Not your average coupeIts almost 50 years since MINI unveiled the first classic original. And exactly 50 years since that unveiling MINI announces its MINI Coupe.
The coupe is MINI's attempt to enter the coupe sportscar market which currently is enjoyed dominantly by Mazda's MX-5. The MINI Coupe will be publicly unveiled September 17 this year at The Frankfurt Motor Show.
The MINI Coupe is uniquely identified with the bonnet scoop and twin central exhaust pipes that are familiar from current Mini S models, as well as a steeply raked windscreen, wing-shaped rear spoiler and rear diffuser. The windshield is angled 16deg faster than the Mini hatch.
The Coupé show car (and we're telling it is a show car since the production version , which is expected sometie in 2011 may of course change) is powered by the 1.6-litre twin scroll turbocharged engine from the Mini , sending 208bhp and 192lb ft of torque (rising to 206lb ft in brief overboost mode) through the front axle. Like on the JCW, the front wheels are turned by speed sensitive power steering. MINI claims that the carwill be lightweight, with an aluminum roof installed to increase eficiency, and lower the center of gravity and drag co-efficient.
Almost needless to say, but the interior is almost the same as the MINI Cooper S, while sports seats and excessive use of leather practically gives its distinct MINI look.. Mounted on the dashboard either side of the centrally mounted rev counter are two 'Chronoswiss' clocks, one a standard timekeeper and the other a stopwatch for recording lap times.
