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Mini previews 2012 Life Ball 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.
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MINI supports the Life Ball in Vienna for the 12th time. Proceeds so far from the one-off Life Ball MINI models amount to more than a half a million euros.

02.05.2012

Munich/Vienna. Since its market launch in 2001, MINI has been a partner of the Life Ball. During this period, eleven unique vehicles have been specially designed for the event by a wide range of internationally renowned celebrities. For the 20th anniversary of the Life Ball, MINI continues its tradition of donating a vehicle that has been creatively adapted by an international celebrity, the proceeds of which go to projects combating HIV and AIDS. The auctioning of these one-off MINI models over the last years has generated proceeds of more than 500,000 euros for the charitable cause.

In previous years these Life Ball MINI models have been created by international fashion designers, including Joseph Corré for Agent Provocateur, Donatella Versace, Renzo Rosso for Diesel and Missoni, as well as decision-makers from the fashion scene such as Mario Testino and The Blonds for Katy Perry. This year the ranks of Life Ball MINI designers are joined by Franca Sozzani, chief editor of Italian VOGUE and UN Goodwill Ambassador for Fashion 4 Development. "I thought at MINI as a beautiful woman who put a scarf on her head when she drives a Roadster." – This is how Sozzani describes the inspiration behind her design sketch for the MINI Roadster.


The combination of floral motifs and mannequins with trendy Deepest Purple matt paintwork lends the MINI Roadster a thoroughly unmistakable look. The highlight of this year's Life Ball MINI is the floral design on the roof of the MINI Roadster. Steel-coloured accents on the exterior mirrors and alloy wheels, along with typical MINI rally stripes, elegantly round off this unusual colour concept. The interior, meanwhile, boasts high-grade materials and a sophisticated seat design.

"In Franca Sozzani we have found an experienced fashion expert who devotes her artistic prowess primarily to colour. We are now thrilled to be able to bring this joint project to fruition", says Anders Warming, Head of MINI Design.

The one-off MINI will be auctioned in the Hall of Ceremonies at Vienna's Hofburg palace as part of the AIDS Solidarity Gala on Saturday 19starting at 5pm.

A further highlight of the Life Ball 2012 will be the fashion show presented by MINI and staged by VOGUE Italy. To mark the event's 20th anniversary, creations by former Life Ball designers will be on display alongside legendary looks.



The social commitment of the BMW Group.

Worldwide measures to combat HIV/AIDS are one of the main elements of the corporate and social policy pursued by the BMW Group. The company's involvement in South Africa is particularly wide-ranging, covering a comprehensive workplace programme for employees and their families, plus a number of different projects in the local communities and further afield. The carmaker is also committed to fighting this pandemic in other affected countries, such as Thailand or China. Membership of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBC) underlines its long-term commitment at its various locations.



Timeline of the Life Ball MINI.

2012 – MINI designed by Franca Sozzani.

MINI Roadster by Franca Sozzani, chief editor of Italian VOGUE



2011 – MINI designed by DSQUARED².

MINI Hatch by Dean and Dan Caten



2010 – MINI designed by Diane von Furstenberg, Kenneth Cole and Francisco Costa von Calvin Klein Collection.

MINI Hatch by Diane von Furstenberg

MINI Cabrio by Kenneth Cole

MINI Countryman by Francisco Costa of Calvin Klein Collection



2009 – MINI designed by The Blonds.

MINI Cabrio by The Blonds for Katy Perry



2008 – MINI designed by Agent Provocateur.

MINI Clubman by Agent Provocateur / Joseph Corré



2007 – MINI designed by Testino.

MINI Hatch by star photographer Mario Testino



2006 – MINI designed by Diesel.

MINI Cabrio by Renzo Rosso



2005 – MINI designed by Versace.

MINI Cabrio by Donatella Versace



2004 – MINI designed by Ferré.

MINI Cabrio by Gianfranco Ferré



2003 – MINI designed by Missoni.

MINI Hatch by Angela Missoni



2002 – Charity MINI.

With autographs by German, Austrian and international celebrities

(incl. Elton John, No Angels, Heidi Klum, Emma Sjöberg, Mavie Hörbiger)



2001 – camouflaged MINI. (Presented before its market launch)

MINI Information

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