This is the Mini ‘Red Mudder’. a one-off custom Mini created by Canadian fashion designers DSQUARED² for the Life Ball, an annual AIDS charity event held in Vienna.
Mini Life Ball (2011): the lowdown (err, jacked-up)
DSQUARED² are Canadian twin brothers Dean and Dan Caten, who launched their first fashion collection in 1995 and have been flummoxing sub-editors of non-fashion publications with their company name ever since.
Taking a Mini Cooper S hatchback as their canvas, the Catens decided to equip it for the Canadian outdoors – visually at least. The suspension has been raised and all-terrain tyres fitted, but don’t go looking for Mini’s All4 four-wheel-drive system underneath. A front nudge bar, extra spotlights on the nose and roof, and a tailgate mounted spare tyre complete the exterior transformation.
Inside, the Canadian duo removed the rear seats and created a ruggedised storage area with removable locker and fuel cans. Add DSQUARED² maple leaf logos inside and out, choose a patriotic Canadian read and black colourscheme and the 2011 Life Ball has its outdoorsy party piece.
Hasn’t Mini been making charity one-off cars before?
Yes. This is the tenth year of Life Ball Minis. The company provided their first Life Ball car in 2001: a camouflaged new Mini hatchback, disguised because the Mini had yet to be officially launched. Since then fashion designers have been commissioned to decorate a Mini. The DSQUARED² Mini is the most heavily customised beyond paint and trim.
>>A Mini SUV done right or an estate agent’s car in overstyled hiking gear? Share your thoughts on the customised Mini Life Ball in the comments section below: