MINI Coupé officially revealed
MINI Coupé officially revealed Wraps off stunning two-seater that has Audi in sights – for £10,000 less, promises better performance and handling than hatch
It’s the MINI that’s set to go head-to-head with the Audi TT. These are the first official pictures of the loud and proud MINI Coupé, which starts from only £16,640 – over £10,000 less than the cheapest TT.
Bosses are promising the best-handling MINI ever made. With the standard hatch already one of the sharpest models on the road, the Coupé looks set to be a real drivers’ car when it goes on sale in October.
VIDEO: official footage of the MINI Coupe in action
It borrows the regular MINI’s suspension, but benefits from a lower centre of gravity that will help limit body roll and increase agility. At the rear, a spoiler rises at speeds above 50mph to increase downforce – a first for the brand.Â
Optional sports suspension is available with stiffer anti-roll bars and firmer dampers, while a rock-hard John Cooper Works set-up pack can also be specified. This drops the ride height by 10mm and firms up the anti-roll bars and dampers even further.
Unlike the rest of the MINI range – which starts with the entry-level One – the base Coupé model is the Cooper, powered by a 120bhp 1.6-litre engine. The flagship is the JCW, which adds a turbo for a total of 208bhp.
In between is the 181bhp Cooper S, with a detuned version of the JCW’s unit, while a hot new diesel SD gets a 141bhp 2.0-litre oil-burner. The Cooper will cover 0-62mph in nine seconds flat, and the JCW completes the benchmark sprint in 6.4 seconds – both a tenth up on their hatchback counterparts.
Prices for the Coupé start at £16,640 and rise to £23,795 for the JCW. This sounds a lot of money for a MINI, but considering a TT 2.0-litre TFSI costs £3,345 more and is two-tenths slower from 0-62mph, it starts to look like excellent value.
With a ‘helmet’ roof grafted on top of the MINI Convertible’s body, the two-seater Coupé looks unlike anything else on the road. Its ‘three-box’ shape means there is room for a 280-litre load bay – 120 litres up on the normal MINI – plus there are extra storage bins behind the seats and a hatch for posting longer objects through.
While the roofline is 29mm lower than the standard car’s, scallops in the headlining ensure tall occupants will fit in comfortably. MINI’s trademark cabin is carried over, blending the usual stylish, retro-inspired design and high-quality materials.
Read our first drive of the sporty new MINI by clicking here:
For an alternative review of the latest MINI Coupe visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
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