One of Britain’s iconic brands has a little surprise in store to boost the country’s Olympic hopes – two special Minis to spread the London message around the world.

Called Mini Baker Street and Mini Bayswaters, the special editions will go on sale in South Africa from March, 2012.

The two models have their own, distinct personalities: the Baker Street conveys the youthful and trend-setting style of the Mini brand while the Bayswater focuses more on the Mini’s athletic qualities. In South Africa, the Baker Street is available only in the Mini Cooper and the Bayswater in Mini Cooper and Cooper S.

Mini Baker Street gets new exterior and interior design details, such as a Rooftop Grey metallic paint with special bonnet stripes in basic black with a V-design. It also comes with 16”, six-star twin-spoke light alloy wheels painted in high-gloss black with matching black exterior mirror housings and a roof painted black. It can also be ordered in Pepper White and Midnight Black.

STAR WITH STRIPES

The interior has new cloth and leather combination seat upholstery in Cross Check Rooftop Grey with light grey contrast stitching for the floor mats, handbrake gaiters and seat tags.

The equipment list includes the Pepper Pack, which includes items such as air conditioning, an on-board computer, a leather steering wheel, the Chrome Line Exterior package, front foglamps, a lighting package and height adjustment for the front passenger seat. Prospective owners can also dip into a range of options.

In South Africa, the Mini Baker Street is powered by the 90kW/160Nm 1.6 litre engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. A six-speed automatic is optional.

By contrast, the Mini Bayswater shows off its extrovert style with its Kite Blue metallic exterior paintwork, bold 17” alloy wheels with high-gloss black and bright machined surfaces, contrasting black roof and streaky bonnet stripes. The wing mirror caps carry a stripe design, too. Metallic Midnight Black and Eclipse Grey paint finishes are optional.

“Bayswater” lettering adorns the side indicator surrounds, door sills and seat tags.

Inside the cabin, the leather seats come in an exclusive Rocklite Anthracite colour with side bolsters finished in a metallic sheen and blue and grey contrast stitching. This stitching is also used for the gearshift lever and handbrake gaiters.

Additionally, Piano Black trim is used in the cabin while the same leather used for the seats is also used on the armrests.

FEELING INSPIRED

The Mini Bayswater also comes with the Pepper Pack with Chrome Line Interior package, but can also be personalised with items from the optional equipment list.

In South Africa, the Mini Bayswater can be ordered in Cooper (90 kW) and Cooper S (135 kW) trim. A six-speed manual gearbox as standard, while a six-speed automatic is optional.

The Mini Bayswater takes its name from an vibrant area of London, located to the west of the city centre – halfway between the shopping hot spots of Knightsbridge and Notting Hill – while Baker Street will be familiar to Sherlock Holmes fans as the address of the fictional sleuth.