BRITISH Leyland perfected the art of the Mini 'special edition'. The transformation from your mam's favourite shopping trolley to something truly 'special' involved the painstaking application of a pin-stripe or two, some different wheel trims and, if it wsa really 'special', a new steering wheel.

They usually slapped on a posh name (Mayfair was rather popular despite its attachment to a popular gentlemen's top shelf magazine of the time) or something a bit racy (Mini Red Hot, Flame and Racing) and, er, that was it.

Yep, the original Mini special edition was nothing more than a desperate bid to flog a few more cars to gullible punters.

BMW has taken the idea of the special edition to new heights.

The Germans offer so many personalisation options for the new Mini that almost every model sold would class as a BL-style special edition.

So much so that it doesn't produce special editions any more, it unveils Mini 'design models'.

The latest, called the Mini Seven, is a nod to the original - the 1959 Austin Seven.

Mini Seven joins the current generation Mini Hatch range in 5-door or 3-door form with specially designed exterior and interior looks unseen before on this generation’s model line-up.

According to Mini bosses, the new Seven is instantly recognisable by its striking Mini Yours (where do the marketing department get these names from?) body finish which comes as standard in Lapisluxury Blue - the most intensive blue tone ever applied to a Mini (it says here).

Three other body finishes from the Mini paint range are also available to choose from; Pepper White, Midnight Black and British Racing Green.

A Melting Silver roof and exterior mirror caps come as standard, contrasting with the distinctive body finishes. Mini Seven door sill finishers and side scuttles with the Mini Seven logo as well as 17-inch light alloy wheels in exclusive Mini Seven Spoke two-tone design complete the exterior look.

For those wanting to add their own personal style to the exterior design of Mini Seven, bonnet stirpes in Melting Silver with surround in Malt Brown (very British Leyland that one) are also available as an option.

Inside, the eye-catching design cues continue with sports seats in the fabric/leather finish Diamond Malt Brown, designed exclusively for Mini Seven.

There is also a Mini Seven logo on the central instrument which surrounds the Mini Visual Boost 6.5-inch colour display which also comes as standard alongside Mini Connected, which adds Bluetooth hands free music streaming with USB audio, floor mats, and the Mini Excitement Pack, automatic dual-zone air conditioning and storage compartment pack.

In addition to the standard equipment, as you'd expect Mini Seven has its own bespoke option pack, the Mini Seven Chili which offers customers features such as the Lounge Leather Upholstery in Carbon Black and the MINI Yours Steering Wheel in Walk Nappa leather with a waxed hand stitched seem.

The MINI Seven Chili pack also offers additional features which are unique in the small car segment including LED headlights, multi-function controls for the steering wheel and cruise control with automatic brake function.

Additional optional equipment from the Mini range is also available to further customise Mini Seven. This includes the popular panorama glass roof, windscreen heating, front driver and passenger seat heating, the Harmon Kardon hi-fi speaker system as well as Mini Connected XL and Mini Navigation System.

Mini Seven will be have its first UK premiere at Goodwood Festival of Speed on the Mini stand from June 23-26, with orders being taken now. Prices start for Mini 3-door Seven from £18,545 OTR and from £19,145 for Mini 5-door Seven.