MF Analysis: The MINI Coupé Concept
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.
<p>The roof may be more palatable with a different paint line. It’s growing on me!</p>
<p>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!</p>
<p>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!</p>
<p>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!</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>As has been said here time and time again the diesel is not coming unless it is in the Countryman.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Time line is right. This could be my next car. Silkgreen/black or maybe a colour like the Lotus Chrome Orange.</p>
<p>i like it just for the fact that nothing else on the road looks like it.</p>
<p>Manufacturers listen. Who knew?</p>
<p>NOW, PUT SEATING FOR FIVE (5) IN THE R60!!!!!</p>
<p>Love it for similar reasons zm.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>I’m in love with it. Just like above but orange with a black roof.</p>
<p>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’.</p>
<p>I’d almost rather they ONLY make it in the ‘bad ass’ version, myself.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>I do think a black roof on a brightly colored car is going to look better than the silver roof, though.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Word. :)</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>I really can’t stand the way some folks are constantly comparing MINIs to BMWs (primarily from a price perspective). Despite the fact that BMW owns the MINI brand, can’t we let it go? If I wanted a 135i or a 3-series, I would buy one. Some of us happen to like the MINI brand and see it as mutually exclusive of BMW. I am not knocking BMW, although I have owned a few BMTroubleYous. All I am saying is, MINIs are their own unique entity. If you love a particular model, either buy it or don’t. If you love BMWs, buy one. But for the love of God, stop trying to compare every MINI model to offerings by the parent company.
They are all way too damned expensive, but what we enthusiasts have is a sickness, and just like the pharmaceutical companies, auto manufacturers keep producing the drug that helps us feed our addiction.</p>
<p>Sorry, needed to vent.</p>
<p>Gabe, I’m thinking about your build. It’s a beauty.</p>
<p>With a black roof blending into that black pillar, or maybe a dark silver roof and dark silver body, I can see the Coopster sitting in my driveway.</p>
<p>If the Coopster price is the same as an S or JCW, it’s even more visible in my driveway, and coming sharply into focus.</p>
<p>And without the cost of rear seats and accoutrements, more profitable to MINI/BMW, too.</p>
<p>Is there enough detail available to know how the door opening height will compare to the R56? For me, at 6′-1″, with a long torso, a fat butt, and a stiff spine, that’s crucial. Probably to a lot of others who remember the 1960’s, too.</p>
<p>Put me squarely in the camp of thrilled. I completely agree with your take, Gabe — that this is not a car for the masses, but rather a car to inspire enthusiasm and it has definitely done that for me. I almost wish it were limited edition, like the GP. I think this will be a version of the MINI with few compromises and I really like that. It will be a car making a statement bold enough that it will turn a lot of people off. Fabulous! Sign me up. It’s hitting such a sweet spot. Weight, efficiency, even sharper performance focus, and integrating the mid-cycle interior fixes. I was already a hair’s breadth from buying an R56 S not long ago, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be putting a deposit down on this car as soon as there are production dates.</p>
<p>My dream spec would be a flat BRG, black roof, black stripes, UJ side skuttles and probably anthracite rims + red leather interior and all the dark trims and chrome bits available.</p>
<p>What I love most about the design is precisely the roof — although I had to spend some time with it. At first I just so wanted to move the spoiler off the roof and onto the boot lid “where it belonged.” But the more I looked at it, and started to feel the real character of it, the boldness of that roofline and especially the swooping integration of the spoiler are just so right. It leaves the car so simple, so clean, yet so aggressive. The shape is so trim now — like a plush little racecar where the body work exists simply to cover the roll cages and hide from the wind. It’s so sleek and serious, yet still still so cheeky, so MINI.</p>
<p>I want one. I want one right now.</p>
<p>I love how the roof uses a ridge along the roof that sweeps into the spoiler. To me this design just really speaks to me. Should be interesting to see if Mini has finally made a rear window that stays a bit cleaner ;)</p>
<p>No wonder I like it, the Z3 coupe guy desinged it! I had no idea.
As others have said, make the aero kit and JCW suspsension standard please! of course keep the price down. And I’ve been patiently waiting for orange since 2002…</p>
<p>Jim
02 DS/W MCS
08 HC/S Clubman
99 Estoril Blue M coupe</p>
<p>I love it! This looks like it would make a great track car. My 09 JCW Factory car is fantastic on the track, but with less weight and a wider stance,this would even be better.With no back seat to worry about, a roll bar would fit in better. I hope they address the front brake issues with this car so I dont have to spend $3000 to replace them. I’ll buy one!</p>
<p>As always, Nathaniel -and Gabe in his review- captured the core of this vehicle perfectly! It will “speak to” few people whom the car was designed at the first place and will turn off the rest of the crowd intentionally.</p>
<p>The production date will be perfect for my plans to move from my 03 R53 in 2-3 years. Given that I am alone in my MINI 99% of the time, what’s behind the driver’s seat will not make that much difference in terms of practicality. However, what’s “above” the driver’s seat in the coupe will scream uniqueness. I love it!</p>
<p>This car is absolutely awesome. This is for the purist. The Motoring Enthusiast that is looking for the ultimate in performance and the aggressive looks to complement that performance. No wonder the E46 M3 (which I currently own) and the Z3 M Coupe are two of my favorite BMW designs. This guy Syring has an eye for style. Build it MINI. Just build it already.</p>
<p>Good to see some more background info on the coupe Gabe. Thanks for that.</p>
<p>My enthusiasm is undiminished since my first comment – with its more characterful aesthetics and the all-important curb weight reduction and handling upgrade, this is (finally) an R56 MINI that an R53 Factory JCW or GP owner can get excited about.</p>
<p>Interesting you mention the Z4 coupe connection: ruminating about what would be my next daily driver in a couple of years, there is not much out there short of a Cayman S exciting me. A new-as-I-can-find (CPO, of course) Z4 coupe, however, is on my short list, as is the Z2 (coming soon?). Depending on the FWD driving dynamics this ends up with, I can now add the MINI Coupe to the provisional list.</p>
<p>I’m glad to see MINI listening to the “hard core” fan base with this car and the Speedster!</p>
<p>I’m not convinced about the pillars in black, maybe body color or roof color could do the trick.</p>
<p>Pass the drool cup.</p>
<p>Here’s a question for the purists and enthusiasts who “get” this car. Why buy a Mini?</p>
<p>Granted these are used cars, but you can get a low-mileage S2000 for less than a new Mini. That’s a true sports car with rear-wheel drive, an engine from heaven and a driving position and shifter that put Mini’s to shame (if you want torque, talk to Jackson Racing about a supercharger – you’ll still be under the price of a JCW). Heck, the place where I get my Mini serviced has a 2006 Cayman in its showroom today for $39K – not much more than what people pay for JCW hatchbacks with similar options!</p>
<p>Back in the hatchback-only days of Mini, you could say these cars aren’t competitors, but once you have a 2-seat Mini that is supposed to be enthusiast-oriented it opens up a whole new world of competitors that could run rings around it.</p>
<p>So why buy a Mini Coupay? [I have a 2004 MCS, by the way, since it was the most fun car I could afford.]</p>
<p>Gimmee! I want one in Chili Red with a White Roof, please. Makes it worth giving up my Honda CRX to get one of these. Whee!</p>
<p>Enough of dark, drab colors. MINI should shout from the tarmac Here I Am!</p>
<p>That roof looks like a very bad toupee. Perhaps the car should be called a “coupee?”</p>
<p>Sorry fanbois… this is fugly… Send it to the crushers!!!</p>
<p>I’m glad to see the car providing passionate, diametrically opposed views. That means it’s working.</p>
<p>For me, I love the two-tone look. This, and a turbo-diesel R60, will make up my garage in aprx. 24 months if the planets align.</p>
<p>I can already see myself driving along a twisty mountian road in a coopster, windows down, turbo spooling, exhaust crackling and popping.</p>
<p>The heart will rule over the head when it comes to buying a coopster and that is no bad thing.</p>
<p>I really would like to know if this is indeed a one time generational run for the coupe/roadster? Beyond this run I actually think the two would be fantastic halo cars for the brand, and with common parts between itself and the rest of the MINI model line up it should prove to be cost effective as well. I really see no reason why this would have to be a once in a generation kind of thing. Even despite the fact it’s a niche product.</p>
<p>Here’s another thought and I don’t know that anyone else has mentioned it, but as is the execution of the Coupe Concept while not the best totally fits in if it is to be a modern day interpretation of the original Broadspeed coupe (a name which I hope is bestowed upon the production car). Consider that the original Broadspeed coupe was not much more than a slashed and “hatched” version of the MK1 Cooper and the Concept Coupe doesn’t appear so half-arsed after all.</p>
<p>New pics.. <a href="http://www.germancarzone.com/406806-post128.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.germancarzone.com/406806-post128.html</a></p>
<p>If you don’t like this car….well….something is SERIOUSLY wrong with you. For sure.</p>
p><b>@be1000</b I am totally with you. If you like to drive and don’t need four seats or hauling room, then this car at it’s price makes absolutely no sense. Purely for the ladies and the poseurs.</p>
<p>People, you honestly love that squashed roof? I think it looks horrid.</p>
<p>Then again C4 more than a few people hate my red mirror caps on the GP. Design is tricky thing for sure, for me the only angle on this car that looks a little iffy is the low 90 degree side shot. I am pretty amazed with such a small change completely changed the look of the R57 body. The picture used at the top of this article speaks to me clearly with the Mini design language and yet is incredibly fresh. The way the roof flows into the spoiler is a pretty slick piece of design work in my book.</p>
<p>thatguy, less weight, lower stance, slightly wider track is for posers or ladies. Well I guess I partially agree with you since I know a few women Mini drivers that blitz down the road and blast around corners better than some of the guys I know. Guess I happy to be a poser since less weight, lower height, and a wider track all fit my idea of a good move to me since these are all great moves to making a quicker and better handling car. Be assured I would love to have them spend some time to make a stronger performance car with this I think they are on the right path.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>thatguy, less weight, lower stance, slightly wider track is for posers or ladies.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Jon – I believe he was referring to the crossover when he mentioned ladies and poseurs. Apologies ladies.</p>
<p>Volkan you mirror my exact thoughts about a 2 seater.
I haven’t been a part of any MINI forums since getting my ’03 Cooper S. I for one did not like the R56. In fact I cancelled my order once I saw one in person. This has all changed since the great pics of the Coopster surfaced. I am totally in on getting one of these. The fact that it doesn’t appeal to everyone appeals to me. It was one of the many reasons I got my 03 S.
Can’t wait for production to begin and I’ll be back on the forum trail once again. Happy times!</p>
<p>Gabe so true, sorry for the mis-read on your comments thatguy lol</p>
<p>Gabe any idea how they are planning on the “wider track” using the R57 platform?</p>
<p>bee1000 – Since you asked, I’ll offer three points to your question “if into hard core driving, why a MINI, why not a used S2000 etc?”:</p>
<p>First, as soon as you say “what about car X, it can be bought USED for the price of this NEW MINI!” you are comparing apples to oranges. Any car can be bought used / old enough to make the price compete with a new entry level Aveo. Yet car designers do not set the entry level Aveo as their competition and set the design brief around it. Your comment is practical for some buyers that do consider lightly used and CPO cars (I am one of them), but it is disingenuous to compare a new car’s price / content to a used car that has already had its price slashed by a good 25% or more, greatly inflating its “value”.</p>
<p>Second, there are undoubtedly more rewarding cars to drive than even a JCW / GP or what I expect from the forthcoming Coupe. The S2000 (used) that you mention is a helluva car. I know because I’m a (modded) miata owner for over a decade and several miata-folk I hang with are moving to S2K’s and Z4 roadsters… a good friend recently purchased a mint AP2 with only 15,000 km on it and I drove it just four weeks ago. What the MINI has that even the otherwise very enjoyable S2K lacks, however, at least to me (since you asked for personal feedback to your question) is aesthetic character. It is not an ugly car, but it “looks mass produced” and has a very generic Japanese styled “face” in particular. Many like this sort of thing, I do not. What has always attracted me to the R53 MINI in particular is not just its very satisfying driving feel but its “bespoke look”, both with the interior and the exterior. It looks very expensive parked next to just about any car short of a super car. The S2000, RX8, just about any coupe out of Japan (and I’ve owned and spent lots of time with Japanese sports coupes over the years), generally look built to a cost, generic – the word my friends and I increasingly use is “EXTRUDED”. And before you dismiss this as having “nothing to do with performance”, I will remind you that we are discussing street-driven sports cars, and part of the appeal of these machines is the exciting way they look amid all the humdrum sedans and obnoxious SUVs – I think a lot of enthusiasts in North America have forgotten this, but sports cars at all price points have a very very long tradition of being beautiful and exciting to look at and sit in. It’s a big part of the appeal of a coupe and any alleged denials make me question if someone has owned a lot of sports coupes – and liked it!</p>
<p>Third, since we are here specifically discussing the MINI Coupe concept, not the Speedster, your bringing up used RWD roadsters is a bit off base. Roadsters are great (I have driven one for over a decade and hung on to it along side other cars, including my current R53 Factory JCW) but they are not Coupes. There has always been a great cry from the enthusiast community for a miata coupe, an S2K coupe, etc. BMW answered this with the very funky and highly desirable (to me) Z3 and Z4 coupe. To a buyer that appreciates the “bespoke look” of the R53 MINI, and granting you the “used versus new” argument, I would think it is the Z4 coupe (both M and otherwise) that is a more relevant alternative to the MINI Coupe, not any of the roadsters you cited. I do have my eye on that particular coupe in particular, as I mentioned in my post above.</p>
<p>Would people be criticizing the idea of Honda bringing back a CRX in the same way? On the contrary, the Honda boards have been pleading for a proper two-seat coupe version of the ever-larger (and ever more boring to drive) Civic Si for well over a decade. If you’ve driven a clean CRX Si (either generation) you’ll quickly understand why the MINI Coupe is a good idea for a halo performance car to the MINI brand.</p>
<p>That’s one take from a “purist and enthusiast who ‘gets’ this car”. :)</p>
<p>Jon, just throwing ideas out here, but the car could stay the same width and have a wider track very easily–there is a fair amount of room between the inner arch and the wheel–there is plenty of room move the suspension out 1 cm or so on each corner, and that would make a substantial difference on the track. It would require some modification, but depending on how it was done, shouldn’t be too difficult. Heck, we do it with spacers all the time…</p>
<p>The thing about the roof: I hate the rear spoiler. If it’s not functional, or if there is a way to put one down lower beneath the rear window that was functional, I’d get rid of it the day I got the car. I think the car would look substantially better without it.</p>
<p>For those complaining about the chopped off roof, from a performance standpoint, this is probably the single most important thing BMW did with this car. The MINI is a brick at high speed; there is no getting around it. And the high roofline on the R53/56 acts like a wing–really lifts the front of the car perceptibly when you get 100-110 MPH. I suspect this car will feel much more stable at speed.</p>
<p>@<a href="#comment-267357" rel="nofollow">goat</a>: Really well said.</p>
<p>Great post Goat!</p>
<p>cct1 I understand spacers as I use them also. 1cm at each corner would hardly be worth mentioning however so was thinking they had something else in mind.</p>
<p>Check out the shots looking down at the roof of the Coopster and I would have to say that pulling the spoiler would not work at all. The spoiler shape flows into the roof on two ridges (similar to dune lines)that gives the effect that the spoiler flows from mid-roof to the rear window. I think that bit of design is very interesting as looking at the design from high and behind you can see the flow of the design looks to channel the flow across the roof down and back across the rear window. With no rear wiper blade guessing this design is very functional. With a spoiler on the rear lip of the car its generally out of the wind hidden behind the cabin. Hence why all spoilers used in racing push it into the sky to take it out of the dead air zone.</p>
<p>Goat – I get what you’re saying and thank you for saying it. I even subscribe to it in that today I would buy an R56 over, say, a GTI or Mazdaspeed 3 that magazines like Top Gear seem to prefer, because it does have character. (Actually, I’d take my own advice and buy a GP over an R56, but the point is taken.)</p>
<p>So long as one is saying the coupay is a characterful car, and at 200 pounds lighter a better performance car than other Minis, I get it and if they made a Cooper version EPA rated at over 40mpg highway I might even want to buy one. It’s when people say its a sports car for enthusiasts that I stop drinking the Kool-Aid.</p>
<p>(Oh, and I do think S2000s have character in much the same way a Z3 M Coupe did. When I see an S2000 or an old M Coupe I feel like I’m seeing someone who gets it, someone who appreciates the engineering or audacity, respectively, that went into that car’s creation. Those cars’ capabilities give them presence whether their styling does or does not.)</p>
<p>Overall I like it, the roof is a bit different but without that flare piece, it would look like a lot of other “sports” cars on the road… or at least in that area of the car it would look similar. This distingushes it a bit.</p>
<p>However, as much as I like the JCW or even a nicely loaded and customized MCS, my buget is more of a base MC or Clubman with some essentials (AC, Auto) added in.</p>
<p>If MINI wants to get lots of sales, then they need to keep/offer models that more people can afford. Sure it dilutes it a bit as you will see more and more on the road but since MINI seems to still be trying to recoup some R&D costs….</p>
<p>As much as I like the Coupe and would strongly consider one, the fact that it appears to be a premium model and probably will start around 30K (my guess based on comments here) and go up from there, well that pretty much eliminates it from my consideration.</p>
<p>I’m planning my purchase next year so the timing doesn’t fit either however if the expected price were to be in line with what I can afford (I’d be happy without the base (or even a diesel) engine) then I would consider waiting for it.</p>
<blockquote>Apologies ladies.</blockquote>
<p>Yes, sorry, that was out of line. My apologies to the ladies.</p>
<p>However, no apologies to the poseurs of any gender who would pay over $30k for an FWD, 2-seat “performance” car.</p>
<p>If you can drive that 30K FWD 2 seater faster than someone driving a 70K RWD 2 seater, who’s the poseur?</p>
<p>Agreed cct1</p>
<p>My Mini’s have already embarrassed more than one much higher performance car during track days. A poser would be somebody that buys a much more expensive sports car that gets spanked by a 30k Mini.</p>
<p>looks like They just chopped off the r56 into half and installed that roof there. I prefer the hatchback design.
But regardless, IMO r53 design is still the best, the front end looks meaner than the r56. I figure since its a coupe they should reworked the front end a little bit not just replacing a black out headlight</p>
<p>Hey, I dig my MINI too. I have enjoyed spanking many pricey RWD cars in my MCS on track days as well. E46 M3s being a particular favorite. But it is not about numbers for me. I just much prefer the way a well set-up, lightweight RWD car feels and drives. All other things being equal, I’ll take RWD. Call me crazy…</p>
<p>Love the entire car with one visual exception. The jagged sharp edge where the roof line meets the rear pillar. With the car in forward motion water and air flow aerodynamically on all surfaces. Your eyes travel from the headlights, across the door and are stopped where they encounter that sharp corner. Recommend a wide radius curve where there is now, a sharp corner.</p>
<p>Cute little bugger! As long as they don’t tart up the interior. Hopefully they will keep it as a light weight, performance oriented, car. I’d be happy to buy one. Maybe even some actually light weight, light wheels to go with it.</p>
<p>What do you think? Option packages seem to be popular. Why not a “Road Performance Package” slightly stiffer suspension, better shocks, a little more power, some stickier tires.</p>
<p>Or a “Track Performance Package” fully adjustable coil-over suspension, lighter weight brake rotors, larger calipers, lighter & wider wheels, and lots more power, larger & adjustable anti-sway bars, camber adjustable front & rear suspension, weight saving options to delete various items.</p>
<p>Or a “Stop light Performance Package” a reedy, obnoxious, exhaust system, lots of chrome inside and out, tires that make colored smoke, some 20″ chrome rims.</p>
<p>With a light-colored roof, I honestly want to retch just a little bit, but I don’t think it’s nearly so bad with a black/dark roof. I also think a slightly sculpted boot lid, a la the BMW 1-series, would go a long way to making the blunt butt of the other MINIs work a bit more with the roof. Before this starts sounding like a Youtube comment, oh wait, too late.</p>
p><b>@cct1</b Hey, I dig my MINI too. I have enjoyed spanking many pricey RWD cars in my MCS on the track as well. E46 M3s being particularly satisfying. But it is not just about numbers for me. I just much prefer the way a well set-up, lightweight RWD car feels and drives. All other things being equal, I’ll take RWD. Call me crazy, but I know I am not alone…</p>
<p>thatguy, not disputing that RWD is a better platform for the track–it is. But driving a front wheel drive car doesn’t make someone a poseur in my mind–I think that’s more about the person behind the wheel than the car they drive. I’ve heard a few disparaging remarks here and there at the track (on the other hand, most of the comments are positive, it’s just a few people who look down their noses)–stuff like I can’t believe you’re taking a MINI out there, how can you drive a FWD car, blah blah blah blah–but It’s what makes taking the MINI out on the track so fun–no one expects the car to be fast, and next thing you know the car in front of you is seeing the dreaded blue flag….</p>
<p>Personally I think the MINI is the antiposeur car. The coopster does look a bit more pretentious, but it’s still a MINI…</p>
<p>This is not a MINI any more</p>
<p>It has lost one of the last typical point = its friendly cubic form</p>
<p>For the price, some 2005 Boxster (that are not MINI as well) may serious be considered</p>
<p>does anyone notice in the pictures that it has the convertible unit above the windscreen?</p>
<p>Great post Goat. The first thing I thought of when I saw this was the CRX from my teenage years. With MINI doing it, it can be 10 times better.</p>
<p>I also have not loved the R56 (though I have to say the Clubman is actually growing on me a little).</p>
<p>I just plead with MINI, if you do this car, DO IT RIGHT! If the purpose is to have a performance oriented car to offset some of the stuff going the other way like the R60, then do not allow any model of this car to be sold that tones it down.</p>
<p>You have to make the JCW suspension(or some type of performance suspension) and Aero Kit standard. Not to encite a massive debate, but this car also cries out to be stick only (unless you can find a way to stuff a DCT in there 😉 ).</p>
<p>It must be available in COLORS! No, four differet shades of Grey do not count as colors. Open your color wheel up and stay out of the middle.</p>
<p>No half measures.</p>
<p>Car is OK, but the dash has to go. I thought they would redesign the dash for the new car, the center stack still looks like the current MINI, as in YUCK!</p>
<p>Give me the Coupe in Midnight Black, i’ll take all the extensive mods and boltons for my car and put it on it, as well as my accents (different body colored pieces) and i will buy this car right at this very moment! i have NEVER in my entire life looked at a car and said I WANT THAT until this car!!!</p>
<p>Perhaps the somewhat questionable roof design would have greater appeal if the roof were offered in black, white and silver.</p>