While capturing future cars completely or near naked during a photo shoot is surely not uncommon these days (remember our scoop of the Mercedes CLA?), the fact that the world has the opportunity to see these vehicles on websites like our own as well as magazines well before the official launch date, doesn’t always bond well with automakers.
Nevertheless, we don’t often hear complaints from carmakers, which prefer to downplay these incidents or just take advantage of the extra and equally important, free advertising. Naturally, the BMW Group’s Mini division came to learn about the photos of the undisguised 2014 Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S that appeared on Carscoops and other websites earlier this week.
The German-owned British company issued a rather humorous statement, in which it mentions, among other things, that the car will look much better in the flesh as the long distance from which the Mini was shot, distorted its lines… Mini also issued its own picture of the new 2014 Hatch, albeit mostly covered in wraps.
You can read the press statement for yourself right below the break.
[MINI Press Statement]
Outrageous! MINI secretly photographed at private getaway.
Oxford. “Aggressive and relentless papping is something British celebrities have had to learn to live with. Members of the Royal Family, as well as actors, footballers and top models are all familiar with the sensation of being caught in uncompromising situations, and now MINI is the latest victim. Absolutely unaware and without make-up, the youngest member of our family was caught by sensationalist photographers in a highly private moment. The young one was yellow and completely defenceless. We understand the worldwide interest in our family but it is not the British way to send such unfavourable pictures around the globe.
But like a good stiff-upper-lipped Brit, MINI shall not complain, although we would like to officially state that we are not flattered. The published pictures do not reflect our good looks any way. As every celebrity knows, those extra long telephoto lenses have the devastating ability to negatively distort all surfaces, lines and angles. Therefore our advice: next time come closer to the object of desire. If that doesn’t work, don’t worry, shortly you will have the opportunity to experience the MINI up close and personal, and to take pictures from all angles.”
PHOTO GALLERY
