Remember when Kelly Clarkson won the first-ever American Idol? It was 2002, the same year that Ben Affleck was named People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” and U2 played the Super Bowl halftime show.

And it was the year that the iconic MINI made its way back across the pond from Great Britain to entice fun-loving American drivers after a long hiatus caused by government-mandated emissions and safety standards.

Now MINI is rolling out a special red, white and blue 20th Anniversary Cooper S 4-door Edition to commemorate 20 years of success in the USA. As MINI USA observes, this vehicle has stood the test of time. Only 270 models will be produced.

The 20th Anniversary Cooper S 4-door will make its appearance at Schomp MINI this month with some flourishes that will make it a true standout. Red, white and blue are the colors of both the American flag and the British Union Jack, so it was natural for there to be three color choices: the original Chili Red as well as Pepper White and Island Blue. The trim is painted Piano Black and the roof and mirror caps are silver. A red, white and blue streamer decorates the side panels and bonnet. It rolls on 17-inch Tentacle Spoke Black Wheels. There are roof rails and a panoramic moonroof.

Inside the 20th Anniversary MINI there are Carbon Black sports seats, a Nappa leather-clad steering wheel with 20-year Anniversary design insert.

Amenities are impressive: a Dynamic Digital Instrument Cluster, Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control, heated front seats and a Touchscreen Navigation Package with MINI Assist and Apple CarPlay and enhanced Bluetooth. All of this is run with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine producing 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque mated to a seven-speed Dual Clutch Automatic Transmission.

Twenty years may not seem like such a big deal, but Vice President of MINI of the Americas Mike Peyton pointed out on classiccars.com that MINI re-entered the American market at a point where drivers were embracing SUVs and pickup trucks. In doing so, it “disrupted the mindset of America’s driving consumers.” Now MINI is still going strong as a “fun to drive car that still celebrates every aspect of the spirit of the MINI brand, our owner community and the passion that exists 20 years later.”

As the 20th Anniversary MINI Cooper S website says, “We’ll always be young, wild and free.”