Mini officially launched its Cooper Coupe at the 2011 International Motor Show in Frankfurt. This two-seater can be had with the John Cooper Works package, but the only weight saved is the lack of two extra bodies in the car.
Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Mini expands its model range with the new Coupe, a two-seater with a sportier look than the standard Mini Cooper. Although the Coupe only has room for two passengers, it has the same wheelbase as the Cooper. The Coupe also weighs slightly more, the increase due to extra body-stiffening parts.
2 of 7 Josh Miller/CNET
Similar to other Mini variants, such as the Clubman, the Coupe comes with the same engine choices as the standard Cooper. Here it is seen with the John Cooper Works kit, adding more power, robust brakes, and stiffer suspension tuning. With its large turbocharger, the 1.6-liter engine produces 208 horsepower, 24 more than the Cooper S.
3 of 7 Josh Miller/CNET
With the John Cooper Works Coupe, standard 17-inch wheels are slowed by large brake calipers. The front McPherson strut suspension features antidive control.
4 of 7 Josh Miller/CNET
As a two-seater, the Mini Coupe has its most dramatic design features in the rear. The roof comes down to what appears to be a trunk lid. However, the entire rear opens up hatchback-style. The tail lights are integrated with the rear fenders, and the dual exhaust pipes, part of the John Cooper Works package, come out at the center.
5 of 7 Josh Miller/CNET
Lacking a rear seat, the rear cargo area is very large. This car would easily fit luggage for two people over an extended road trip.
6 of 7 Josh Miller/CNET
This active spoiler, which extends at high speed, increases downforce up to 88 pounds. Although the Coupe is a front-wheel-drive car, this rear spoiler helps overall stability, according to Mini. There is a also a roof spoiler.
7 of 7 Josh Miller/CNET
The cabin appointments are similar to that of the other Mini models, with the same configuration for the instrument cluster and center stack. In John Cooper Works format, the six speed manual is a must-have. Mini Connected is also available, which adds a display to the center-mounted speedometer and integrates with the Mini Connected iPhone app.
