Though small in dimensions, automaker Mini has made it a big mission to raise money for HIV and AIDS prevention in Africa and developing nations since the brand’s 2001 relaunch.
Sponsoring the Life Ball, which Mini says is an annual gala featuring some of the world’s most prominent celebrities, the automaker has let famous designers customize Mini Cooper models for auction. This year’s car will be a matte purple 2012 Mini Cooper S Roadster designed by Franca Sozzani, the editor-in-chief of Italian Vogue magazine.
Also accented by gold racing stripes, the Mini Roadster will have a floral-pattern cloth roof and steel-colored accents to complement the purple and gold. When describing her concept for the design, Sozzani said in a statement that she “thought at Mini as a beautiful woman who put a scarf on her head when she drives a Roadster.”
The specially designed Mini Roadster is set to go to auction at the Life Ball as part of the AIDS Solidarity Gala on May 19 in the Hall of Ceremonies at Vienna’s Hofburg palace. Contributions will go toward the already 500,000 euros ($657,000) Mini has raised for fighting HIV/AIDS so far through this event, which works out to about $60,000 per car.
Source: Mini
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