Meet the sensational new MINI Coupé! Exactly 50 years after the original Mini made its debut – on 26 August 1959 – the British firm is set to reveal its most forward-thinking model to date.
The car will make its debut at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show, but Auto Express has all the images and details on the latest homegrown hero after being allowed up close for exclusive access to the new car.
Taking the shape of a sporty two-seater, the MINI Coupé Concept is a vision of things to come as it looks to compete with the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupé, Audi TT and the Peugeot RC Z unveiled in last week’s issue. Blending styling cues from the past, present and future, the new MINI’s remit is simple; to broaden the appeal beyond the hatchback, Convertible and Clubman.
And with its light weight and low centre of gravity, it promises to be the most driver-oriented roadgoing MINI ever. The familiar front end is borrowed from the four-seater hatchback, but incorporates a number of unique touches to set it apart.
Among this car’s firsts are body-coloured bars inside the chrome grille surround, plus the bonnet stripes continuing through the grille itself. View the Coupé in profile and the differences become even more pronounced. The front side panels are lifted straight from the current Convertible, yet a more steeply raked windscreen sweeps overhead and lends a dynamic feel to the design, even at a standstill.
A high, gently rising waistline is nothing new for a MINI, but this show car combines it with an ultra-slim glass area and short overhangs for a powerful and stocky stance.
Yet it’s the ‘floating’ roof that will provoke most debate. Using the trick of blacking out the A, B and acutely angled C-pillars, this beautifully crafted panel appears to sit unsupported on top of the car. But the roof serves as more than an aesthetic component – integrated into its trailing edge is a blade-like spoiler.
This helps to guide airflow over the tapered rear window, not only to give added downforce at speed but also for greater aerodynamic efficiency. A twin-section diffuser, exiting either side of the trademark double exhausts, cleans up underbody airflow, and demonstrates the car’s high-performance intentions.
The interior is as extrovert as the exterior; slide into the cabin and the racy theme continues. Deeply bolstered sports seats are finished in a combination of woven leather strands and larger-stitched panels.
Elsewhere, the dinner-plate central speedo and column-mounted rev counter, as well most of the switchgear, are lifted directly from the hatch.
However, two Chronoswiss clocks on either side of the rev counter neatly link Minis of the future with those of the past. One is a purpose-built digital stopwatch for taking lap times, while the other shows the time in classic analogue style.
Under the air-scooped hood is a familiar engine – the 1.6-litre turbo from the MINI John Cooper Works. This kicks out 208bhp and 260Nm of torque, although the latter can climb as high as 280Nm for short bursts thanks to the overboost function. And due to its light weight, the Coupé should display even more devastating performance than the hatch or Convertible versions fitted with the same motor.
That aluminium roof not only reduces the entire weight of the car, boosting performance and efficiency, but also lowers the centre of gravity. So despite using identical suspension geometry to the JCW hatchback, the Coupé should corner with more bite and less body roll.
However, MINI hasn’t forgotten a car such as this can’t be exclusively focused on outright speed and dynamic ability – it needs an element of practicality, too. Which is why, with the rear seats removed, load capacity is up to a usable 250 litres – 40 litres less than in a TT. But to make the most of this luggage area, the entire tailgate hinges at the top of the roof spoiler, revealing a huge opening.
Officially, its maker says the Coupé is a “fascinating vision of how the MINI model family may continue”. But based on the cabin finish and practical, production-ready touches that have been built into the package, the car could be closer to the road than MINI is letting on. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express