Mini’s pantry of special edition models is stock full of unique creations, adding weight to the thought that the German automaker is no stranger to this fancy exclusives. Even with an inventory that’s bursting at the seams, special edition work soldiers on for Mini with the presentation of its latest creation, the Cooper Blackfriars Edition.

Taking inspiration from the Blackfriar's section of London where the order of Dominican monks who carry the same name reside, this unique Cooper hatchback is defined by its subdued yet effective upgrades. There’s plenty of black to go around too, a nod to the traditional black robes worn by the Blackfriar's monks. Inspired color motifs aside, the special edition Cooper also features plenty of unique details in its exterior and interior, not to mention the references to the Blackfriars from where it got its name. It’s not the flashiest special edition Mini Cooper we’ve seen, and it may not even be the most appealing one, but it does stick to the identity of the institution that it takes inspiration from. That’s more than what we can say for other special edition vehicles that lack the connection to what they’re supposed to be celebrating or at least shining a light on.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Mini Cooper Blackfriars Edition

2017 Mini Cooper Blackfriars Edition

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  • Model: 2017 Mini Cooper Blackfriars Edition
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What makes the Mini Cooper Blackfriars Edition special

Like with most special editions to come out of Mini in recent years, there’s as much importance put on the name it gets as there is on the actual features that make it unique in the first place. The streets of London themselves have turned into a rich pool of special edition versions from the German automaker with past works including the Baker Street Special Edition, Mayfair Special Edition, and Bayswater Special Edition. There’s even been a Green Park Edition, proving that there are no shortages of places in the bustling metropolis that Mini can’t draw inspiration from.

This time, the focus was put squarely on Blackfriars, an area of central London where the famed Blackfriar monks reside. These monks traditional wear black cloaks over their white habits as a way to identify their order. It’s no surprise then that the Mini Cooper Blackfriars Edition gets a similar black-ish treatment, albeit without any hints of white in it. The all-black look is the visual highlight of the hatchback. It features a dominant black body color, matte black trim on the B- and C-pillars, and a set of 17-inch Cosmos Spoke wheels with its own dark accents. Typical of Mini’s special edition models, the Blackfriars Edition also comes with identifying badges throughout the body as a way to ensure that nobody confuses it for anything other than a special edition Cooper.

Move inside, and the treatment is largely similar with the use of black leather and fabric upholstery to dominate the interior. Those who end up buying this special edition model will also be treated to a navigation system, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, and a panoramic sunroof.

Unfortunately, not all variants of the Cooper will be given the Blackfriar's treatment as only the lower trims of the Mini Hardtop, including the Cooper, Cooper D, One, and One D, will be available with the Blackfriars special edition. Worse, and somewhat ironically, the special edition Cooper will actually be exclusive to the French market. That means that despite the car being inspired by an area in London, those who live in the UK aren’t unlikely to get the car for themselves.

It may seem strange to think of it in those terms, but Mini’s history of naming its special edition models after different streets and areas in London isn’t a prelude to these models being sold exclusively in that market.

What were the other special edition Minis that were named after places in London?

There’s been a lot of them over the years, but some of the most prominent ones were the Bayswater Edition, Mayfair Edition, Baker Street Special Edition, and Green Park Edition.

The Bayswater and Baker Street Special Editions were introduced back at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Yep, that’s how long Mini has been hustling on this front. As expected, both SEs came with unique styling touches. The Bayswater Edition, for example, featured an exclusive Kite Blue metallic finish with optional Midnight Black and Eclipse Grey finishes available for the Cooper S and SD models. In also received special racing stripes on the hood and side mirrors, a black-finished roof, and a new set of 17-inch wheels.

Meanwhile, the Baker Street Special Edition was presented in Geneva with a Rooftop Grey metallic finish with special racing stripes on the hood, black mirror caps, and a new set of 16-inch alloy wheels. Optional paint finishes - Pepper White and Midnight Black - were also part of the offering.

Note: photos of the Mini Cooper Bayswater Special Edition.

If Mini isn’t naming its SEs after streets in London, it’s doing so with specific - and popular - areas in the metropolis. One such example was the Cooper Green Park Edition, which also arrived in 2012. This particular Cooper SE was defined by a Pepper White paint finish complemented the company’s traditional British Racing Green finish on the roof. Aside from the fancy two-tone color, the Green Park Edition also had with an interior dressed in the same Pepper White color with seats that came in either black or Polar Beige.

Note: photo of the Mini Cooper Green Park Edition.

References

Mini Cooper

Read our full review on the 2017 Mini Cooper.

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