Undoubtedly one of the funkiest attractions at this year’s Johannesburg Motor Show was at the MINI stand in the form of the all-new MINI Coupe. And now, barely a month after the show, MINI South Africa has released its latest tyke onto the local market.
Based on the highly successful (and popular) hatchback, the new Coupe sees a more hardcore and racy image being brought to the brand, along with funky looks and promises of superb road manners. With the hottest JCW version only making it to South African roads in 2012, the new MINI Coupe will initially be available in Cooper and (turbocharged) Cooper S models.
Unmistakably a MINI, the new Coupe features the familiar hatchback’s front end but from the windscreen backwards, it’s all new. A lower roofline, which incorporates the “helmet” roof design (more like a baseball cap put on backwards), slopes steeply towards the stubby rear, giving away one of the new car’s biggest attributes – this MINI is a two-seater. The pert backside is textbook MINI too, albeit with larger shoulders than usual and a very short “stepped” boot lid. On the inside, headroom is optimised for both the driver and passenger thanks to oval recesses in the roof liner and, with 280 litres of boot space available (along with a through-loading feature), practicality hasn’t suffered (in fact the Coupe’s boot is even bigger than in the hatch models).
The engine line-up is typically MINI, with Cooper Coupe models employing the familiar 90kW/160Nm 1.6-litre petrol engine (5.4-litres/100km and 127g/km with a manual gearbox) and Cooper S Coupe models featuring the 135kW/240Nm turbocharged petrol mill we’ve all grown to love (5.8-litres/100km and 136g/km with a manual gearbox). Forthcoming Cooper S JCW Coupe models will feature the same 155kW/260Nm engine as found in other JCW variants.
Already famed for go-kart-style handling, great performance and the resulting driving enjoyment, the new MINI Coupe manages to take that all up a notch to out-pace even its own siblings, besides the competition. The suspension setup has been specially tuned for the Coupe and along with electric power steering and powerful brakes, it promises class-leading driving dynamics. Airflow is also optimised at higher speeds thanks to an electric rear spoiler which rises automatically at 80km/h. MINI claims that at top speed (240km/h in the case of the JCW Coupe) the spoiler adds 40kg of downforce.
Electronic driver aids are prominent in the form of DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) and DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) with optional EDLC (Electronic Differential Lock Control, standard only on JCW models) – all allowing the driver to explore the Coupe’s great handling with peace of mind. Safety is further taken care of by four airbags, inertia reel seatbelts and a tyre pressure monitor.
Features abound in true MINI style and anyone familiar with the brand’s other products will feel right at home in the new Coupe. Standard equipment includes electric mirrors, parking sensors, seat height adjustment and a radio/CD/MP3/aux-in audio system. Options include bi-xenon active headlights, climate control, electrochromatic mirrors, Harman Kardon audio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The MINI Connected system can also be installed to bring mobile internet to the Coupe, which includes Google search, Facebook and Twitter connectivity.
Cooper Coupe and Cooper S Coupe models are available immediately from MINI dealers nationwide and with keen pricing, the new model line should see the massive local MINI following only gain momentum and many new fans. The range starts at R264 000 for the Cooper Coupe, with the Cooper S Coupe starting at R319 000. The JCW Coupe will start at R369 000.
- Brent Ellis
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