This special Mini was built for the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1997, designed to embrace the individuality and dynamism of the Mini brand whilst following the traditions of the customised Mini car.

The purpose of the Hot Rod was to build the quickest ever road-going Mini. The excitement is provided by a race-bred 16-valve twin-cam version of the trusty A-series engine, producing a heady 160 bhp. The engine is coupled to a straight-cut, five-speed gearbox with a quick-change assembly, enabling racing style gear changes. Power is distributed via competition driveshafts and stopping by vented brake discs and carbon metallic pads on the front plus uprated drums on the rear.

Inside the car a roll cage and front bucket seats with four-point harness seatbelts have been fitted and the rear seats have been removed. The interior is faced in aluminium sheet and the pedals and footrests are shaped from drilled alloy. A racing steering wheel is fitted with push buttons on the wheel to replace the stalk controls. A racing style toggle key and push button starter are also provided. Externally, the car is largely standard but has a paint scheme based on the British Racing Motors (BRM) works colours that were featured on the BRM Formula One racing cars of the 1960s and early 1970s.