MINI Coupe & Roadster Spied Together
Courtesy of our friends at totalmini.com comes a photo of the twins filling up while driving around the Oxford. Expect new photos to pop-up in the coming weeks and the special launch group at Oxford begins to get their cars for the usual real world testing.
The Coupe will be officially revealed sometime this summer (we expect July) and will start production sometime in August. Look for them to make their way to dealers by late September. Also expect some changes to the JCW formula in time for the release.
The Roadster on the other hand will start production in February of 2012 and will make its way to dealers around March. MINI will likely offer Cooper, Cooper S and JCW models throughout the life of both cars. There are rumors that parts outside the US could see Cooper S D version as well.
<p>Go to the factory twice in less than a week and I haven’t seen them! Need to stick around a little longer I think! The Coupe looks to be in Cooper spec</p>
<p>These will look great in the summer, better with the top down.</p>
<p>Glad to hear about changes to JCW coming. I am sad to say that they will likely still leave it short of where it should be. However if the obvious lack of uniqueness and suspension are addressed I will be happier for sure. Looking forward to getting more details on the Twins final specs.</p>
<p>What’s the car being filled up in the background? Is it another coupe?</p>
<p>Is that a coupe hardtop all the way on the other end?</p>
<p>MINI may have broken my pre-Valentines Day heart… I SO looked forward to owning the Coopster from the concept photos. I am sad to notice that they look more like a normal length MINI with a slightly redesigned trunk and a hat on top – according to these photos and the previous spy shots. I was hoping for something more revolutionary in design – again, the concept impressed me.</p>
<p>Driving the JCW version might save it…. but I planned my MINI ownership for the next few years and it was supposed to include a Coopster. Ah cr@p… 🙁 (planned on selling my current JCW Clubman since I need a Countryman for work and having a second MINI for weekend fun: a JCW Coopster).</p>
<p>This means I’ll have to put my Countryman purchase on hold to see if I do end up liking the Coopster in person, since just a Countryman won’t fulfill my MINI needs. I just pray for more spy shots that show something like the concept…</p>
<p>@ lilcoopr,</p>
<p>It was always stated that these cars would be based on the same platform as the R56, same length and all. I think that the yellow and black swirls are doing what MINI wants it to do. If you look at the concept photos and the different spy photos you can see that they are VERY similar.</p>
<p>I am putting my money down right now… you will LOVE the Coopster when you see it all decked out in JCW gear. Just look at the difference between an R56 MC and an R56 MCS with the JCW areo kit, they don’t look like the same car.</p>
<p>is that a green Cooper coupe? I thought they are not making Coopers?!?</p>
<p>@Aurel: That’s what I was thinking and hope springs eternal if so. Maybe affordable after all!</p>
<p>Also expect some changes to the JCW formula in time for the release. I like the way that sounds. Can’t wait for it.</p>
<p>Hope they make the rear window bigger on the roadster</p>
<p>Yes, the coupe looks like a cooper judging from the single exhaust on the side of the bumper.</p>
<p>And I have to say the Bridge-spokes still look good on the roadster.</p>
<p>Thanks b! I knew that they will be based on the R56.. just my favourite concept pictures of the blue Coopster on the track made it look a little more Coupe-y and a little less convertible with a hat. When they take the swirls off, I’ll re-evaluate. Or maybe I’m best waiting for the redesign of the front end in a few years (which could be better or worse).</p>
<p>These photos may be staged. This petrol station is opposite the factory, where there is a fuel station onsite.</p>
<p>I had high hopes for the idea mentioned here in the past that these would be the performance leaders for the MINI brand and only sold in such form. Now hearing it will be Cooper, S and JCW sure dilutes that idea. Really isn’t the ultimate MINI when to the normal public it looks like it’s base Cooper brother.</p>
<p>I live about 2 miles from the factory and saw a couple of coupe shells at the end of jan- typical not having a camera around when you want one! Wonder if now it looks like they’re doing a Cooper version there’ll be a ‘One’ on the way? Anyone have any ideas?</p>
<p>Seem to remember from previous story they are looking at new front and rear fascia’s on the Twins? Guess the Twins are demi-sport cars. Would much rather if they left them in jcw spec only. I think having them range between the jcw, S, and Cooper is going to leave what this car stands for in a muddy mess, not to mention only SAV’s seem to have captured MINI’s attention for performance tuning.</p>
<p>it says right in the article that these two are going to be used to revamp the jcw brand. plus it’s been mentioned before that once they’re released they’ll replace the hatch as the challenge car for the series. what more do you want for performance?</p>
<p>besides there are external aspects that require them to use the countryman for WRC; ie overall length.</p>
<p>For me Jeff, I think MINI needs to up the HP (as its a fairly tiny gain over the updated S), needs to provide a sports tuned suspension. This is less of a worry if they ends up being offered in Cooper and Cooper S builds.</p>
<p>I cant wait for these, give me a coupe in Ice Blue with a silver roof, spotlamps, and a full length double stripe in black, Heaven in 2 seats!
Also think Coupe should be called “Radford” and the roadster the “Speedwell”, great mini racing names from the sixties! Also think these would make a great base for two luxury two seater dereritives, prompt return of the Riley Elf and the Wolseley Hornet!</p>
<p>Just to let you know…</p>
<p>The guy with the Cooper S in the background is filling it with diesel..</p>
<p>And yes, as I’ve already told Gabe – the CooperS Diesel ’58 and ’59 are being produced</p>
<p>I like the MINI brand for the most part. Where i veer off is when I see these two models. For me, if i were to want a cool affordable 2 seater coupe or convertible I would never shop these cars and look for a used Audi TT.</p>
<p>An Audi TT?</p>
<p>Seriously?</p>
<p>Is there something about a VW Golf in a dress that appeals to you then?</p>
<p>B,</p>
<p>You can call what you will but the TT in my mind is much more car and with available quattro.</p>
<p>To each his own.</p>
<p>R</p>