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The proliferation of BMW’s British hatchback brand continues as the Mini Coupe’s technical specifications, and local availability, are confirmed.
Set to add a fifth line to the Mini model line-up when it goes on sale in South Africa during the fourth quarter of 2011, the Coupe will be Mini’s most dynamically focused road car yet.
Although it has been a long development period – the concept was shown at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show – Mini’s stylists have managed to craft a neat two-door coupe likeness from the brand’s hatchback heritage.
LOWER RIDE
Dimensionally the coupe is between 30 and 35mm lower and 15 to 20mm more substantial bumper-to-bumper than the Cooper hatchback, with Cooper S and John Cooper Works coupe models being 5mm longer and lower than the standard coupe.
Crucially, all Mini Coupe models will ride 29mm lower than their hatch siblings, clearly signalling BMW’s dynamic intent with its latest development of the British compact-car brand icon.
An interesting styling add-on (befitting its headline dynamic billing within the Mini range) is an active rear spoiler which deploys from the boot lid at more than 80km/h, harnessing downforce to stabilise the rear kinematics.
Mini will offer the coupe in three trim levels (Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works) with a choice of four engines - three petrol engines (two turbocharged) and a single turbodiesel.
FRUGAL AND (VERY) QUICK
Entry-level power will be courtesy of a 1.6-litre petrol unit producing 90kW/160Nm thanks to BMW’s valvetronic technology. Mini’s baseline coupe will be good for 0-100km/h in nine seconds and is claimed to consume only 5.4 litres/100km.
The Mini’s Cooper S Coupe adds turbocharging to the 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, boosting outputs to 135kW/260Nm. Performance is (unsurprisingly) keen, with 0-100km/h in only 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 230km/h. Amazingly, despite its rampant performance, the coupe Cooper S is claimed to only consume 0.4 litres/100km more than the normal 1.6...
John Cooper Works (JCW) badging denotes, as one would expect, the coupe range’s performance benchmark. With power boosted to 155kW (and 280Nm) thanks to refinement of the 1.6-litre engine’s twin-scroll turbo and gas-exchange routing, Mini’s JCW coupe is sure to scare TT (Scirocco) owners with its ability to complete the benchmark 0-100km/h sprint in only 6.4 seconds before powering on to 240km/h.
If fuel economy and range are fundamental factors in your coupe purchasing rationale, Mini’s SD coupe, powered by a two-litre common-rail injected turbodiesel engine, is sure to fit the bill. Swift enough, it does 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds, the coupe SD’s engine outputs of 105kW/305Nm are contrasted with very impressive fuel economy of 4.3 litres/100km.
To ensure the Mini coupe’s handling dynamics are equal to the brand’s enviable motorsport heritage, engineers have added additional bodyshell stiffening at the rear, increasing overall torsional rigidity. Suspension is an all-wheel independent set-up, migrated from the Cooper hatchback range.
In terms of configuration Mini coupe is strictly a two-seater, with limited stowage space behind the first (only) row of seating.
Industry analysts will question the wisdom of BMW's attempt to squeeze too much brand equity from the Mini brand with derivatives such as the coupe, yet with the Bavarian auto giant seeking more sales activity in lower segments of the premium market (where VW has the Scirocco), the 'Werke's logic is understandable.
Set to add a fifth line to the Mini model line-up when it goes on sale in South Africa during the fourth quarter of 2011, the Coupe will be Mini’s most dynamically focused road car yet.
Although it has been a long development period – the concept was shown at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show – Mini’s stylists have managed to craft a neat two-door coupe likeness from the brand’s hatchback heritage.
LOWER RIDE
Dimensionally the coupe is between 30 and 35mm lower and 15 to 20mm more substantial bumper-to-bumper than the Cooper hatchback, with Cooper S and John Cooper Works coupe models being 5mm longer and lower than the standard coupe.
Crucially, all Mini Coupe models will ride 29mm lower than their hatch siblings, clearly signalling BMW’s dynamic intent with its latest development of the British compact-car brand icon.
An interesting styling add-on (befitting its headline dynamic billing within the Mini range) is an active rear spoiler which deploys from the boot lid at more than 80km/h, harnessing downforce to stabilise the rear kinematics.
Mini will offer the coupe in three trim levels (Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works) with a choice of four engines - three petrol engines (two turbocharged) and a single turbodiesel.
FRUGAL AND (VERY) QUICK
Entry-level power will be courtesy of a 1.6-litre petrol unit producing 90kW/160Nm thanks to BMW’s valvetronic technology. Mini’s baseline coupe will be good for 0-100km/h in nine seconds and is claimed to consume only 5.4 litres/100km.
The Mini’s Cooper S Coupe adds turbocharging to the 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, boosting outputs to 135kW/260Nm. Performance is (unsurprisingly) keen, with 0-100km/h in only 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 230km/h. Amazingly, despite its rampant performance, the coupe Cooper S is claimed to only consume 0.4 litres/100km more than the normal 1.6...
John Cooper Works (JCW) badging denotes, as one would expect, the coupe range’s performance benchmark. With power boosted to 155kW (and 280Nm) thanks to refinement of the 1.6-litre engine’s twin-scroll turbo and gas-exchange routing, Mini’s JCW coupe is sure to scare TT (Scirocco) owners with its ability to complete the benchmark 0-100km/h sprint in only 6.4 seconds before powering on to 240km/h.
If fuel economy and range are fundamental factors in your coupe purchasing rationale, Mini’s SD coupe, powered by a two-litre common-rail injected turbodiesel engine, is sure to fit the bill. Swift enough, it does 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds, the coupe SD’s engine outputs of 105kW/305Nm are contrasted with very impressive fuel economy of 4.3 litres/100km.
COUPE ICON: Will Mini’s new coupe configuration manage to attain the same iconic status as the Cooper hatchback?
In terms of configuration Mini coupe is strictly a two-seater, with limited stowage space behind the first (only) row of seating.
Industry analysts will question the wisdom of BMW's attempt to squeeze too much brand equity from the Mini brand with derivatives such as the coupe, yet with the Bavarian auto giant seeking more sales activity in lower segments of the premium market (where VW has the Scirocco), the 'Werke's logic is understandable.
