- Production version of Mini Coupe Concept will arrive in August 2011.
- Mini Roadster follows in February 2012.
- The two cars were shown in concept form at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.
EL SEGUNDO, California — Mini Vice President Jim McDowell confirmed the arrival of the Mini Coupe and Mini Roadster models at a meeting of the Motor Press Guild here today. The two cars were shown in concept form at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show last fall.
"The Coupe will arrive six months after the Countryman, and the Roadster 12 months after the Countryman," McDowell told journalists during a question-and-answer session following his speech. The Mini Countryman is expected to go on sale in the U.S. next February.
The Mini Coupe Concept is a two-seat, low-windshield version of a standard Mini John Cooper Works. It features the same 211-horspeower turbocharged drivetrain and a similar suspension setup.
The Mini Roadster Concept is essentially an open-top version of the Coupe concept. It features a retractable soft top and a pop-up roll bar. Unlike the more performance-focused coupe, the Roadster Concept uses the engine and chassis from a Mini Cooper S model.
Inside Line says: The Countryman may have strayed from the Mini ideal, but the upcoming Coupe and Roadster are exactly what the company is about: minimalist cars that are fun to drive. Glad we don't have to wait long for them. — Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
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k55 says:
12:29 PM, 07/04/2010
If a Cooper S is about 2670lbs then just because it loses the back seat does not mean a significant weight savings. Maybe 2600, lower center of gravity and more areodynamic.....if the engine is tuned the same as a 11 Cooper s ( 181hp /177 ft lbs) and 208 for the JCW.........then what are you getting standard besides whats mentioned above? Better not be much more than a equivalent Cooper S or JCW...
eki79 says:
11:03 PM, 06/08/2010
Yeah... I think it time to start saving. :)
starliner54 says:
06:42 PM, 06/08/2010
Totally impractical. No room for much more than 2 people. The most minimal Mini of them all.
I love every minute of it! The Countryman will outsell both models combined, but I sincerely thank Mini for doing this.
blueguydotcom says:
03:42 PM, 06/08/2010
Sweet little bugger. If this thing is under 2400 lbs it'll be a runner for sure. Too bad about the FWD. A JCW version would be a screamer.