There is hardly any place in European motorsport that is as closely associated with a single event as Monte Carlo and the Rallye Monte Carlo. For Mini, the principality holds a special historical significance.
One of the brand's most famous successes came in 1965, when the Mini Cooper S, driven by Timo Mäkinen and co-driver Paul Easter, took overall victory. The success was remarkable at the time, as the relatively compact car beat much more powerful competitors in difficult winter conditions. The decisive factors were its low weight, good traction and precise handling on snow and ice.
The new “Mini 1965 Victory Edition” builds on this historic event (with a slight delay). The special edition is designed as a design tribute to the rally success and combines historical design elements with modern model variants. It is available for the Mini John Cooper Works, Mini John Cooper Works Electric and Mini Cooper S.
The Mini Cooper S has a 2,0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with TwinPower Turbo technology. The power output is 204 hp (150 kW) and the maximum torque is 300 Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6,6 seconds. Above it is the Mini John Cooper Works with 231 hp (170 kW) and 380 Nm of torque. Here the acceleration time is shortened to 6,1 seconds. The range is rounded off by the fully electric Mini John Cooper Works Electric, whose system output is up to 258 hp (190 kW). It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,9 seconds.
The design of this edition is inspired by the characteristics of 60s motorsport. The body color is Chili Red, combined with a white stripe that extends across the hood, roof and rear. On both sides of the vehicle is the starting number "52", referring to the winning car from 1965. The roof is white as standard, with a panoramic glass roof available as an option.
The “1965” lettering on the C-pillar serves as an additional historical reference. Depending on the model, 18-inch light-alloy wheels are available in various JCW designs. The wheel hub and valve covers adopt the colour scheme of this edition. The historical motif is also continued in the interior. The door sills bear the “1965” lettering, complemented by an edition dedication on the inside of the doors, which refers to the rally of that time. The interior is colour-coordinated with the typical JCW design in anthracite and red.
Details specific to this edition can be found, among other things, on the sports steering wheel and on the center console, where additional “1965” markings are integrated. The key fob also bears the starting number “52” as a reference to the rally victory. The Mini 1965 Victory Edition is expected to be available in selected markets from March 2026. For European markets, the launch is scheduled for July 2026.
