss and Ann Wisdom, two pioneering women. The tulip motif, symbolizing the victory in the first rally, appears along with the words "Pat Moss" on the C-pillar and side portholes. The hub cap is a combination of a typical tulip motif and the word MINI, which enhances the recognition of the vehicle's individual design. There are also a large number of design elements and details that pay tribute to the championship car, which are worth savoring.
The border of the front panel under the sidegates is also printed with the noordwijk-MonteCarlo-Noordwijk course, the total length of the 2,500 km stage, the Mini Cooper of the participating vehicles, and the logo of the championship license plate number "104". In addition, there is a slogan that still applies to MINI today: "born to compete". At the same time, tulip motifs, vehicle nameplates and key facts about winning a rally for the first time are engraved on the aluminium welcome pedals specially designed for the model, decorating the way up and down the MINI and paying tribute to the champions at all times.
For the first time, the Pat Moss Commemorative Edition features a horizontally arranged white hood pull-on stripe design, combined with a 3D printed combination of numbers and letters – the 737 ABL – the classic Mini registration number that won the 1962 Tulip Rally. At the same time, the signature signed by Pat Moss on the hood of the vehicle after a victory also appeared on the front skirt of the model with a graphic imprint, constantly looking back at the glory days.
Inside, the signature on the surface of the piano's black interior once again pays tribute to this pioneering female racing driver who died in 2008. The lower spokes of the sports leather steering wheel are printed with tulip-patterned badges, while the interior motif on the driver's side is based on abstract depictions of the engine piston moving up and down. The letters "M" and "W", made up of bars of different heights, represent "Moss" and "Wisdom" respectively, symbolizing the perfectly coordinated duo and the sensation they have caused over the years in rally.
Exclusive configurations show innovative personalization – a unique gradient roof
Known for its bold innovation, MINI also applied a gradient roof to the Pat Moss Commemorative Edition for the first time. The roof gradually changes from chili red to matte silver, and finally elegantly transitions to black. The tricolor gradient effect perfectly highlights MINI's unique aesthetic perception. MINI's Oxford plant in the UK has fully integrated this innovative lacquering process into production, which is also a new breakthrough for MINI, achieving a second roof color gradient after THE COOPERS Commemorative Edition.
The commemorative edition will be available for orders from March onwards. Due to changes in environmental conditions, the wet paint layer technology itself will produce small differences in color transitions, which also makes each MINI gradient color roof a unique presence in the world, absolutely personalized through the "top".
The cooper S three-door version, COOPER S five-door version and JOHN COOPER WORKS three-door version will be available in three versions, all of which are equipped with four-cylinder turbocharged engines with an output of up to 131 kW/178 hp and MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS, bringing unique sports driving pleasure to daily travel.
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