As expected, Mini is bringing to market the car they always should have built — the Mini Cooper Coupe (first unveiled way back in 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show). It's a two-door, two-seater potentially able to take a tiny shot across the bow of the super-compact sports car class. Daddy like. Well, as long as Daddy doesn't actually have kids or a child seat. Which Daddy don't.
Look, I love the Mini Cooper. Especially in JCW trim level. It's awesome — like a go-kart on crack. But the back seat always bugged me because, like most 2+2s, it's completely useless unless you've got a family of four and the kids are both amputees.
The Mini Cooper Coupe looks ready to change that — finally! Although Mini hasn't yet released final photos of the new two-seater, they have released a slew of details and a model year — 2012. We're to expect a slew of engine options with output ranging from 121 HP in the Mini Cooper Coupe, to 181 HP in the Mini Cooper S Coupe, all the way up to 208 HP in the Mini John Cooper Works Coupe.
All will be available standard-fitted with a six-speed manual transmission, but the S Coupe and the Coupe will each get the option of an optional six-speed auto tranny. We've provided the details below each of the spy camouflage-wrapped Coupes up top, so click through for all the details.
MINI John Cooper Works Coupe: 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection, plus numerous technological details carried over directly from motorsports.
Displacement: 1,598 cc
Output: 208 hp at 6,000 rpm
Max. torque: 192 lb-ft at 1,850 – 5,600 rpm (207 lb-ft with Overboost at 1,700 – 4,500 rpm)
Acceleration: 0–60 mph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed: 149 mph
Average fuel consumption according to EU standard: 7.1 liters per 100 kilometers ( US EPA estimates not yet available.)
CO2 emissions: 165 g/km
MINI Cooper S Coupe: 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with twin-scroll turbocharger, direct injection and fully variable valve management based on the BMW Group's VALVETRONIC technology.
Displacement: 1,598 cc
Output: 181 hp at 5,500 rpm
Max. torque: 177 lb-ft at 1,600 – 5,000 rpm (192 lb-ft with Overboost at 1,700 – 4,500 rpm)
Acceleration: 0–60 mph: 6.5 seconds
Top speed: 142 mph
Average fuel consumption according to EU standard: 5.8 liters per 100 kilometers ( US EPA estimates not yet available)
CO2 emissions: 136 g/km
MINI Cooper Coupe: 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with fully variable valve management based on the BMW Group's VALVETRONIC technology.
Displacement: 1,598 cc
Output: 121 hp at 6,000 rpm
Max. torque: 118 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm
Acceleration: 0–60 mph: 8.3 seconds
Top speed: 127 mph
Average fuel consumption according to EU standard: 5.4 liters per 100 kilometers ( US EPA estimates not yet available)
CO2 emissions: 127 g/km
Exterior dimensions:
Length: 146.8 inches / 3,728 millimeters (MINI Cooper S Coupe, MINI John Cooper Works Coupe: 147 inches / 3,734 millimeters)
Width: 66.3 inches / 1,683 millimeters
Height: 54.6 inches / 1,387millimeters (MINI Cooper S Coupe, MINI John Cooper Works Coupe: 54.5 inches / 1,384 millimeters)
Wheelbase: 97.1 inches / 2,467 millimeters