Not one to shy away from special editions, Mini is introducing another unique vehicle to its lineup. The 2021 Mini Cooper 1499 GT is a very limited-edition car with a black and gold exterior, a dressed-up interior, and—surprisingly—a pretty decent price tag.
The 1499 GT model pays homage to the Mini 1275 GT from 1969. While the original had a gold paint job and black side graphics, the 1499 GT reverses the color scheme. Its black paint job is complemented by a black grille, black door handles, black headlight rings, and black rings surrounding the Union Jack-motif taillights. It also gets the John Cooper Works styling package with special bumpers, side skirts, split level spoiler, and door entry plates. Topping it all off are 17-inch black wheels paired with all-season tires.
Under the hood, the 1499 GT makes use of the familiar 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine. This mill produces a humble 134 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque for a top speed of 130 mph. Thirty copies will have a six-speed manual transmission, while the other 120 will come with a seven-speed dual-clutch.
Peek inside, and you’ll find JCW sport seats finished in cloth and Dinamica, a recyclable microfiber. Mini also gave the cabin piano black accents and red stitching on the steering wheel. Tech goodies include a 6.5-inch touchscreen, navigation, Apple CarPlay, and a digital instrument cluster display. How much will it cost? A not-unreasonable $27,890. That’s for the manual; add $1,250 if you go for the dual-clutch automatic. Act fast, though—Mini is limiting the 1499 GT to 150 copies for the U.S. market.
Meanwhile, Mini is bringing back the Countryman Oxford Edition for 2021, and it offers a good bang for your buck. Prices start at $27,350, or an extra $2,000 for ALL4 models. Mini says that the Oxford Edition comes standard with $5,600 of “free” equipment that would otherwise be optional. This model steps up to an 8.8-inch screen, leatherette upholstery, panoramic sunroof, and rear park distance control. Multiple exterior color choices are available, including British Racing Green IV Metallic. Contrast color roofs and mirrors are also on tap.
