We’ll tell you right now that all of this is part of a well thought out April fools prank. Even though MINI Corporate published a full press release and included several realistic looking pictures, the MINI camping accessories unfortunately will not be arriving at our dealership anytime soon. And that’s too bad, because we think they looked rather cool and useful. Let’s take a closer look.

On April 1st we received word from MINI Corporate Communications that MINI will add “a compact luxury caravan and suitably stylish roof-top tent to its product range – Formula: maximum touring pleasure on a minimal footprint.”

About the “Swindon” roof-top tent: “The tent can be fitted easily to the roof of a MINI, MINI Clubman or MINI Countryman, and likewise offers sleeping space for two people. All of which makes those stressful last-minute searches for accommodation “so last holiday.” Having found a fittingly dreamy place to catch a stylish night’s shut-eye, it’s just a case of climbing up onto the roof of the MINI, lifting up the upper half of the roof-top tent box and plumping your pillows ready for impact. The roof-top tent works a treat, whether the location for your beauty sleep is the English shires or the foothills of Kilimanjaro. Indeed, should you have chosen one of nature’s livelier spots to spend the night, the elevated sleeping position will keep passers-by from the animal world at arm’s length.”

About the “Cowley” caravan: Offers everything you need to pitch camp in comfort: two welcoming sleeping berths, a twin-burner gas-stove, a water tank with pump and dish-washing facility, a solar module to charge the on-board battery and a 230-volt power connection to supply the refrigerator, TV/DVD and hi-fi stereo system. “Maximum touring pleasure on a minimal footprint” is the formula for this exclusive pied-à-terre on wheels, very much in the spirit of the creative use of space for which MINI is renowned. The silhouette of the Cowley brings to mind the sweeping circular curves of the door trim inside a MINI. Plus, both side doors have sliding windows, as was the way of things in the Classic Mini up to 1969. The eye-catching trailer is only 12 centimetres (under five inches) wider than a MINI Clubman mirror to mirror and weighs just under 300 kilograms (661 lb). Indeed, with its outstanding agility and fleetness of foot, there’s no danger of the hallmark MINI driving fun being left behind over long journeys.

Unfortunately this was all a joke. But great news!

MINI also launched an entirely new model named the MINI Cooper Yachtsman!