Apparently:

No current plans for Rolls Royce MINI release | theSwitchback (http://bit.ly/dndrU)

:)

seems to have not been accurate as autocar is confirming as of a few days ago it is going to be produced.

It is accurate, the photos that AutoCar picked up on were the ones that WERE with this story (of the one off) and theSwitchback was later asked to remove by the original source of the photographs. The quote on the story about it being a one off is direct from a source at MINI UK head quarters.

All AutoCar says is that they "understand" BMW are "actively considering" the MINI with Rolls Royce trim. Nothing to counter what the original story above says, the official line being "No current plans" from MINI HQ.

dealerships in the US have been told to start taking names and deposits for it. They haven't been given any details though.

How do we know this, from the (ever reliable :rolleyes:) dealers themselves, who will take deposits on anything rumoured if they think they could cash in on it, from gossip which has come from who knows where, or from an official source somewhere higher up the food chain?

It could be an interesting idea, but I've yet to hear anything solid coming out from any of our "regular sources", who have a good history of being pretty reliable (latest case the JCW WC50, ahead of anyone else: John Cooper F1 50th Anniversary Edition | theSwitchback (http://bit.ly/c0rTD) and John Cooper F1 50th Anniversary update | theSwitchback (http://bit.ly/lvvhA)). ;) :D

I can't say it 100% isn't happening, but I can say I've had a denial from official sources (but only an "at present", which I pointed out was rather non-committal at the time), and no solid "yes, it's definately happening" from unofficial ones either.

Maybe the dealers are dreaming but it'll be cool if it comes to fruition.

It would be an interesting tie-up, but it wouldn't really affect most MINI buyers as the prices would no doubt be very, very high.