August 26, 1959 may have just been another day in history. But on that day sixty years ago, the world saw the Mini make its official debut. Despite its pint-sized dimensions, it took the world by storm thanks to its practicality, zippy handling, fuel efficiency, as well as its succeeding motorsport heritage.

It even went on to become a famous movie star as it played a key role in the 1969 crime-thriller ‘The Italian Job’ (as well as in the 2003 remake). Other fans might also recognize it as the faithful companion to Mr. Bean during the 1990’s in some of his misadventures.

With the Mini recently celebrating its 60th birthday, Autohub Group of Companies, the official distributor of Mini in the country, decided to celebrate the occasion with the limited 60 Years Edition. First unveiled in the UK back in August 2019, the 60 Years Edition pays homage to the six-decade long heritage of the Mini.

Finished in a unique green hue along with blacked-out stripes and decals, the 60 Years Edition features subtle exterior and interior updates that give the hatchback a more unique look. Placed proudly on one of the stripes, as well as on the fender, is the number ’60’ which highlights the Mini’s six-decade anniversary. Meanwhile, a unique set of 17-inch alloy wheels further give the special edition Mini a sportier appearance.

As for the inside, the cabin of the special edition hatchback relatively the remains the same. The only telltale signs that this is the 60 Years Edition are its unique leather upholstery, green piping accent on the seats and trim, and the ’60 Years’ emblem which can be seen on the side of the front seats. Providing in-car amenities, on the other hand, are dual-zone automatic climate control, a touchscreen infotainment with optional navigation, and a new multi-function steering wheel with updated media and cruise controls.

Under the hood, the special edition Cooper S packs a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It produces 192 PS at 5000 – 6000 rpm along with 280 Nm of torque at 4600 rpm. Power is then sent to a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which Mini claims delivers faster gear changes and quicker acceleration. The new transmission even makes use of navigational data in order to know exactly when to switch cogs on full-automatic mode.

Only 12 units of the three-door 60 Years Edition will be available, with the first owner (Ray and Trixie Espinelli) already buying one of the limited edition hatchbacks. Not a fan of the three-door? Mini also has 12 five-door models available locally.

The three-door version retails for Php 3,150,000 while the slightly bigger five-door has a sticker price of Php 3,250,000.

[Source: AutoIndustriya.com]