The Mini 1499 GT Is An Adorable, Limited-Edition Homage
It’s not even Thursday, yet Mini has revealed what’s essentially one big, tonne and a bit throwback. And we rather like it - it has a commendable cutesy/cool thing going.
It’s the Mini 1499 GT, and as you’ve probably gathered from the image above, it’s a not-so-subtle homage to the old 1275 GT version of the original Mini. That car shirked the standard 998cc engine for a pokier lump displacing a massive 1275cc. The new car is - as you’d expect - fitted with a 1499cc engine.
It’s BMW’s turbocharged inline-three, here putting out 101bhp. 0-62mph happens in a leisurely but not sluggish 10.1 seconds. No different to the standard car, but the GT does have a sportier suspension setup.
Also separating it from the boggo Mini is the the John Cooper Works Sport Pack, which is fitted as standard. It includes 17-inch black alloy wheels, window tints, white indicators plus JCW front/rear bumpers, side skirts and a boot spoiler.
You can have it in either Pepper White with black 1499 GT graphics, or Midnight Black with gold decals. It’s available order now, priced at £16,990 and limited to 1499 units.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Its nice to see they finally recognise the 1275 Leylands! We have one in Dulux ‘Devil yellow’ (almost exactly like the one in the picture) and they’re so much fun! Especially when you bore the engine out to 1360cc 😂
I like it. It’s an homage, not a replica of the original. If I was in the market for a Mini Cooper this is what I’d buy.