Motoring
29 September 2011
17
Mini reveals its new Coupe IT all started with the reborn Cooper back in 2001. Now it's 2011 and Mini's fifth model derivative is supposed to compete with the likes of Peugeot's RCZ and VW's Scirocco. The proliferation of BMW’s British brand sees Mini add a fifth line to its product offering, promising to be the most dynamically engaging Mini road car yet. Mini’s Coupe is due to go on sale in South Africa during the fourth quarter of 2011 alongside its Cooper, Convertible, Clubman and Countryman siblings. Although it has been a long development period – the concept was shown at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show – Mini’s stylists have managed to craft a neat two-door coupe likeness from the brand’s hatchback heritage, although the wrap-around glasshouse will appear odd to some. Anders Warming, Mini’s design and styling chief, has raked the Coupe’s windscreen by an additional 13-degrees compared to its Cooper range sibling. The coupe is between 30 and 35mm lower and 15 to 20mm more substantial bumper-to-bumper than the Cooper hatchback, with Cooper S and John Cooper Works coupe models being 5mm longer and lower than the standard coupe. Crucially, all Mini Coupe models will ride 29mm lower than their hatchback siblings, clearly signaling BMW’s dynamic intent with its latest development of the British compact-car brand icon. Despite the reduced ride height, Coupe is 25kg heavier than a comparable Cooper due to additional structural stringing to improve torsional rigidity. An interesting styling add-on (befitting its headline dynamic billing within the Mini range) is an active rear spoiler which deploys from the boot lid at more than 80km/h, harnessing downforce to stabilise the rear kinematics. Mini will offer the coupe in three trim levels (Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works) with a choice of four engines - three petrol engines (two turbocharged) and a single turbodiesel. Entry-level power will be courtesy of a 1.6-litre petrol unit producing 90kW/160Nm thanks to BMW’s valvetronic technology. Mini’s baseline coupe will be good for 0-100km/h in nine seconds and is claimed to consume only 5.4 litres/100km. The Mini’s Cooper S Coupe adds turbocharging to the 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, boosting outputs to 135kW/260Nm. Performance is (unsurprisingly) keen, with 0-100km/h in only 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 230km/h. Amazingly, despite its rampant performance, the coupe Cooper S is claimed to only consume 0.4 litres/100km more than the normal 1.6...John Cooper Works (JCW) badging denotes, as one would expect, the coupe range’s performance benchmark. With power boosted to 155kW (and 280Nm) thanks to refinement of the 1.6-litre engine’s twin-scroll turbo and gas-exchange routing, Mini’s JCW coupe is sure to scare TT (Scirocco) owners with its ability to complete the benchmark 0-100km/h sprint in only 6.4 seconds before powering on to 240km/h. Coupe JCW’s brakes are harmonised with the performance at hand, with generously large 316mm rotors rolling behind the front 17-inch alloys and 280mm discs at the rear. Industry analysts will question the wisdom of BMW's attempt to squeeze too much brand equity from the Mini brand with derivatives such as the coupe, yet with the Bavarian auto giant seeking more sales activity in lower segments of the premium market (where VW has the Scirocco), the 'Werke's logic is understandable. The question remains though: will South African's warm to the idea of a Mini sans its rear seats? Wheels24.co.za
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