New Cosmetics for 2006 Mini Coopers

The Mini was actually launched as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini Minor in 1959. The Checkmate was a 1990 Rover Limited Edition, as was the Park Lane in 1987. Now that were caught up on our history, it will be easier to understand the three new Lowest mortgage rate finance edition Minis arriving in 2006: the MINI One Seven, MINI Cooper Park Lane and MINI Cooper S Checkmate.

We put special editions in quotes because these are largely cosmetic changes and may be available in the U.S. as nothing more than appearance options or package items.

New colors headed for the States are Solar Red, Space Blue and Royal Grey and they will replace Jet Black, Electric Blue and Solid Gold. Thats rightno more black, can you imagine that? But what may stand out to sharp Mini observers with the 2006 models is the swooping bonnet stripe, which looks like a wide U.

With the Mini Cooper One Seven, youre looking at Solar Red metallic paint, 15 Delta spoke alloy wheels and special Seven interior trim and decals. The Mini Cooper Park Lane goes upscale with Royal Grey metallic paint, a silver roof, matching silver bonnet stripe, 16 Bridge spoke data recovery tape and a nifty two-tone sports steering wheel (leather, of course). And on the Mini Cooper Checkmate, you get Space Blue metallic, checkered flag decals and King of the Hill Flame spoke alloys, silver bonnet stripe and a host of options, standard.

The bottom line? Options like these have a way of making a left hand turn before reaching the U.S., much like the two-spoke steering wheel and the electric folding mirror (and now, the color black!) So, what will be available as dealer options, aftermarket options or factory options is, at least where the MINI is concerned, anybodys guess. If you can get them, they will certainly mark your MINI as a 2006 model, but its clearly a stall (Oops! Bad word Viagra FAQ there) until we start seeing the real changes in 2007.

Chris Bartow and the staff at www.minicarparts.net">MiniCarParts.net, are Automotive Enthusiasts dedicated to bringing you the latest news, www.minicarparts.net">Mini Cooper parts, events, club happenings, Mini accessories and collectibles for newer-model Mini Coopers, 2001 and up. MiniCarParts.net is a division of Atlantic British, Ltd.