Why isn't the half leather half cloth option available in the USA?

[EPilot]

Is anyone else annoyed by this?
I would be so happy with this combo instead of the blue leather.

[BJA]

I guess it's just like the Pepper, Salt and Chili packages. We don't have those in the USA. The Cooper S Chili package includes mats and behind the seat storage and other things we don't get in any of our packages here in the USA. Odd isn't it?

[Wynn]

I'd like the half-leather, too. I've not yet seen an explanation for why it isn't offered in the US; my best guess is just that MINI thinks there wouldn't be sufficient demand for it here. Admittedly, I cannot think of any other car offered here with seats like this. <shrug>

Maybe it'll be offered in the future.

wynn

[pcmike]

Quote:

Originally posted by Wynn
I'd like the half-leather, too. I've not yet seen an explanation for why it isn't offered in the US; my best guess is just that MINI thinks there wouldn't be sufficient demand for it here. Admittedly, I cannot think of any other car offered here with seats like this. <shrug>

Maybe it'll be offered in the future.

wynn

Um.. alot of Bimmers are available with cloth inserts and quite a few other brands offer Leather/Alcantera (or however its spelled)!

[Paul]

You are offered leatherette (is that the correct spelling) which is not available in the UK.

[GMINI]

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul Mullett
You are offered leatherette (is that the correct spelling) which is not available in the UK.

oh. yippee.

[Wynn]

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul Mullett
You are offered leatherette (is that the correct spelling) which is not available in the UK.

Oh! I didn't know that! How odd... Do you know why they have the different offerings for each market?

[very mini]

Oh yeah!!!

I would LOVE to have that...

[sjbartnik]

One word: marketing

[Dec]

leatherette, what is that?

[SilverGAGT]

Quote:

Originally posted by Dec
leatherette, what is that?

Fake leather.

Basically, a high quality vinyl that from what I've heard, gets very hot in the sun.

[FortMyersMini]

PLEATHER Plastic Leather


Like the blue carpet too.

[Dark Silver S]

Quote:

Originally posted by SilverGAGT
Basically, a high quality vinyl that from what I've heard, gets very hot in the sun.

SilverGAGT, say it isn't so.

Guess I'd better start looking for six window-covers.

[cooper4us]

False. Leatherette does not get hot in the sun. In fact, the Leatherette offered in North American MINIs is of the highest quality as it is the same exact seat material offered in the $30K BMW 3 series.

Some reviers claim that the Leatherette feels and looks better than the actual Leather seats.

If yout think that the MINI's leatherette is hot and sticky you simply haven't spend the time with this material.

A lot of people think that I have real cowhide seats in the car.


The Letherette has thousands of microscopic perforations in the material (Not visible to the naked eye) that help the material breath thus avoiding becoming sticky.

Excellent quality and durability. Thank you MINI for offering such a superior seat upholstery choice over the cloth and the overpriced Leather.

[MiniMan7]

I agree, I have leatherette, and I don't find it gets hot at all, I find it much nicer than actual leather IMHO.

As for the half leather/half cloth, we have leatherette, the other side of the pond has half cloth/half leather...

"An eye for an eye..."