Whenever I drive a MINI I say to myself, “what they really ought to do is make a smaller version. I mean, what am I ever going to do with all this room?” To my surprised, they listened.
This is the up-coming MINI John Cooper Works Coupe. It’s a two-seater and features the brands most powerful 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder motor fitted with a twin-scroll supercharger making 211 hp and 192 lbft of torque. It’ll hit 62 mph in 6.4 seconds and has a top speed of 149 mph.
Don’t let that swirly vinyl confuse you, underneath that psychedelic sticker is what MINI call the “helmet roof” featuring an active spoiler that automatically extends over 50 mph so the cops know when you’re speeding. That’s not the only part that’s new in the coupe, it has a stiffer body and sits 29cm lower than the standard MINI.
But what does this mean in the grand scheme of things? It means that MINI is becoming a full brand not just a one-off, shot in the dark. Not only does MINI offer a four-door AWD version (Countryman) but now a small, sporty model (as if the original weren’t sporty enough). They’ve a convertible and a wagon (Clubman), too.
MINI continues to prove that just because they’re small doesn’t mean they’re not as capable as their competitors. MINI insists on being fun and different. They make nearly all the same kinds of vehicles as other manufactures but MINI injects go-kart handling into every one of their models and the Coupe is the personification of that attitude.
Now will they think up next? I’m hoping for a pickup.
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