Mini Brought Back a Name From 1998 — But This One Has Nearly Three Times the Power

Mini is bringing back the 1998 GT name for its latest special edition, and there’s a nice bit of history behind it. Based on the Cooper C 2 Door, the limited-run model pays tribute to the 1275 GT that arrived in 1969, mixing its black-and-orange look with a handful of John Cooper Works touches.

The Mini 1998 GT Edition is finished in Midnight Black Metallic with orange graphics carrying the “1998 GT” name, along with matching orange details around the body. It also gets black 17-inch JCW Sprint Spoke wheels and a John Cooper Works aero kit. There’s no extra power underneath all those GT badges, though, as the car uses the same Cooper C mechanicals.

Inside, Mini adds JCW Sports Seats finished in Black Vescin and Black Knit, along with a three-spoke JCW steering wheel featuring GT logos. The special-edition touches continue with 1998 GT floor mats and door sills, a GT-specific key fob, and a dedicated center-console storage box.

The original 1275 GT was the top Mini of its time, arriving with a 1.3-liter engine producing 60 hp and a top speed of 87 mph. The new car has a little more muscle, to put it mildly. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder makes 161 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sending the power to the front wheels. That works out to almost three times the horsepower of the car that inspired the name.

The 1998 GT Edition is the sixth of eight special editions Mini plans to launch in the US. It costs $36,875 before destination, compared with $29,500 for the Cooper C 2 Door. Production starts in October, with the first cars expected at dealerships in early November. Mini hasn’t announced how many examples it will build, so the exact level of exclusivity is still unknown.