MINI goes Undercover for Life Ball

Dial triple zero for the style police, and chances are they will turn up in this racy MINI Clubman, fitted out by sexy UK lingerie label Agent Provocateur.

This divvy van with a difference has been kitted out like a burlesque bedroom on wheels thanks to the manic machinations of Agent Provocateur’s founding father Joseph Corré.

Recalling the original, if austere MINI van which served UK police forces faithfully through the 1960s and 1970s, this modern interpretation comes with fold flat reclining rear seats and restraints for ankles and wrists, ensuring the very wickedly dressed assume a supremely supine position for interrogation.

Barred rear windows, obscured by luscious blinds ensure no-one, especially the paparazzi, gets to peek in while the rozzers do their thing. Fashion victims will sing when prodded (gently) by the thoughtfully-provided Agent Provocateur whip (US$225 from their website, apparently…).

This padded cell on wheels provides a seductive insight into the imaginative mind of the now famous lingerie designer, and coupled with saddle stitched seat facing in lascivious leather, lashings of signature pink and black trimmings and a suggestive red hot flashing lamp on the roof, ensure the Life Ball MINI Clubman is the heart and soul of the party.

In each of the past four years, MINI has provided the Life ball charity event with a special one-off model, designed by an edgy artist, from a diverse range of disciplines.

The resulting masterpiece is auctioned on eBay to raise funds for research into a cure for AIDS. Previous contributing artists have included designers Gianfranco Ferré, Donatella Versace, Diesel and photographer Mario Testino, raising in excess of €260,000.

The theme of this year’s party was "Landing on planet Life Ball“, where guests were invited to take a trip through time to visit supposedly alien cultural universes which actually existed next to each other. The infinite opportunities of social coexistence were energetically highlighted.

Agent Provocateur was founded by Serena Rees and her husband Joseph Corré, son of fashion creator Vivienne Westwood.

“It has been a lot of fun to lend our unique brand identity to the MINI Clubman,” said Joseph Corré.

“Ever mindful that the long arm of the law needs ample space when interrogating a captive prisoner, we have supplied our Agent Provocateur police car with fully reclining rear seats and ankle cuffs for forensic investigation. The Agent Provocateur MINI police van is the perfect patrol car for checking the offending publics’ undercover credentials, you might say,” Joseph Corré quipped.

On the weekend of 17 May, Joseph Corré drove the MINI across the red carpet outside Vienna's City Hall for the start of the Life Ball Opening Show. The Life Ball MINI Clubman will be auctioned on eBay between 5 and 15 June, 2008.