• April 21, 2011

BMW's Mini USA division brought Gene Simmons, the lingually enhanced Kiss bass player and promotional fire hose, to its press conference at the New York International Auto Show on Thursday to talk up "MINI Rocks the Rivals," a competitive test-drive tour in the USA. The automaker has partnered with Kiss to raise money for UNICEF.

The company says Kiss band members were there to make the announcement, and the automaker has four of its Countryman vehicles dolled with with Kiss-inspired makeup. I came late, so I did see the Kiss-designed cars, missed the band, but heard from onlookers that Gene Simmons and his son were there. "Isn't he the old guy from the reality show?" was a comment I overheard from a younger person in the audience, who was actually handing out smoothies.

The cars will be auctioned after being custom painted with the revealed design and signed by all four band members. Mini says the cars will go on sale on a Father's Day eBay charity auction opening May 29th, and proceeds will be donated to UNICEF.