Some things just stick with you. Ideas, philosophies, theories… brands. Most of the time, it is because of a memory. Something that has been with you for a long time, has been fed to you every once in a while. And before you know it, it becomes a part of you. The memories of you with your parents are refreshed every time you see a functional family. An advertisement from your childhood that you used to watch on a CRT while having breakfast and before heading out to school. A Mini Cooper S. Wait, I think I jumped the gun a bit there. 

There are many of these memories that are a part of you without you knowing but are always ready to access with or without external stimulus. Remember a poster of a motorcycle or a car that you used to love? I can bet you do and it is still around. If I have to give an example, I’ll use my own. Surrounded by comic books and cartoons, fascinated by these unreal characters… and look at me now. Pop culture and science fiction have a say in whatever I do, including MotoVilla. You can read about the latest updates elsewhere.

Anyway, back to the topic. A specific memory that I have is watching The Italian Job. Watching those MINIs being a menace on the streets and even below them. When exactly did MINI become an aspirational brand? It is debatable. But the movie certainly didn’t hurt the cause. It surely proves that marketing works if done the right way. Regardless, I have had MINI at the back of my mind since then. I have gotten multiple opportunities to drive one and love it more every time I do.

The most memorable drive was in 2014. I did a 2,000 km loop in a MINI Cooper S in the UK. It was beautiful. The narrow sinuous roads of Peaks District National Park were a perfect setting for a MINI. With a fairly powerful engine, compact form factor, low centre of gravity, and the famed go-kart-like handling; it did not take me long to figure out why people loved MINI so much… even in London traffic! The point is, I have driven the MINI a fair bit and I love it for what it is. 

Fast forward to 2023, I was out hunting for the perfect sports car for myself and xBhp. Up to this point, I had only owned two cars. A measly number compared to the number of superbikes I have had. The first car I owned was a Maruti Suzuki (when the brand was still called that) Ritz. I loved its European styling and it stood out among the crowd back then. The second car I got, and still have, is a 2020 Mahindra Thar (Petrol A/T). I christened it A Biker’s Car because it felt like an ADV motorcycle but four-wheeled. An unmatched legacy, loads of character, and representation of freedom unlike anything else- it was a no-brainer. 

Coming back to the hunt for a perfect sports car- the Ford Mustang was on the list. But more than 65 lacs for a 5-year-old car seemed like a bit much. Plus Ford isn’t ‘really around’ in India anymore so there’s that. Therefore, despite the legacy and presence, the Mustang fell off the list. Plus it is kinda big for spirited driving and if you do end up doing that, all the fuel stations in the world start to seem really close and really far at the same time. 

Beetle was also an option. Sadly, it was killed off in 2019 because one fine day the Americans found themselves seriously uninterested in the car. And as you know, the whole world is America and that isn’t limited to Hollywood. Regardless, I am beating a dead horse here, literally. Then there was the Audi TT, the demise of which was recently announced as well. 

The Insta360 ONE RS 1-inch edition’s diminutive size does not hamper its ability. Co-engineered with Leica, the interchangeable lens design and unbeatable 360-degree image quality mean that it punches well above its weight… you can see the result in this image!

The one car that I thought about very seriously was the BMW M340i. The engine and the dynamics are to die for and I loved my time with it. But more than 70 lacs on-road? Again, a fair bit for me. More than that, the size was a factor again. So what now? I needed an iconic car that is fun to drive, has some power, possesses luxury, and still is a lovely sports car. MINI was it. But not any MINI. The MINI Cooper S is the real MINI for me and so, the deed was done. Fortunately, I found a fairly new one (less than 1,000 km on the odo and less than 10 months on the road). 

And some more photos from the unveiling…

In no time, it was in the garage. Now, it was time to make it truly my own. For me, machines are like canvases. Sometimes it is work, and sometimes it is just something I want to do but regardless of the reason, machines are like canvases to me. Having played a fair few racing games and being inspired by them, it was time to take the MINI Cooper S to the customization garage, in the real world!

The best way to design a car meant for gadget freaks is to take inspiration from the best out there. With devices like the Swift and the Predator, it does not get much better than Acer!

While thinking of a design, I had two things in mind- #20YearsOfxBhp and my love for gadgets. Acer was a natural choice. I absolutely love all their laptops, especially the Predator line. My go-to laptops for the past couple of years have been a Predator Helios 300 (for heavy editing and gaming) and an Acer Swift 5 (for when I am on the go). Both of them are nifty and serve their intended purpose with aplomb.

Then there’s Acer’s philosophy- Empowering People. I can get behind that. Technology is what empowered me to create xBhp in 2002. In turn, xBhp empowered a plethora of motorcyclists around India by providing them with the inspiration and resources they needed to explore the world on two wheels, along with a platform to get together with like-minded people. So all of what I and xBhp have been doing for 20 years, started on a laptop! Almost astounding what you can do with a ‘portable computer’ nowadays. 

Along with Acer, I needed some more good stuff to keep doing what I do. First off, the impressive wireless microphone range from Hollyland. Next up, Logitech. For peripherals, there is probably no better brand than Logitech. With their years of experience in the game, their product line is one of the most diverse and dependable in the market. They were also happy to jump on the bandwagon, for the lack of a better word, with their gaming peripherals and sound systems. 

Even when you can’t be out on the roads, you can experience all the thrill of driving with Logitech’s
G923 wheel. Nearly all the sensations from the road in the comfort of your room.

Moving on, I had two laptops to take inspiration from and a car has two sides (lousy, I know). So one side of the car represented the spirited, jazzy and powerful Acer Predator Helios 300. The other side was inspired by the suave and serious Acer Swift 5. To make things better, I also designed similarly inspired covers for both of these laptops. Symmetry is something you just have to love. 

While the Swift 5 excels in portability and looks, the Predator Helios 300 rocks your world with its blazing performance. Two entirely different devices with the same philosophy to empower.

Two key design elements and this is true for all my designs, are the sprocket and the aperture. These represent the two sides of xBhp and my own; machines and visual arts. The colours used this time were faux carbon fibre, grey, and glossy red with black and blue used wherever required. After preparing the designs, it was time to collaborate with Wasim from Rehan Customs. He is the man who implements my digital designs in the real world. He has been involved in a fair bit of work at the MotoVilla as well. 

Yeah, I know, I do a lot of designing. I design the liveries of all my machines, I design how I want MotoVilla to look, I design the cover of the xBhp Print Magazine and so on. I cannot help it. Despite the amount of work I am drowned in, I always take time to indulge in design. For me, it is passion and therapy. 

All said and done, after a fair amount of time spent fine-tuning everything, the MINI Cooper S, or rather my MINI Cooper S was ready. Now the only thing left to do was to show it to you guys. Time for the ‘aperture’ side of mine to show up. I spend a decent amount of time photographing every bit of my MINI. 

I would also like to mention another brand- Meguiar. With a history of around 120 years, Meguiar is a California-based car company known for its car care products aimed at luxury cars. After their acquisition by 3M, they made their way to India and I tried out a few products from their catalogue. And I can vouch for their waterless wash and wax glass cleaning. They are a breeze to use and after having acquired an iconic car like the MINI, we needed to have the stuff to take care of it as well. If you love your car, you must give Meguiar a try.

Our Mini Cooper S shines bright and is always photo-ready thanks to the premium car care products from Meguiar’s.

Well, that is the story of my MINI Cooper S… so far. What lies ahead in the future, only father time can tell but if I had to make a prediction, I’d say the goods are going to be good.

Shooting outdoors with multiple cameras and creators? The Hollyland Solidcom C1 is the device for you. Seamless and reliable transmission over a 350m radius, true wireless, self-contained, and ready out of the box; the Solidcom C1 gives you all you need for, well, solid teamwork!

Also, considering that our Rocket 3 R was built on the same theme, we did not let it sit out on the fun. It joined Racer01 for a day out!

Finally, here’s all the eye candy we have for you when it comes to Racer01…