Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Mini previews 2012 Life Ball Roadster]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/06/mini-previews-2012-life-ball-roadster/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/06/mini-previews-2012-life-ball-roadster/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/06/mini-previews-2012-life-ball-roadster/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Life Ball Mini Roadster

Mini has been involved with Life Ball, one of Europe's largest charity events, since the brand first bowed in 2001. This year, the automaker turned a brand-new Mini Roadster over to Franca Sozzani, chief editor of Italian Vogue, for a complete makeover. Sozzani dipped the convertible two door in matte Deepest Purple paint with contrasting rally stripes and added steel accents on the side mirrors and wheels to help set the machine apart from the standard model. The charity car also sports a unique floral design on the roof. Mini will auction off the special Roadster at the Hall of Ceremonies at Vienna's Hofburg palace.

Life Ball highlights the fight against AIDS. The celebrity-studded event features live music and a fashion show, and Mini says that sales of its past Life Ball models have raised over $654,000 for AIDS research. Scroll past the break for the full press release.

Continue reading Mini previews 2012 Life Ball Roadster

Mini previews 2012 Life Ball Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 May 2012 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aidscharityfranca sozzanilife balllife ball mini roadsterminimini roadsterroadsterSun, 06 May 2012 16:05:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20232174/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/06/mini-previews-2012-life-ball-roadster/20232174/article-detail.xml 20232174 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/life-ball-mini-roadster-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/life-ball-mini-roadster-628.jpg <![CDATA[Mini and Dsquared² present the Cooper S "Red Mudder" at Life Ball 2011]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/23/mini-and-dsquared-present-the-cooper-s-red-mudder-at-life-bal/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/23/mini-and-dsquared-present-the-cooper-s-red-mudder-at-life-bal/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/23/mini-and-dsquared-present-the-cooper-s-red-mudder-at-life-bal/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mini Cooper S Red Mudder
Mini Cooper S "Red Mudder" by Dsquared&sup2; - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you're looking for an off-road Mini, the Countryman is your best bet. But Mini's always toying with new bodystyles, and the Countryman's All4 traction system may expand to other models as well. Could this be our first look at the next off-road Mini?

Well, we never know what the future might hold for the BMW division, but what you're looking at here is the result of Mini's latest fashion collaboration. Called the Red Mudder, this Mini Cooper S hatchback has been retrofitted by Canadian fashion designers Dean and Dan Caten.

Previewed in renderings earlier this month, the one-off features a raised suspension, brush guard, rally lights, tinted windows, knobby tires (including a spare mounted to the tailgate) and an interior fitted with aluminum plating and a compass on the dashboard. The Caten twins also applied their signature maple leaf logo to the door panels and to the headrests.

It's the latest product of Mini's 11-year sponsorship of the Life Ball - Europe's largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser - that has seen such designers as Versace, Diesel, Kenneth Cole and Calvin Klein create their own interpretations of the Mini, each year auctioned at the event with the proceeds going towards the cause. Follow the jump for the full press release and scope out the images in our high-resolution gallery.

Continue reading Mini and Dsquared² present the Cooper S "Red Mudder" at Life Ball 2011

Mini and Dsquared² present the Cooper S "Red Mudder" at Life Ball 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 May 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>catencooperdean and dan catendsquareddsquared2life balllifeballminimini coopermini cooper smini cooper s red mudderred mudderMon, 23 May 2011 13:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19946848/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/23/mini-and-dsquared-present-the-cooper-s-red-mudder-at-life-bal/19946848/article-detail.xml 19946848 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web-07mini-dsquared_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web-07mini-dsquared.jpg <![CDATA[Mini partners with DSQUARED² for the latest Life Ball special]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/04/mini-partners-with-dsquared-for-the-latest-life-ball-special/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/04/mini-partners-with-dsquared-for-the-latest-life-ball-special/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/04/mini-partners-with-dsquared-for-the-latest-life-ball-special/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mini by DSQUARED2 for LifeBall
Mini by DSQUARED2 for Life Ball 2011 - Click above for high-res image gallery

For the past 11 years Mini has supported Life Ball, the biggest HIV/AIDS fundraiser event in Europe, teaming up with world-renowned designers to come up with a special one-off auctioned for the cause.

Previous collaborations have been realized by such fashion labels as Gianfranco Ferré, Versace, Diesel, Agent Provocateur, Kenneth Cole and Calvin Klein. This year's brings on board the talents of Canadian twins Dean and Dan Caten of DSQUARED&sup2;. And while the event is still three weeks away, Mini and DSQUARED&sup2; have released a couple of renderings showing us what to expect.

Based on the Mini Cooper S, the design is apparently inspired by Mini's new World Rally Championship team, and features rugged off-road gear and a Canadian flag motif for the designers' home country. Don't ask us what the deal is with those raccoons holding on to the roof yelling "Yuuuppy!", but we suspect those furry little bandits won't be part of the finished product. Have a closer look in the gallery below and follow the jump for the full press release.


Gallery: Mini by DSQUARED2 for LifeBall

Continue reading Mini partners with DSQUARED² for the latest Life Ball special

Mini partners with DSQUARED² for the latest Life Ball special originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 May 2011 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>catencharitydan catendean catendsquareddsquared2life balllifeballminiWed, 04 May 2011 08:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19930489/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/04/mini-partners-with-dsquared-for-the-latest-life-ball-special/19930489/article-detail.xml 19930489 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web630-05mini-lifeball-dsquared_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/web630-05mini-lifeball-dsquared.jpg <![CDATA[Mini teams up with fashion icons to give life to three one-offs for annual AIDS fundraiser]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/22/mini-teams-up-with-fashion-icons-to-give-life-to-three-one-offs/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/22/mini-teams-up-with-fashion-icons-to-give-life-to-three-one-offs/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/22/mini-teams-up-with-fashion-icons-to-give-life-to-three-one-offs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mini Life Ball 2010 special by Calvin Klein - Click above for high-res image gallery

Over the past 10 years of supporting the Life Ball, Mini has teamed up with a variety of fashion designers to create unique one-offs to support the largest annual HIV/AIDS fundraiser event. Past collaborations have included the likes of Diesel, Versace and Agent Provocateur, to name just a few. To date the special Minis have raised half a million Euros for the cause. But for the tenth rendition, the Anglo-German automaker has brought in no fewer than three big-name designers to create a trio of specials.

Calvin Klein creative director Francisco Costa has taken on the new Countryman in stealthy black-on-black; Diane von Furstenberg, a red Mini hatchback with a lip motif; and Kenneth Cole a Mini convertible with industrial-style studs. Each will be auctioned off at the event in Vienna on July 17 to kick off the 18th International AIDS Conference, details of which you can find in the press release after the jump.


Gallery: Mini Life Ball 2010


[Source: Mini]

Continue reading Mini teams up with fashion icons to give life to three one-offs for annual AIDS fundraiser

Mini teams up with fashion icons to give life to three one-offs for annual AIDS fundraiser originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 MINI Life Ball by The Blonds - Click above to view in high resolution

If you were waiting for that grand-prix-edition Mini to hit the roads, you may want to wait a little longer, 'cause this ain't it. What you're looking at instead is a (thankfully) unique MINI cabrio prepared for Life Ball 2009.

MINI has participated in the premier European AIDS fundraiser the past nine years, annually commissioning another designer to reinterpret its fashionable little retromobile. Previous editions were designed by Diesel (long before the Diesel Fiat 500), Versace (before teaming up with Lamborghini) and Agent Provocateur (which tickled Max Mosley pink), to name just a few. This year, however, Mini solicited the - um -- "talents" of Hollywood fashion icons The Blonds, known among the red carpet crowd for dressing top pop stars. Their inspiration for the pink leopard-print 2009 Life Ball MINI, believe it or not, was neither cartoon panther nor French detective, but Katy Perry, the singer popularized by the hit song "I Kissed a Girl", who will perform at the gala in Vienna on May 16, where the car will then be raffled off to raise money to combat HIV/AIDS. More details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: MINI]

Continue reading Pink Panther: MINI reveals designer special for Life Ball 2009

Pink Panther: MINI reveals designer special for Life Ball 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 May 2009 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For the eighth year running, a designer MINI will be auctioned off to raise money for the cause of AIDS. The annual charitable event is organized by Life Ball, Europe's largest AIDS fundraiser event. Previous years saw MINIs designed by fashion houses like Missoni, Versace and Diesel, but this year's designer is the tits (so to speak): lingerie brand Agent Provocateur.

The one-of-a-kind MINI Clubman is treated to a uniquely kinky police-style paint scheme that would make Max Mosley weak at the knees. Pink police stripes run down the side over the black paint job, with a fishnet stocking pattern on the roof, a mirrored rear window, prison bars on the side windows and a tantalizing black leather interior. The car, which once again redefines the term "auto erotic", will be sold on eBay from June 5-15.

[Source: MINI]

Continue reading MINI gets its panties in a bunch for charity

MINI gets its panties in a bunch for charity originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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