MF Analysis: The MINI Coupé Concept

Sections: Opinion | R59 (Coupé) Aug 27th, 2009 67 Comments

Lets get this out of the way right now. MINI Coupé concept (or the Coopster as we call it here at MF) was built because and for MotoringFile readers. In an interview with Insideline, Director of MINI Design Gert Hildebrand says this in so many words;

“New ideas never come from the board offices; they come from the floor of the design studio. BMW does trend analysis a lot and every three months we talk to Mini representatives from all over the world to discuss the needs of our clients. But we were never asked to do a coupe. We’re close followers of blogs and so forth, and we just felt that people would like the idea of a car like this.”

The spirit of the MINI community is what brought this car to the concept stage and what will ultimately bring it to production. But did MINI create what many of us have been asking for? Let’s take a closer look at the concept.

Production Reality

The coupe will be launched as Cooper S and a JCW models initially and will be focused on the enthusiast in their spec. With a weight reduction of up to 200 lbs, this car uses the time proven of adding lightness (as Colin Chapman would say). MINI has created the roof entirely out of aluminum and (as sources tell us) the final car will use a slightly wider track to increase mechanical grip. All that coupled with increased structural rigidity and 200 less pounds to lug around, there’s little question that this will be the fastest MINI ever produced from the factory. Everything that makes the MINI a Mini is in this car. And to be put it another way, everything we love about MINI here at MotoringFile is embodied in this car.

Look for production to start sometime in 2011 as a 2012 model. Pricing shouldn’t be dramatically higher the MCS or JCW. We’d expect MINI to position the Coupé around the cost of the current convertible models in terms of an increase over the R56 models. The speedster (imagine the above photo without the roof) will debut around the same time) will likely add another 8-10% on top of that price.

Production will be carried out in two locations. Body in white (the basic structure) will be done at Oxford with a 3rd party doing final assembly. This should allow for some more bespoke items (JCW suspension anyone?) to be fitted from the factory.

Design

MINI Design couldn’t just put a simple roof on the car. They had to create something more characterful. Marcus Syring, head of MINI exterior design and the designer of both the Z3 M Coupe and the E46 M3 (not the mention the R55), penned this new concept and his penchant for making a statement is clearly seen in the roof. And Mr. Hildebrand says it best; “Maybe we can bring back the same adventurous customers we had with the BMW Z3 coupe.”

So yes, we would agree the roof is an acquired taste. But there are so many angles to judge it by that, at the very least, it’s hard to not study it at every opportunity.

Versatility & Efficiency

Another attribute that is a hallmark of the brand is versatility. And clearly a line has been drawn in the sand in that the coupé only seats two. Yet the car (with clever hatchback design) features an astonishing 8.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. That’s almost the same as an R56 MINI hatchback. So you’re getting two seats instead of four, yet almost the same luggage space.

Then there’s efficiency. The MINI Coupe will feature the same 1.6L engine found in the JCW and MCS. One of the most efficient sporty petrol powered four cylinder engines currently on the market. It’s a compelling case over a used Z4 Coupe or anything with more power (and naturally more weight).

Our take

Imagine the coupe above finished in all Midnight black with 18″ wheels, JCW suspension and JCW emblems. Red leather interior, navigation, and a touch of carbon fiber. It sounds like our idea of heaven on the road and on the track. Yes we love the idea, the spec and the look of this car. There is no question that the roof could have been easily designed to be more easily palatable, but there is something to be said about making a statement with a design and a car. And the MINI Coupé concept makes the statement that we (and surely many of you) can appreciate.

This is the car that will be coveted years after production has ceased. It’s the car from the MINI range that will be referenced in hushed tones of admiration like the GP or the BMW Z3 and Z4 M Coupe in ten years time.

Yes not everyone will love it. But that’s actually part of the success of the Coupé. It will be a rare car driven by the most hardcore of enthusiasts who make a statement with their choice. Count us as one of those who are itching to make that kind of statement.

Written By: Gabe

67 Comments

Madoc Aug 27th, 2009 Link

The roof may be more palatable with a different paint line. It’s growing on me!

BigShow Aug 27th, 2009 Link

Please do not put this hotch potch of a Coupe into production… it looks like a chop shop has had a go at it and that roof, it looks like a tramps hat! By all means give us what we all want, a proper MINI coupe with RWD and ideally the JCW engine or the BMW 123d engine in it… Think Elise for MINI owners, you could even charge the same if it looked right!

But if you’re gonna do a coupe, please don’t just mess with the roof of an R56, stick another model in the line up, Hatchback, Clubman, Convertible, Soft-Roader and COUPE!

rosvick Aug 27th, 2009 Link

It was love at first sight for me. That is, until I found out that production will probably not start until 2011. I’ve already been waiting a year before I get my feet wet and buy my first MINI, but another two-year wait may be something rather difficult for me to swallow. If MINI makes this car worthy of my time, then perhaps I’ll bite the bullet and wait patiently. It could also help if they call it the Broadspeed, too!

Michael Aug 27th, 2009 Link

BigShow- you are way out in left field. MINI will never be rear wheel drive, it is a FWD in car form. MINI will always be quirky (the roof) that is what the brand is all about. If they redesign the whole car aside from the roof for a low production model, it would be astronomical in cost and would never see the light of day. There is a lot of stuff going on in the planning of a vehicle.

As has been said here time and time again the diesel is not coming unless it is in the Countryman.

Some people have not grasp of the engineering, R&D and other associated costs with designing a vehicle let alone a “simple” (as many seem to think) engine swap. If you have not noticed BMW engines and transmissions are a bit different in terms of location and size, not going to fit in a MINI easily, then there is the cost of certification and crash testing (if the vehicle has been altered secondary to the engine change). Oh and while the new diesels are lighter than in the past they still add about a few hundred pounds, to an already heavy nose.

This is the next edition of the GP, that is the best way to think of it. This is and will be the enthusiasts car. Like the Z4 ///M coupe it will have a love it or hate it look, and be the best performing version of the car.

I would also recommend everyone wait a bit to see this in person before you make such harsh criticisms as things always look different in person…. I have a feeling that MINI decided to have some natural lighting and different angles because of what happened with the launch of the BMW 5er GT; not so great in photos.

DaCrema Aug 27th, 2009 Link

Time line is right. This could be my next car. Silkgreen/black or maybe a colour like the Lotus Chrome Orange.

zm Aug 27th, 2009 Link

i like it just for the fact that nothing else on the road looks like it.

MINIme Aug 27th, 2009 Link

Manufacturers listen. Who knew?

NOW, PUT SEATING FOR FIVE (5) IN THE R60!!!!!

JonPD Aug 27th, 2009 Link

Love it for similar reasons zm.

Gabe the width is the same as the R57 and idea how they are getting the wider track? Glad to hear about an aluminum roof for sure, would love it if JCW would offer a higher performance version yet and replace the roof with a carbon fiber treatment to cut more weight. Would also love to see the seats upgraded, this is a great place to save a ton of weight.

MiniFan Aug 27th, 2009 Link

Love the idea of having a coupe and speedster, but I definitely DO NOT like the roof design. I think the roof should keep the horizontal lines of the MINI Hardtop, just shorter with a sloped rear window.

BSUCardinalfan Aug 27th, 2009 Link

I’m in love with it. Just like above but orange with a black roof.

I do have one slight worry, though. Take off the great wheels, lowered stance, and the JCW aero kit, and put a drop top on it, and it is going to immediately go from ‘bad ass’ to ’secretary’.

I’d almost rather they ONLY make it in the ‘bad ass’ version, myself.

So, MINI, if you are reading this: Make the aero kit standard. It saves the buyer a TON of cash getting it bought and painted. In fact, I’ll say it now. If the aero kit and JCW suspension is standard on this car, and the Cooper S version starts under $25k, I’ll buy one as soon as they come out.

Steve S Aug 27th, 2009 Link

The problem I have with it is it looks like they literally just cut the roof off an existing mini and slapped on this toupee. I think they could have designed something a bit more appealing and that flows a bit better. Adding a few inches to the back end and rounding it off a bit would help.

I think it’s great to have a really sporty Mini and I like that they are making one but if this is going to start around the Convertible JCW price (honestly most are going to want as much performance they can get out of this model) then before you even select an option you are at $35k. There is a huge amount of competition at that price point for performance coupes. Sure none of them look like a Mini but they will also be faster and RWD as well. Add another 10% for the convertible and you are pushing $40k without options, that’s a 135i convertible right there.

BMW really needs to look at shaving costs from the Mini platform and lowering prices. Style and cuteness are only going to take you so far.

BSUCardinalfan Aug 27th, 2009 Link

I love the roof. Then again, my all time favorite BMW is the Z3 M Coupe, which a LOT of people think is one of the ugliest cars ever made. So I may have unique taste, I guess.

I do think a black roof on a brightly colored car is going to look better than the silver roof, though.

Micah Aug 27th, 2009 Link

Yes Gabe, JCW suspension and big brakes as standard are a must! No leather or nav for me, just give me some proper sport seats (none of MINI’s current offerings are sufficiently supportive for proper driving IMO) and I’m in.

BSUCardinalfan Aug 27th, 2009 Link

I agree, Micah. If this hits the dealers with like the factory JCW did, with nothing other than wheels to distinguish it, and the non-sport suspension, it will be a colossally bad decision by MINI. I would be a factory JCW owner right now if not for the fact that I’d have to throw away $2500 worth of parts (suspension and factory aero kit) as soon as I bought the car in order to make it look like it should have already.

Micah Aug 27th, 2009 Link

Word. :)

bee1000 Aug 27th, 2009 Link

How about a Cooper version? At 200 pounds lighter than the hatchback, the Cooper’s engine would move it along just fine and get even better mileage than the R56. Plus it would be more fun to drive every day than an overpowered JCW version.

It would still be ugly, but as Gabe says, maybe ugly isn’t all bad. One simple way to reduce the ugly: get rid of the chrome beltline for crying out loud! It looks particularly horrible wrapping around the rear window in the middle of the decklid.

Eliot R. Aug 27th, 2009 Link

I can’t say I agree that the only way for MINI to make a statement with this car was to craft an ugly roof. I think a more traditional roof would have made just as much of a statement. The design will grow on me but ultimately this car will be desired for the way it drives, not the way it looks.