Tuesday 7th June 2011

Mini Lifts The Lid On Spec for New Coupe

...along with these official 'teaser' shots

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Mini has released full details and specs of its forthcoming coupe model.

The Mini Coupe "indulges the keen driver with a level of agility unmatched in the small car segment," reckons the Mini press guff, and it will do so via a range of four engines (three petrol and one diesel).

These include the new 143hp, 225lb ft 'SD' turbodiesel and, at the top of the Mini Coupe range, a full-fat JCW version with a 211hp turbocharged 1.6 that can shove the Mini Coupe from rest to 62mph in 6.4secs and on to 149mph flat out (spec fans can peruse the finer details of the Coupe range at the bottom of this article).

Of course, being the first stylish two-seat coupe in the firm's modern line-up, the Mini Coupe has to offer something unusual in style terms. Thus, its "flat silhouette and innovative 'helmet roof' (yes, they really are calling it that) lend the Mini Coupe a sporty and individual allure". Erm, yes. But then beauty is in the eye of the beholder, we suppose...

But it isn't all dubious form over function; that integral roof spoiler, apart from making the car look like it's wearing a reversed baseball cap, works with an active rear spoiler to help manage airflow at higher speeds. Which is nice.

The Mini Coupe range is due to go on sale in the UK towards the end of this year, after making its motor show debut at Frankfurt in the autumn.

Range tech spec

MINI John Cooper Works Coupé: Four-cylinder petrol engine with twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection, plus numerous technological details carried over directly from motor sport.
Displacement: 1,598 cc,
output: 155 kW/211 hp at 6,000 rpm,
max. torque: 260 Nm/192 lb-ft at 1,850 - 5,600 rpm
(280 Nm/207 lb-ft with Overboost at 1,700 - 4,500 rpm).
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 6.4 seconds,
top speed: 240 km/h (149 mph).
Average fuel consumption according to EU standard:
7.1 litres per 100 kilometres (39.8 mpg imp),
CO2 emissions: 165 g/km.

MINI Cooper S Coupé: Four-cylinder petrol engine with twin-scroll turbocharger, direct injection and fully variable valve management based on the BMW Group's VALVETRONIC technology.
Displacement: 1,598 cc,
output: 135 kW/184 hp at 5,500 rpm,
max. torque: 240 Nm/177 lb-ft at 1,600 - 5,000 rpm
(260 Nm/192 lb-ft with Overboost at 1,700 - 4,500 rpm).
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 6.9 seconds,
top speed: 230 km/h (143 mph).
Average fuel consumption according to EU standard:
5.8 litres per 100 kilometres (48.7 mpg imp),
CO2 emissions: 136 g/km.

MINI Cooper Coupé: Four-cylinder petrol engine with fully variable valve management based on the BMW Group's VALVETRONIC technology.
Displacement: 1,598 cc,
output: 90 kW/122 hp at 6,000 rpm,
max. torque: 160 Nm/118 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm,
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 9.0 seconds,
top speed: 204 km/h (127 mph),
Average fuel consumption according to EU standard:
5.4 litres per 100 kilometres (52.3 mpg imp),
CO2 emissions: 127 g/km.

MINI Cooper SD Coupé: Four-cylinder turbodiesel with aluminium crankcase, common-rail injection and variable turbine geometry.
Displacement: 1,995 cc,
output: 105 kW/143 hp at 4,000 rpm,
max. torque: 305 Nm/225 lb-ft at 1,750 - 2,700 rpm.
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 7.9 seconds,
top speed: 216 km/h (134 mph).
Average fuel consumption according to EU standard:
4.3 litres per 100 kilometres (65.7 mpg imp),
CO2 emissions: 114 g/km.

[Dan S]

Flogged. To. Death.

[Dr G]

There have been some excellent coupes from saloons/hatchbacks over the years but this isn't one of them. Looks like a nasty aftermarket hard top.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Dan S said:

Flogged. To. Death.

...and back again

... and then flogged some more.

[Stig]

Why would any sane person buy one of these?

Ah, I think I've just answered my own question.

[ewenm]

[300bhp/ton]

It looks ok, but I fail to see the point of it?? The regular hatch is not massive and suspect most treat it/look on it as a 3 door coupe/shooting brake anyhow.

This "coupe" doesn't look as good. In isolation I'd give this coupe a high score (9 or 10 maybe), but against the already existing MINI I think a 6 is more appropriate. Can't see it being a big seller thb.

If they'd done something like this, then it might be a different story.



Still looks like a Mini, but doesn't look too similar to the rest of the range.

[JumpinJack]

Whilst I'm not really a fan of this... they will still sell st loads of them (I can only assume to women, and men having a mid-life).

I know everyone is titled to their opinion, but it's annoying when everyone slags off BMW Mini for releasing new models because they're not MINIature in size or way beyond what the old school mini was like.

[300bhp/ton]

JumpinJack said:

Whilst I'm not really a fan of this... they will still sell st loads of them (I can only assume to women, and men having a mid-life).

I know everyone is titled to their opinion, but it's annoying when everyone slags off BMW Mini for releasing new models because they're not MINIature in size or way beyond what the old school mini was like.

Nobody mentioned size...

I said it looks far too similar to a regular MINI CS. As in from the front 100% the same. And offers nothing extra. It isn't better looking, it's just different looking at the back. It isn't any faster either or more powerful either.

[Prev]

Im thinking one these with a GP style lightweighting would be nice.

[Mr Freefall]

JumpinJack said:

Whilst I'm not really a fan of this... they will still sell st loads of them (I can only assume to women, and men having a mid-life).

I know everyone is titled to their opinion, but it's annoying when everyone slags off BMW Mini for releasing new models because they're not MINIature in size or way beyond what the old school mini was like.

Dont knock em. I bought a Mini Cooper S supercharged as a comuter car. Its a great little car to drive and so much fun, and thats coming from someone that drives a 700bhp Porsche 996 turbo...

I can get the wife and kids in the Mini, and pop off down the shops or to the seaside. Its has ISOFIX for the car seats, something the Porsche doesnt have!

Mr F

[Lets Torque]

ewenm said:

Have another..

[JumpinJack]

Mr Freefall said:

Dont knock em. I bought a Mini Cooper S supercharged as a comuter car. Its a great little car to drive and so much fun, and thats coming from someone that drives a 700bhp Porsche 996 turbo...

I can get the wife and kids in the Mini, and pop off down the shops or to the seaside. Its has ISOFIX for the car seats, something the Porsche doesnt have!

Mr F

I'm not knocking them at all. I borrowed my sisters cooper S for a few weeks, and I loved it. It's like whipping a Go-Kart around and was a lot of fun. Although the petrol seemed to be draining at quite a rate.

[dandarez]

All these anti MINI moaners make me p*ss myself. Get a life!

[George H]

I quite like it not the diesel one though.

The JCW one must be fun to drive. Any ideas on cost?

[nouze]

dandarez said:

All these anti MINI moaners make me p*ss myself. Get a life!

You know this is BMW in drag, don't you.

[ewenm]

dandarez said:

All these anti MINI moaners make me p*ss myself. Get a life!

http://www.tena.co.uk/
HTH

[Veeayt]

I rated it 5/10, just for the possibility of good handling. It appears that the rest thinking more 2.04/10

[The Wookie]

I'm far from a Mini hater, but this looks like a normal hatch that's been rolled through a field.

[EcosseBMW]

The drop top is something special, seen both in Testing a month ago on the ring, they look not too bad in the flesh...but the drop tops rear wing really is special. Wait till its realised this current prototype mini will look sane!

[RenesisEvo]

Not bad, but I think the Roadster was a better concept, and looks better too. Hopefully we'll be seeing that soon, if I had to have a 2-seat only MINI (the hatch is just about a 2+2 anyway) I think I'd go all the way. The coupe to me seems like the hatch, with even less interior space, the one thing the original needs more of, not less.