Get In Line Online at MINI.ca

WHITBY, ON, Jan. 14 /CNW/ - BMW Group Canada today announced that 500 Launch Edition MINI Coopers will be made available to reserve exclusively online at www.MINI.ca starting on Wednesday, January 16th, 2002. Over 7000 prospective customers, who have all registered for more information about the MINI over the past year at www.MINI.ca, will be sent e-mail reminders to inform them of all the details regarding the MINI In Line Online campaign.

"The 'get in line online' initiative is a great way for our valued prospects to have the first chance to purchase a Launch Edition MINI Cooper," explains Manfred Braunl, National Marketing Manager, BMW Group Canada.

Although those people already registered at www.MINI.ca will receive an e-mail reminder, anybody can go to the site and place an order. Once at the site, the customer will be asked to select their preferred MINI colour and their preferred MINI Retailer. A non-refundable $100 deposit will be required to guarantee a place in line to purchase the Launch Edition MINI at the chosen MINI retailer. The $100 will be donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. Participant online reservations will stand for 10 days, during which time the customer must go to a MINI retail centre and complete the paperwork. Retailers will be required to provide a copy of the signed agreement to MINI Canada within the 10-day reservation window or the reservation will be re-allocated.

Priced at $27,100 Canadian (aboot $17,000 U.S.)the Launch Edition MINI Cooper is equipped with a Sports Package with manual transmission and is customised with special launch edition embroidery in the interior. It will be available in three exterior colour variations: chili red with a white roof, indeed blue with a white roof or silver with a black roof and several optional features have been packaged together to create a truly distinctive launch edition MINI. Among those features are a leather steering wheel, a rear spoiler, chrome bumper inserts, 16" 5-Star Alloy Wheels, heated Sport Seats, floor mats and fog lights.

Regular production MINI Coopers will be sold in Canada for $24,950 and along with the Cooper S, will be available this March at MINI retail centers located in 15 cities across Canada.

MINI Canada Inc., based in Whit by, Ontario, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW Group AG and, as of March 2002, is responsible for the Canadian distribution of the MINI Cooper and the MINI Cooper S. MINI is represented by a total network of 15 independent MINI retail centers across the country.