Tuesday 20th September 2011

Driven: Mini Coupe

More niche-tastic magic from Mini - or a step too far?

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Few manufacturers have exploited the concept of the niche product as effectively as BMW-Mini. A nip here, a tuck there, a sprinkling of SUV fairy dust; before you know it hatchback is joined by convertible, estate and 4x4. All spun off (with the arguable exception of the Countryman) pretty much the same platform. And certainly from the same set of mechanicals.

Latest wizard wheeze from Mini is to turn Issigonis's icon into a rakish two-door coupe. The question is, does it work? Or has Mini really spread its brand too thinly this time?

This is not the first coupe Mini, of course (Broadspeed got there back in the 60s), nor is it even Cowley's first two-seater (remember the wonderfully deranged Cooper Works GP from 2006?). But it is the first full-on series production coupe from Mini.

That being the case, it is a bit of a shame that the styling department didn't (or perhaps weren't allowed to) put more effort into the Mini Coupe's looks. We always rabbit on that looks are subjective (and indeed that is of course the case) but coupes are supposed to sell, at least in part, on the basis of slinky, sexy styling, and the Mini Coupe falls utterly flat on that front, to be quite frank.

But however cynical you consider the concept to be, you have to accept that Mini knows its market - and the fact that 3 per cent of its UK sales are already going in the direction of the Mini Coupe even before it has gone on sale rather suggests that they have once again managed to find the head of the nail and give it a great big whack.

The other thing that you may discover (and this might surprise you) is that the Mini Coupe genuinely does have its own distinct character. No, the interior doesn't feel super-special and yes, you are conscious that it feels like you're driving a Mini hatchback with a lower roofline and less rear visibility (actually almost none - partly because you can't get the driver's seat low enough), but when you get out onto the road you can feel a difference between this Mini and the conventional hatchback.

Given that the Mini Coupe is being touted as the most hardcore series production Mini yet, we felt it only right and proper that we should test out the range-topping John Cooper Works version. This gives you (as it does in the hatch) 208bhp at 6000rpm and 192lb ft of torque, spread between 1850rpm and 5600rpm, with 206lb ft available on overboost from its 1.6-litre turbocharged motor. That's enough to whisk you to 62mph in 6.4secs and on to a thoroughly respectable 149mph flat out.

But performance figures are only part of the story. This car needs to feel agile, athletic and eager - more so than the hatch - if it is to justify its existence. Fortunately (for its own sake) it does. Just. That lowered roofline (30mm lower than the hatchback's) and consequentially lower centre of gravity helps, as do mildly tweaked spring and damper rates and a slightly more nose-biased weight distribution.

The result is a car that feels maybe 5 per cent more nimble and quick-witted than its more conventional brand brethren. You get he same darty, spritely steering, eager turn-in and roll-free cornering stance as you do with a regular Mini JCW, but slightly amplified. Put simply, it's quite a hoot.

Is it enough to put clear dynamic water between it and more normal Minis, though? Maybe. Is it enough to justify its claim to be a model in its own right? Probably. Will those who buy it care? Almost certainly not.

Because where the Mini Coupe really scores - despite its maker's protestations of uber-sportiness - is in the creation of yet another niche. It has no real rivals. Okay, Mini will talk of Sciroccos and Megane Coupes and Audi TTs and even bottom-end Porsche Caymans. But are you really going to sacrifice the four-seat practicality of a Scirocco for a two-seat Mini? And are you going to forego the mid-engined pedigree of a Cayman for a glammed-up Supermini? Exactly.

And yet if you want an endearingly tiny sporty two-seater with a surprising amount of boot space (20 litres more than you'll get in a Mini Clubman, then it would be hard not to pick the Mini Coupe. Provided you can get over the way it looks. And you're not too offended by the concept of the further dilution of the Mini brand...And you're sure that actually a normal Mini Cooper S JCW might not be a better bet any way, just in case you have to put someone in the back...and you're not keen to save up that extra bit to get into a Porsche Cayman...

[BigTom85]

And the award for the most pointless car of 2011 goes to...

Seriously, I just don't get this at all.

[Raize]

The MINI 4x4 thing was worse.

[Mr Gear]

BigTom85 said:

And the award for the most pointless car of 2011 goes to...

Seriously, I just don't get this at all.

Whoah, hold it right there. I saw an Aston Martin Cygnet this morning.

No, I couldn't believe it either.

[kambites]

It's all very well to say that the boot is bigger than the hatch, but I assume that means with the seats folded. Surely the hatch has a massively bigger boot with the seats down, which is a fairer comparison?

Whatever MINI say, I'll always think of this as a competitor for things like the Vauxhall Tigra, not the Scirocco let alone the Cayman.

[F.C.]

Pointless.IMO.
Bet it's loads more money as well.

[3ftandclean]

I'll wait until I see one in the flesh but in this colour combination I think it looks ok. I bet it feels compact and fun to drive too. With regards to diluting the brand, all car companies seem to be chasing and making any niche possible at the moment.
It does have a much bigger boot and also a fixed bulkhead so the seat folding option is unavailable.

[s31tof]

How much would one have to save on top of the Mini Coupe's price to get a Porker?

[DayTrader]

What is the list price of the spec you tested then?

[GroundEffect]

This is the most stupid and pointless car I've seen all year.

And it's hideous to go with it.

[300bhp/ton]

BigTom85 said:

And the award for the most pointless car of 2011 goes to...

Seriously, I just don't get this at all.

Why don't you? I mean it's not really that difficult.

Umm lets see, it's a COUPE, ie something stylish and less practical than a hatch. Over history there have been loads of these....


-MGB
-GT6
-Puma
-Integra
-Sera
-Fiat Coupe
-Tigra


I guess these are all beyond you too?


Seriously I don't understand why so many people have issues with MINI doing the same friggin thing as so many other.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Tuesday 20th September 10:29

[detomaso]

3ftandclean said:

I'll wait until I see one in the flesh but in this colour combination I think it looks ok.

I'd like to see one without stripes...

[Altrezia]

Sure it drives OK, but it looks totally pap.

[Getsis]

Saw one in the flesh on Sunday at a car exhibition, it looks ok but it looks like the roof should fold away in the boot! I can't say it excited me anymore than a normal mini would.

[Old Gregg]

300bhp/ton said:

it's a COUPE, ie something stylish

You honestly think this car is stylish?

[Schnellmann]

Raize said:

The MINI 4x4 thing was worse.

It is arguable that the 4x4 looked worse but the 4x4 did make sense in that the normal Mini (or even clubman) is too small for some families and the 4x4 allowed people to buy a Mini when they wouldn't normally have done so. This coupé just looks like an elephant has sat on the back of the normal hatch and doesn't seem to offer anything more than the hatch. Same dynamics but less space and uglier. Great USPs. But no doubt it will find buyers.

[Lets Torque]

I actually like the look of that. In that colour combo.

[Hellbound]

I'm really bored of the new new Mini shape. It's tired. I'd like to see the new mini mini now please.

[cathalm]

Schnellmann said:

It is arguable that the 4x4 looked worse but the 4x4 did make sense in that the normal Mini (or even clubman) is too small for some families and the 4x4 allowed people to buy a Mini when they wouldn't normally have done so. This coupé just looks like an elephant has sat on the back of the normal hatch and doesn't seem to offer anything more than the hatch. Same dynamics but less space and uglier. Great USPs. But no doubt it will find buyers.

Same dynamics? Maybe you should read the article first.

[300bhp/ton]

Old Gregg said:

300bhp/ton said:

it's a COUPE, ie something stylish

You honestly think this car is stylish?

It certainly is. Come on, just because you don't personally like it, doesn't mean it isn't.

It's not really my cup of tea either if honest. But despite looking very much regular MINI from the front, it's certainly paving it's own look overall. And won't be mistaken for anything else on the road.


If you want a comparison just look at any fashion magazine or catwalk. Most of the dresses look totally stupid, yet all are stylish.

[kambites]

cathalm said:

Same dynamics? Maybe you should read the article first.

To be fair, the article says it's 5% better, which I take to mean "not much". The MINI is already pretty capable for a modern FWD car, do you really think anything but a tiny majority of buyers would even be able to tell the difference?

I don't see what this offers to keen drivers over a sports car, or what it offers to anyone else over a normal MINI? In general, people will buy this for the way it looks.