MINI is set to buff its fun, cheeky character still further with the announcement of a pair of highly polished new models on a very auspicious occasion.

Today marks the 99th anniversary of the birth of the father of the original Mini, Sir Alec Issigonis. Sir Alec also fathered the post-war Morris Minor. He was the visionary who conceived of a compact front-wheel drive engineering solution that changed the course of small car history, creating the unique Mini in 1959.

MINI is still unique in its market space and its delivery of go-kart like driving fun. It also offers an unrivalled ability for owners to personalise their cars via a vast range of factory fitted options.

Now, a collection of unique characters has been developed with very distinct flavours, courtesy of a range of new features.

MINI Park Lane is a VIP lounge on wheels and MINI Checkmate takes MINI sportiness to a new level.

Both these new MINI Characters will be offered on MINI Cooper and 125 kW supercharged MINI Cooper S models.

Set to arrive early in 2006, MINI Park Lane and MINI Checkmate are easily identified by their unique paint schemes complete with a highlight silver roof.

MINI Park Lane

MINI Park Lane is all about timeless elegance and discrete luxury.

It has exclusive Park Lane Royal Grey metallic paint outside and Panther Black English leather upholstered sport seats inside. These unique seats are stitched in Trad Brit style complete with heritage piping. MINI Park Lane equipment also includes a duo-tone leather steering wheel and automatic climate control.

Chrome Line exterior and interior trim, Harman/Kardon HiFi with 8-speakers, Xenon headlamps (MINI Cooper S), and as a no cost option, a new look silver bonnet stripe package, add to the air of exclusivity.

All this is topped off with stylish new Bridge-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels with run-flat tyres, chrome mirror caps and of course, an eye-catching silver roof.

MINI Checkmate

The sportier MINI Checkmate has Space Blue metallic paint teamed with a bold chequered flag decal for the flanks and silver mirror caps. An electric glass sunroof is teamed with an anthracite headlining, while the exterior roof finish is silver.

Inside there are Space Blue Checkmate cloth/leather sport seats, a sporty two-tone steering wheel and the four-gauge centre binnacle-mounted Chrono pack.

Like the MINI Park Lane, the wide silver bonnet stripes are a no cost option on Checkmate as well.

With new Flame-spoke 17-inch light alloy wheels at each corner, the MINI Cooper Checkmate model adds the Sport Suspension Plus package. Previously, this was restricted to supercharged MINI Cooper S models, delivering the ultimate in go-kart handling precision.

Pricing for the MINI Characters models will be announced closer to launch.