Tuesday 28th June 2011

Mini's 'Ring Racer: Still Funny-Looking

Here's a car that even the sheen of race success (sort of) can't really polish-up

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The new (and possibly quite rightly maligned) Mini Coupe gave itself an injection of performance-cred at the weekend, completing the gruelling Nurburgring 24-hour race.

The pair of Mini John Cooper Works Coupes finished in 106th and 118th places of the 202 starters, completing 114 and 106 laps respectively, and finishing 11th and 13th in the SP3T class. In fact, the lead car was even running in the top 50 at one point, before mechanical problems cost them time.

So not a bad result all in all, and the 250hp/965kg coupe managed a best lap time of 9mins 49.241secs, which is pretty respectable.

Doesn't make it look any better, however, and however appropriate the car's 'flat coupe silhouette' is for minimising drag and achieving decent speeds on the 'Ring's long straights we still reckon it looks as if it's been sat on.

And no amount of roll cages, spoilers, sequential gearboxes, independent, adjustable suspension all round, slick tyres and race decals (all of which the Mini Coupe racer has) can hide that fact...

[Maldini35]

still minging

[MG-FIDO]

Alright, I understand the financial reasoning for BMW to keep churning out these variations along the MINI theme, but why make them such hideous monstrosities?!

[suffolk009]

Oh, Lord.

Did anyone else see topgear last night and get a little excited when James May was driving an old Mini Copper, only to become deeply depressed within (what) two minutes?

[soad]

It's a looker, alright

[John Boy 616]

it's kinda growing on me - perhaps like a tumor.....

[Schmeeky]

I think this looks better than the road car, but only because the graphics tend to break up the huge slab sides, and the wing sort of hides the really awkward section where the rear glass meets the top of the boot.

But 'better' doesn't mean good, it's still a fugly minger.

[Swifty Stig]

looks awful. really melted looking.

[tyrrell]

Not looking good tbh

[anonymous-user]

Im thinking the look of this car would be better if they had restyled the front end!

[fatboy69]

Truly minging. The only good place for this disgusting car is a hydraulic crusher!!!!

[Cheeky Jim]

I wish they would stop using the name 'Mini'.... it's really as far removed from the original as it's possible to be...

[fatboy69]

Its not a Mini - it never will be.

Its huge so maybe they should call it Hugh as in Huge Grant as my o/h calls him!!!

[k-ink]

So only 18ish seconds quicker than a cruddy transit then.


http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/sabine-in-a-van-2

[drakart]

k-ink said:

So only 18ish seconds quicker than a cruddy transit then.


http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/sabine-in-a-van-2

You will find that the laptime includes the GP circuit too...

[bobberz]

John Boy 616 said:

it's kinda growing on me - perhaps like a tumor.....

post of the day!

I don't think I've ever seen such a unanimous opinion on PH. PHers' verdict: MINI coupe is ugly. I don't really think it's that bad, though the roof is awkward. I just think I'd rather have a regular Cooper S/JCW than this.

[dandarez]

suffolk009 said:

Oh, Lord.

Did anyone else see topgear last night and get a little excited when James May was driving an old Mini Copper, only to become deeply depressed within (what) two minutes?

May was driving a small Plod?


And no I didn't get depressed, and if you look at May's face in the Rally MINI with Meeke driving I think you'll realise he was anything but depressed!

As for the Coupe, I saw it in the flesh at Cowley yesterday. You lot had better get your sick bags out if they sell a load of the JCW ones, cos you're gonna get the rear view a lot!

Edited by dandarez on Monday 27th June 22:12

Edited by dandarez on Monday 27th June 22:12

[JayPee]

They sounded quite good, and having limited access to standings information, I am surprised they finished so low, though I did succumb to the requirement for some sleep at points, so I guess the mechanical problems could have arrived then. They otherwise seemed to be lapping quite well for 250bhp Mini with a properly stupid looking roofline.

[Stitch]

when all other niches have been exploited, what do you do?

Design a coupe version of the MINI - a car that to all intents and purposes is a coupe in a mini lookalike body!

BMW really are scrapping the barrel with this one.

[Mr.Jimbo]

I think it could look quite good, in my opinion that livery isn't that great...

[Schmeeky]

If only they could have built something like this Mini concept -



Looks cheeky like a Mini should, and with JCW underpinings would be a hoot to drive.