The MINI Superleggera concept impressed designers back in 2014 and captured the hearts of viewers. Just yesterday we gave you a little insight into how the car was created. And apparently MINI hasn’t forgotten it either. The MINI Superleggera made a rare appearance on the company’s classic Instagram page, wearing a bright new shade of (unspecified) metallic gold. One commenter suggested Sunburst Gold, but it’s just as likely that it’s Solid Gold Metallic, a color that has been used on MINI vehicles in the past. The photos show the car’s folding top lowering in a series of 19 images.
The new color, which is reportedly a vinyl wrap and not actual paint, replaces the car’s original shade of Cosmo Blue. The blue paint was developed exclusively for use on the MINI Superleggera. So it makes sense that MINI would box the car instead of repainting it. The new color isn’t the only change since we last saw the car. As with Ville d’Este 2014, the car has black painted wheels. But instead of the multi-spoke design we last saw, the MINI Superleggera now rocks John Cooper Works alloys.
The MINI Superleggera is truly unique
While the MINI Superleggera is certainly recognizable as something special, its cool design hardly hints at the unique powertrain underneath. The MINI Superleggera is actually one of MINI’s earliest electric vehicles. It is a clear mix of the philosophies of the two companies that made the MINI Superleggera a reality: MINI, of course, and Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, a workshop specializing in bodywork based in Milan. Touring Superleggera has worked on everything from low-volume hypercars to specialty one-offs and everything in between. The MINI Superleggera is equipped with high-quality materials such as leather and aluminum and even has a small front splitter made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).
When the MINI Superleggera was launched, Adrian van Hooydonk, then Senior VP of Design at BMW, probably said it best. He claimed that both companies “place great value on their history and this also shapes their external appearance. These elements are merged in the MINI Superleggera Vision into an elegant automobile that interprets a British roadster under the influence of Italian style and craftsmanship.”
Even more than a decade later, the commentary still holds up – not to mention the car’s design. With the improved electrification capabilities available to MINI, the MINI Superleggera may still have a life to live. Although this innocuous feature probably shouldn’t be explored as much on the classic side of the brand, who knows? Maybe the bosses will take a second look.
