The Mini Coupe is one of two things: either a glorious modern-day Mini Broadspeed that celebrates the model's diverse heritage. Or a cynical way of stretching the brand further at minimal cost. The jury is out.
That the bottom half is stock Mini Convertible does not help. The similarities below the windowline are glaringly obvious. The interior is also disappointing, being but a regular Mini with some fancy trim. The boot defies logic though: at 280 litres, it is larger and more practical than a Mini Hatch. Shurely shome mishtake?
The Mini Coupe is odd. We already know an all-new hatch is on the way, yet here's a new version of the current car, to be joined by a Roadster version next year.
Perhaps, by then, we'll have got used to that wacky roofline. Right now, fastest-accelerating Mini ever or not, this new two-seater faces an uphill struggle to convince. Like earlier claims it's not even the world's first two-seat Mini. Works GP anyone? Now that was how to do a show car centrepiece...