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Talking 50th Anniversary Edition MINI: A Little Car With A Lot Of Attitude

Jonathan McGrew

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Jonathan McGrew has had a steering wheel in his hands since before he could walk. It was inevitable that he would start racing, earning recognition... More

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1,195 views October 29, 2009

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The 2010 model year is shaping up to be one of innovation. We have seen the debut of the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid with record fuel economy for a mid-size sedan, the 2010 Toyota Prius that is rate as number one in the recent EPA’s Top Ten of fuel-efficient cars and the unveiling and mass testing of the MINI E electric vehicle. Yes, technology and forward thinking are the name of the game this year, but MINI realizes that you have to stop and remember your heritage. MINI has reached its 50^th anniversary of giving people motoring pleasure and with that they announced two special models back in May: 50 Camden and 50 Mayfair.

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The Mayfair package is mostly a design package like the old Lincoln Cartier Editions, but the real interest is in the Camden. Most of us have caught on by now that MINI and their customer (drivers) have a sense of humor, somewhat odd sometime, but humor none-the-less. The Camden takes technological advancements and pairs them with what could only be considered British humor—think Monty Python or Eddy Izzard. With that image let me reveal the Camden’s major feature: Mission Control.

Mission Control is an automated voice system that is programmed with 1,500 sayings in multiple voices to alert you to certain conditions and driving habits. Now, Car and Driver reviewed this system and found it a tad bit annoying, but what they didn’t mention is if you could turn it off or drown it out with the stereo. They did say it was like listening to “Robby Williams and Dame Edna on coke.” To get a listen roll over to the C&D blog to listen to the links in their take.

Bottom line—MINI is keeping themselves in the press and delivering packages that are uniquely British.