MINI INTRODUCES COMMEMORATIVE EDITION MINI COOPER S MC40

Limited Production Model Celebrates 40TH Anniversary of MINI'S 1964 Monte Carlo
Win

Chicago, Illinois - February 4th, 2004 ... MINI USA announces the debut of
the MINI Cooper S MC40. This limited-production commemorative edition
celebrates the 40th anniversary of MINI's win of the famed Monte Carlo Rally in
1964 - a victory that forever changed the reputation of MINI to that of a true
motorsport legend.

The MINI Cooper S MC40 possesses all the distinctive visual characteristics
that connects this limited production model to that of its historic
predecessor. With only 1,000 units planned, the limited production MC40 comes
with a set list of standard equipment and special features and will appear only
in Chili Red with a white roof - the signature colors of the winning car.
Customers are able to order the MINI Cooper S MC40 at dealers with expected
delivery by April, 2004. MSRP will be about $27,000 including $550 for
destination.

MINI and the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally - The Making of a Legend
What makes this limited edition so special is the historic event the MINI
Cooper S MC40 commemorates. The 1964 Monte Carlo victory heralded the car as a
worthy motorsport competitor and set the Mini on a course to become a motoring
icon lasting 40 years to this very day.

The date was January 17th, 1964 and the Monte Carlo Rally was becoming more
challenging than ever with the entry of well-organized factory teams.
Competition for the Mini was stiff with bigger, more powerful cars from Ford,
Mercedes-Benz and Volvo to Citroen, Saab and other pedigree challengers.

Piloted by fearless rally driver Paddy Hopkirk and his skilled navigator, Henry
Liddon, the pint-sized Mini overcame great odds in all sorts of challenging
conditions. Ice, twisty mountain passes, darkness and above all, formidable
challengers, made for an exciting, flat-out drive for the team. On snowy
sections of the route, the Mini's nimble handling and front-wheel-drive proved
advantageous over the more powerful, albeit heavier, larger rear-wheel-drive
competition. In the final moments of the rally on the Grand Prix circuit,
Paddy and the pint-sized Mini were tenacious, pulling a victory over the second
place contender by little more than 30 points.

It certainly was the sensation in the rally season that year: A small red
David with a white roof proudly showed its tailpipe to all those ultra-powerful
Goliaths, clinching overall victory in the Monte Carlo Rally. And in this "big
bang", the tiny little car immediately became a legend.

Originally conceived as an inexpensive and economical means of transportation,
the Mini had been transformed into the hot-blooded Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper
S thanks to the legendary John Cooper of Formula 1 fame. John recognized the
Mini's excellent attributes as a quick and nimble performer with great
potential on the motorsport circuits. The Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S
clearly stood out as the "every man's sports car".

Wherever the Mini - either in standard trim or in highly modified form -
appeared at the start of a race, it was always good for a genuine surprise.
Indeed, the Mini wrote many a headline in the world of rally racing, just like
it made things more than difficult for the usual "tough guys" on race circuits
the world over. There was truly no other car in the market able to offer the
same kind of sporting performance for so little money and providing outstanding
driving pleasure within such compact dimensions.

Forty years on nothing has changed: The features which once took the classic
Mini to victory in that historic race to Monaco remain the basic ingredients of
the MINI today. With its compact exterior dimensions, the new MINI simply
whisks around corners, resting solidly on its wide track and long wheelbase.
In particular, however, every driver given the opportunity to take the wheel of
a MINI will feel immediately why entering the Monte Carlo Rally would indeed be
a wonderful experience. Both generations of MINI clearly stand out from all
other cars in precisely the same way. They are extremely agile and posses
go-kart-like reflexes.

The MINI Cooper S MC40 - A Salute to History
Competitors could not miss the distinctive red and white colors and tidy
dimensions of the Mini that wrote history in 1964. Taking cues from the
winning car, the same colors adorn the MINI Cooper S MC40. Special
commemorative markings on the car include the famous "33-EJB" on the bonnet and
a special 40th anniversary rally graphic on both the bonnet and rear quarters.
The car proudly wears special magnetic door plaques with the unmistakable white
and black "number 37". The plaques stay securely in place at speed, but can be
easily removed if needed.

The MINI Cooper S MC40 comes with a set of distinctive 17-inch, multi-spoke
alloy wheels. The two-piece wheels are finished in anthracite gray and feature
a polished aluminum lip. Other special equipment includes rally-style driving
lights with chrome bezels, a chrome grille, mirror caps and rear boot handle.
A tasteful 'GB' insignia adorns the rear boot lid, paying tribute to the car's
place-of-origin in Oxford, England.

The standard equipment list also includes a sport package with Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC), front and rear fog lights, on-board computer and Xenon
headlamps with power wash - features a rally driver could have only dreamed of
in 1964.

In the cabin, the dash panel is clad in genuine, lightweight carbon fiber and
the seats wear striking red and black leather upholstery unique to this model.
A special gauge package is mounted in the center console and indicates voltage
and oil temperature. The shift knob features a 40th Anniversary Monte Carlo
insignia and has a satin aluminum finish. The interior also features a thick
leather wrapped, three-spoke sport wheel and all-weather rubber floor mats to
protect the carpets from would-be rally drivers' shoes.

To round out the unique features included in the MINI Cooper S MC40, there is a
special numbered commemorative plate in the center console indicating the
exclusivity of each car.

"We have created this car to mark a great event in MINI's history", stated Jack
Pitney, Vice President, MINI USA. "The 1964 Monte Carlo victory was the event
that put MINI on the map to become a lasting motoring icon and the MINI Cooper
S MC40 pays a fitting tribute to our rich heritage."

BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975.
ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW
Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial
service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the ROLLS-ROYCE
brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a
technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the
country. BMW Manufacturing Corp. in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's
global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all
Z4 roadster and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization
is represented in the U.S. through networks of 340 BMW passenger car centers,
327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 148 BMW motorcycle retailers, 73 MINI
passenger car dealers, and 25 ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding
Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America,
is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet
at:
www.bmwusa.com
www.bmwmotorradusa.com
www.miniusa.com
www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com
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