The Elusive MINI By ALPINA Makes A Uncommon Look

ALPINA made a reputation for itself by pampering massive BMWs with large-displacement engines. However this automotive doesn’t carry the well-known roundel, nor does it have a V8 beneath the hood. Twenty years in the past, the specialists from Buchloe labored their magic on a MINI Cooper S (R53). But, identical to the ALPINA i8 that by no means materializedthis scorching hatch was additionally left on the chopping room ground.

Sadly, only a one-off, the “Lux” made a shock look throughout ALPINA’s sixtieth anniversary occasion. Held on the Penzing air base in Bavaria, the gathering introduced collectively over 650 vehicles and a couple of,000 folks. Whereas BMWs from numerous many years had been undoubtedly the principle attraction, this supercharged little machine didn’t go unnoticed.

Our buddies from Motor1.com Deutschland graciously allowed us to share these photographs of the one-of-a-kind MINI by ALPINA. The Cooper S obtained quite a lot of darkish blue accents, seen on the entrance and rear aprons, wheel arches, and aspect mirror caps. Additional distinguishing it from the common automotive had been clear taillights, together with the third brake mild. ALPINA’s signature wheels are not possible to overlook, and this elegant design was later provided as an official accent for the R50 and R53.

Inside, ALPINA bathed the two-tone inside in Alcantara, protecting nearly each floor with the microfiber materials. The blue-and-gray seat upholstery prolonged onto the door playing cards, whereas plastic trim items had been spruced up with soft-touch blue lacquer. Had it gone into manufacturing, the MINI badges would seemingly have been changed with ALPINA’s emblem.

Nevertheless, the Cooper S “Lux” by no means made it previous the prototype stage. ALPINA CEO Andreas Bovensiepen revealed in an interview just a few years in the past that top prices would have made the automotive too costly. It’s additionally protected to imagine that there have been considerations that too few clients would have an interest. As an alternative, ALPINA shifted its focus to the 6 Sequence (E63/E64).

For the reason that MINI undertaking was killed in its infancy, the four-cylinder, 1.6-liter engine remained untouched. It nonetheless produced the factory-rated 168 horsepower and 162 pound-feet (220 Newton-meters) of torque, despatched to the entrance wheels by means of a six-speed guide gearbox. On the time, MINI quoted a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) dash in 7.2 seconds and a prime pace of 138 mph (222 km/h).

The Cooper S “Lux” arrived just a few years earlier than Aston Martin tried one thing comparable with the Toyota iQ. The luxed-up Cygnet was a fancier model of the town automotive, created to assist the British automaker meet EU fleet emissions rules within the early 2010s. Not like the MINI, it really went into manufacturing, however just for two years. Gross sales had been dismal: Aston Martin had hoped to maneuver 4,000 models yearly however ended up promoting fewer than 150.

Images: Motor1.com Deutschland