As with most things in Singapore, there are plenty of rules governing what you can and cannot do to your car. Unless you’re a lawyer specialising in automotive law, have a photographic memory, or are exceptionally careful with what mods you choose, it’s all too easy to fall foul of the authorities.
Even if you do manage to avoid the long arm of the law, you might not be able to get past the dealer you got your car from. After all, most car companies are stricter about mods than the LTA, with even a simple rim swap or bodykit add-on possibly voiding your vehicle warranty.
Supposing you were to buy a new MINI, you’d probably have no such problems, given how the marque offers a vast number of ways to modify your ride. To start with, you could choose from one of 11 body colours, with the roof and door mirrors painted white, black, or in the same colour as the car’s body.
For the vehicle’s paint job, you could make it as loud or as subtle as you want it to be. If you think Volcanic Orange is a little too extrovert, there’s always Moonwalk Grey. Perhaps you’d like your MINI in brown (Iced Chocolate Metallic), the colour popularised by the ultra-hip carmaker some years back.
It’s the same story with the MINI’s interior – you could either go for restrained with matte-black dashboard trim or give it serious pop with some red panelling. If single shades aren’t your thing, there are also panels with a chequerboard motif or one with chromatic dots (appropriately named “Firework”). If modern isn’t up your alley, you could add a touch of retro class to your MINI with some wood panels.
And we haven’t yet gotten to the interior upholstery. Whether your preferences lean toward the luxe feel that only leather can deliver or the funkiness of tartan-print fabric seats, you’ll really feel the agony of choice.
All the above are still “stock” items, available to all potential MINI buyers. If a more exclusive touch is desired, MINI has made available a set of four styling packages – Vivid Green, Speedwell Blue, John Cooper Works Pro and Essential Black.
The example pictured on these pages is equipped with the Speedwell Blue pack. This comprises a blue tartan motif on the roof, door sills, side strakes and door mirrors, with matching decals adorning the car’s flanks. To lend even more colour-coordination, the floor mats and key fob can also be specified with the Speedwell Blue motif.
The best part is, all these modifications aren’t restricted to your newly ordered/collected MINI – there’s a huge range of apparel, and cheeky accessories such as an umbrella with a handle shaped like a MINI’s gearlever.
And like all of the official car accessories offered by MINI, you can be sure that the marque’s human “mods” are fully LTA-compliant.
