Mini to Use Rolls Royce-Prepped Goodwood as a Sub-brand for Bespoke Models

In the same way the John Cooper Works moniker designates high-performance models, Mini plans to use the Goodwood name as a sub-brand for high-end luxury versions of its cars. According to British magazine Autocar, which quotes sources from within the company, the Goodwood badge will be used on luxurious, bespoke Minis just like the JCW badge is put on its high-performance models.

The first model of the Goodwood line is the “Mini Inspired by Goodwood”, which made its world premiere at the Shanghai auto show. The car is essentially a Cooper S that sports unique styling cues and trim options designed “in close collaboration” with Rolls-Royce. The name itself pays tribute to Rolls-Royce's headquarters, while the Shanghai unveiling signals the importance of the Chinese market for very expensive Minis.

Set to be built in a limited edition of 1,000 units, the Goodwood is rumored to cost around €47,000 in Europe ($70,000) when it goes on sale in spring 2012. The car uses the same materials and suppliers as Rolls-Royce models and is available either in Rolls Royce's Diamond Black metallic paint or Mini's Reef Blue finish.

The interior is highly personalized, with the entire dashboard, center console and seats finished in Rolls Cornsilk leather and the wood trim coming from Rolls-Royce too. The instruments also get RR fonts, and the car comes equipped as standard with a Harman Kardon hi-fi system. The most expensive Mini is powered by the same 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol engine motivating the Cooper S with 184HP and 240Nm (177 lb-ft) of peak torque. The 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time is 7.0 seconds, while combined fuel consumption is rated at 5.8lt/100km (40.6 mpg US).

By Dan Mihalascu

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All-Time Sales Record for BMW Group in the First Half of 2011

There’s a lot to be happy about in Munich these days. That’s because the BMW Group has had not only its best month ever as far as sales are concerned, but has also achieved an all-time sales record for the first half of the year.

This June, a total of 165,855 BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce cars were delivered, an increase of 15.9% compared to the same month in 2010 (143,156 units) and also a new record for the Group. BMW sold 134,432 cars (+12.3%) and Mini 31,111 (+34.1%).

The BMW Group also enjoyed a record six-month period. From January until June, it sold 833,366 vehicles, 137,000 more than in 2010, which represents an increase of 19.7%. The BMW brand’s sales rose to 689,861 units compared to 585,750 last year, an increase of 12.3%. The X3 doubled its sales, the 5-Series remained the global leader in its class, and the 7-Series had its best-ever six-month period.

Mini’s progress was even better, as the British company witnessed a 29.8% year-to-date increase with 141,913 cars compared to 109,302 in the first half of 2010. Almost 1/3 of the buyers (more than 40,000) opted for the new Countryman and the brand expects even better results after the launch of the Coupe and the upcoming roadster.

But the best performer of the three brands of the BMW Group was Rolls-Royce: it sold a record 1,592 units representing a 64.1% increase compared to the 970 units it sold in the same period of 2010.

The BMW brands achieved a double-digit growth in all continents, with a 12.3% increase in Europe, 18.7%+ in the Americas, and 47.3%+ in Asia. The group’s best markets in the first six months of 2011 was in Germany, with 149,786 sales, followed by the US (143,521) and China (121,614), which showed an impressive increase of 61%.

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Rolls-Royce Crafts One-Off Phantom Drophead Coupé Special with Bespoke Details

If your run of the mill Phantom Drophead Coupé is just too darn common, then you may want to take a look at this one-off special that will go on display at the Masterpiece London 2011, which is held in the South Grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, UK, from Saturday 30 June to Friday 5 July 2011.

The ragtop Phantom features a suite of bespoke design details, including teak decking, engraved tread plates and Spirit of Ecstasy with inscription that marks the centenary of the British automaker’s bonnet icon.

However, the most unique feature of the car is an Asprey jewelery case integrated in passenger glove compartment. Rolls Royce claims it took two working days to finish, using a “hide of softest grade-one suede cut into 15 separate pieces”.

The exterior is finished in a Mazarine Blue color that is said to join a palette of 44,000 shades that are already available to Phantom clients.

Inside, the special Rolls-Royce gets a natural-grain leather interior in a Seashell shade with Navy Blue contrast for the floor and door panels with embroidered R-R logos finished in headrests. The white instrument dials, rotary controllers and clock finished in mother-of-pearl, along with a special luggage set round off the changes.

“We are delighted to present this outstanding Rolls-Royce at Masterpiece London 2011,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “Craftsmanship and attention to detail shine through in features developed at Goodwood and in partnership with Asprey. It’s a model that demonstrates the breadth of our bespoke offering, where the only limit to what we can deliver is a client’s imagination.”

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