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Mini Superleggera gets the green light

With the fairly lackluster designs coming out of Mini recently, leave it to a group from outside the company to get things right. The minds behind the Berlinetta Lusso and Disco Volante at Touring Superleggera did just that with the retro-inspired Mini Superleggera Vision Concept from last year's Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance. Now, according to Car in the UK, the droptop has a green light for production from the BMW board and could arrive in showrooms by 2018. The concept stole our hearts with its rounded shape, rear fin and Union-Jack-shaped taillights. Inside, the interior went for extreme minimalism with an aluminum dashboard that positioned just a simple tachometer and thin steering wheel in front of the driver. The production version reportedly rides on the third-gen Mini platform but retains all of the concept's major styling elements. In place of the electric motor, expect the current engine offerings with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder available under the hood. Patent documents might provide an even better hint at what to expect. They also show the design not changing much, other than the lights no longer in the grille, a framed windshield and slightly smaller fin. The Union Jack taillights remain, though. Peter Schwarzenbauer, BMW Group member in charge of Mini, asserted the company was testing the waters for production shortly after the Superleggera's debut. At the time, the price was speculated to be around 35,000 euros if the car arrived on the market in Europe. Related Video:

60 Minis will race in the Silverstone Classic for Mini's 60th anniversary

It was just 60 short years ago when Mini established itself as a manufacturer of small cars as part of the British Motor Corporation. Over the years, the Mini became popular among the British people and beyond, not just as a car but as a cultural icon. To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Mini is taking over Silverstone Circuit in England. The racetrack announced that 60 classic Minis will be racing in the Silverstone Classic outing, July 26-28. Back in May, Silverstone sought pre-1966 Mini Cooper S models to participate, and the APB received an overwhelming response but fell just short of the 60-car goal. But with the help of Motorsport UK, Britain's motorsport regulatory council, Silverstone was able to find two additional Mini Cooper S models to participate. "It only seems right and proper that we mark the Mini's 60th milestone with a 60-car grid, so we are really grateful to those at Motorsport UK and Masters Historic Racing, who are organizing these anniversary races, for securing this special permission," said Nick Wigley, Silverstone Classic's CEO. "As well as being a sixties fashion icon, the Mini's reputation was built on some wonderful motorsport successes, so there could neither be a better, nor more appropriate, way to celebrate its 60th anniversary than with an incredible 60-strong grid at the world's biggest classic motor racing festival." The Mini first received world recognition as champion of the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally with Paddy Hopkirk and co-driver Henry Liddon. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Hopkirk will be present for 60-year Mini tribute and will be reunited with his original winning car, Cooper S #37 with license plate 33 EJB. Hopkirk will lead the Silverstone Classic's Diamond Anniversary track parade with his Cooper S. "I'm really flattered to have been asked to front this fantastic parade," Hopkirk said. "It's great that I'll be back in my old car, and I'm going to be bringing the Monte trophy along, too. It was presented to me by Princess Grace.The Classic is such a brilliant event and, oh my goodness, it will be absolutely amazing to see 60 Minis altogether on the track at the same time." All of the Mini Cooper S models invited are powered by the same race-prepped 1.275-liter inline-four, so it'll be an adorable and exciting race and a pure test of driver skill.

Mini Clubman All4 Scrambler Concept is the big Mini we want

Mini of Italy built a butch version of the Clubman for the 2016 Valentino Park Motor Show. Called the All4 Scrambler, it's what happens when a Mini takes inspiration from a BMW R Nine T Scrambler motorcycle. We must say, we like this brutish little car. The matte paint is Frozen Grey, a favorite of BMW's high-performance M cars, while the roof is black. There's a luggage rack up there, and the old-school leather suitcase in the cargo area looks like it'd be right at home strapped to the back of an touring bike like the R Nine T Scrambler. In fact, the best thing about this Clubman is the way Mini of Italy has blended the motorcycle's characteristics into a compact wagon. The knobbly tires are more aggressive than the R Nine T, but the overall aesthetic effect is the same. The rubber looks sporty and, unlike the production Clubman, they do a better job of filling out the wheel wells. Add in the rally lights and It's a great look. It's harder to see in these images, but there's also a matte black applique on the front and rear bumpers, side sills, and around the wheel arches. It's a practical move, of course, but it's also makes for a nice, aggressive effect. Mini's tweaks in the cabin are modest. The Nappa leather and Alcantara upholstery comes in a rich tan shade meant to mimic the R Nine T's seat. It looks so good we wish Mini offered some version of the color on the production Clubman – every car should have a tan leather option. The headliner gets an Alcantara finish, too. Overall, Mini of Italy has built a handsome, production-based concept. Buon lavoro, I miei amici. Related Video: