MINI has peeled the last shreds of its psychedelic camouflage from the 2012 MINI Cooper Coupe. The online unveiling comes after months of spy photos and, in recent weeks, a series of official teaser shots. The MINI Cooper Coupe shares its platform with the iconic Cooper Hatch, but thanks to a re-tuned chassis, MINI promises an even sportier experience than the current Cooper S hatch variant.
From a styling perspective, the MINI Cooper Coupe range carries the same familiar iconic look that we’ve come to know well over the past decade. Setting it apart from its Hatch, Cabrio, Clubman and Countryman stablemates, the Coupe gets a low-slung roof with a “helmet roof” design atop steeply raked A and C pillars. On the inside, the Coupe’s two-seat layout is emphasised clearly, with a two-piece luggage compartment cover in a striking three-dimensional design. Among the Coupe’s features are a fitted-as-standard anthracite roof liner, new upholstery variants and exterior mirror colours, trim strips and Colour Lines. Cabin equipment includes a Harman Kardon Hi-Fi loudspeaker system, Bluetooth connectivity and USB audio interface. MINI Connected is also on the feature list, including web radio, Google local search and Google Send to Car services, reception of RSS news feeds, plus in-car use of Facebook and Twitter – available in conjunction with the MINI Visual Boost radio or MINI navigation system.
Entering as the company’s first production two-seater, the Cooper Coupe is also quicker than the hatch in all three of its petrol specifications: Cooper Coupe, Cooper S Coupe and John Cooper Works Coupe. Overseas markets will also receive a diesel-powered Cooper SD Coupe as part of the range. All three petrol variants are powered by the familiar 1.6-litre four-cylinder, paired to a six-speed manual transmission as standard. A six-speed auto is on the options list for the Coupe and S Coupe, but JCW buyers can’t have it – and likely won’t want it.
In entry-level Coupe form, the four-cylinder engine delivers 90 kW at 6 000 r/min and 160 Nm of torque at 4 250 r/min, giving it a 0 – 100km/h time of 9.0 seconds. Top speed is 204 km/h, fuel consumption a claimed 5.4 l/100km. Stepping up to the S Coupe, buyers get MINI’s turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine, producing 135 kW at 5 500 r/min and 240 Nm at 1 600 r/min – with a temporary overboost function offering a further 20 Nm. The S Coupe’s 0 – 100 km/h dash is over in a considerably quicker 6.9 seconds, top speed is 230 km/h and fuel consumption 5.8 l/100km.
The top-shelf JCW Coupe also features a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, with power dialled up to 155 kW at 6 000 r/min and 260 Nm at 2000 r/min. The same overboost function gives the JCW Coupe another 20 Nm on top, while the 0 – 100 km/h sprint for the JCW variant is covered in 6.4 seconds, with a top speed of 240 km/h and fuel consumption of 7.1 l/100km.
MINI South Africa has confirmed that the Cooper Coupe range will debut locally in the fourth quarter of 2011. Pricing and specifications will be revealed closer to launch.
