By Mike Torpey on 2011-09-06 - Driving Force news editor and responsible for organising our daily output. He was staff motoring editor of the Liverpool Echo for 20 years.
World debut for MINI
Coupe
THE much awaited MINI Coupe, the brand's fifth model, makes its world premiere at this month's Frankfurt Motor Show.
The two-seater will be offered from launch later in the autumn with a choice of four engines with outputs ranging from the 122bhp of the MINI Cooper Coupe and the Cooper SD Coupe's 143bhp to the hefty 184bhp developed by the Cooper S Coupe and the 211bhp of sporting flagship the MINI John Cooper Works Coupe.
MINI has promised that the new models will provide fans of the marque with an even greater go-kart feeling thanks to a bespoke suspension set-up, ideal weight distribution, rigid body and extra aerodynamic tweaks.
A six-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard and six-speed auto is optional for Cooper S Coupe, Cooper Coupe and Cooper SD Coupe models.
Styling-wise the Coupe, which sits 29mm lower than the regular MINI, has a flat silhouette and ‘helmet roof' with spoiler while an active rear spoiler, which pops up automatically at 50mph, optimises the airflow at higher speeds.
There's also a high-opening tailgate and large 280-litre luggage area with load-through facility.
And the car also has a stiffer body - with its weight balance slightly further forward for better traction - electric power steering, pedestrian protection systems and dynamic stability control as standard.
Traction control is an option on all bar the John Cooper Works model, which includes it as standard.
TOLMAN, creator of the ‘Tolman Edition' Peugeot 205 GTi restomod, has...
THE MINI Cooper Convertible is now being built at the company's factory in...
THE first MINI to be made in Germany will be rolling off the production lines...
Choose from one or more of the options to find the car for you.
Based on your search find the dealership
nearest to you.