The Mulgari F56 SV Is A Mini Cooper S That's Customised Before You Even Take Delivery

A British tuning house has launched a service whereby it will find, buy and customise a new car before you ever even take delivery, delivering what it says is a Rolls-Royce-like buying experience at much lower price points.

Mulgari Automotive’s Signature Vehicle programme lets customers with a bit of extra cash to play with simply hand instructions and designs to the Bracknell-based company and let them do the rest. Modifications range from the cosmetic to remaps, exhaust systems and bodywork, not to mention interior makeovers.

Following a concept based on a McLaren MP4-12C, the first production car Mulgari is offering is called the F56 SV, based on the Mini Cooper S, whose current model code is F56. We’ve no idea how much Mulgari will charge for the full customisation, but for this level of service we wouldn’t be surprised if it added at least half the purchase price again.

The example F56 SV has had all the original chrome-effect trim removed and switched for replacements in one of six colours. The light-alloy wheels are new, and power from the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol motor has been boosted to 280bhp - quite a lot more than the official John Cooper Works version - with 290lb ft of torque backing it up. It rides 30mm lower without sacrificing ride quality, apparently, and using suspiciously vague statistics Mulgari claims a 23 per cent ‘increase in performance’.

All SV cars will be customised by hand, Mulgari says. Interiors will be crafted with each customer’s own specification of materials and colours, with contrast stitching a common feature. A press release said:

“Signature Vehicle customers can expect an ownership experience similar to the loyal drivers of elite automotive brands. Mulgari designs every aspect of the car with the customer, offering access to exclusive options and looking after every detail of the vehicle to delivery and thereafter.”

Mulgari’s owner, Benjamin Sunners, said it’s all about finishing what the original manufacturers are unable to.

“From our experience, we have seen how manufacturers can be frustrated by market requirements. Most customers come to Mulgari to ‘finish’ their car, unlocking its full performance and visual potential, and fitting options, some of which simply aren’t available from an OEM.”