Mini is currently working on the Mini Coupe. 08/15/2011
Mini is currently working on the Mini Coupe, which is set to debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show this September. The base model of the subcompact sports car will be priced around $22,000, according to AutoWeek. The S variant will start around $25,300 and the JCW model will have a $31,900 price tag.
So what makes this coupe so special? The Mini Coupe is the automaker’s first two-seater since the Mini returned to American roads, and it claims to be the fastest Mini available. The news source reports that the highest class of the new car will be able to reach speeds of 149 miles per hour, and can shoot from zero to 60 in just over six seconds.
The base model of the new car will have the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that is found in the other Mini models, Top Speed reports. The engine generates 121 horsepower so the car can zip to 60 mph from a standstill in just over eight seconds. The S Coupe has the same engine, with a direct-injected turbo charger so boost the horsepower from 121 to 181.
As far as the design goes, the Coupe retains the plucky look for which the automaker is known, but the new car was given a three-box body (engine compartment, passenger compartment and trunk) that gives it a sporty, racecar appeal. The rear spoiler is also designed to pop up automatically when the car hits 50 mph.
The car company has a special feature on its website that allows drivers to design their perfect virtual Mini Coupe, so they can be prepared when the new car comes to dealerships. The Coupe is expected to be available to consumers by the end of this year, shortly after the Frankfort Motor Show.