2011 Mini Coupe nears production
CAR readers may remember the Mini Coupe and Roadster concepts, which debuted at the Frankfurt motor show in 2009 for Mini's 50th anniversary celebrations.
The coupe concept had a hatchback coupe roofline with an integrated spoiler. Mini designer Marcus Syring described the floating roof design as '...different, very Mini and it makes the car look like a mini-GT. In some ways it reminds me of wearing a baseball cap back to front.'
Seems the production car will wear a similarly yoof headpiece.
Is that a pop-up rear wing?
Jon's spy shots are most noteworthy for showing a pop-up spoiler deployed from the bootlid. The 2009 concept car didn't have one, so perhaps that backwards baseball cap is having a negative effect on the car's aerodynamics.
The red car scooped here is a Cooper S model, judging by the now-trademark centre twin exhausts.
Under the digsuise
Although the distinctive roofline is covered in disguise sheeting, the contours of the Mini Coupe's roof appear to remain true to the concept's. Mini-spotters will have noted that the tail-lights and rear bumper on this prototype appear to be the same as the current Mini Cooper S. Whether that's part of the disguise or will survive for production remains to be seen.
Mini remains tight-lipped on details of the new coupe, but we expect to see it on sale in the second half of 2011.
The roadster will follow in 2012, as the last variation on the current Mini hatchback platform.-carmagazine.co.uk
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