The Mini Coupé and Mini Roadster are two-seater sports cars that were engineered and manufactured by German automaker BMW under the Mini marque between 2011 and 2015.
The hardtop Coupé was unveiled in June 2011 and formally launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011.[2] Production was shown in the 2011 documentary Megafactories.[3][4] It is the first two-seater Mini.[5] It was joined by a convertible version called Mini Roadster in 2012, following its showing as a concept car in 2009. The Coupé is known by the internal code R58 and the Roadster by code R59.
In February 2015 Mini announced the end of production for both models.[6]
Coupé
The Coupé (Coupe in the US), which went on sale in the UK from 1 October 2011,[7] is based on the Mini Cabriolet, but with only two seats allowing a bigger boot of 280 L. The Coupé's windscreen is angled rearwards by 13 degrees more than in the cabrio's and the roof is 29 mm lower than standard Mini Hatch. The rear spoiler rises automatically at speeds above 50 mph.[8] or with the use of a toggle switch above the rear view mirror.
The range of the Coupé follows a similar pattern to other Mini models; featuring Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SD and the range-topping John Cooper Works (JCW). The JCW version accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph thanks to a turbocharged 208 bhp 1,598 cc four-cylinder. The Cooper SD is a 2.0 L turbo diesel producing 141 bhp available in some markets. All are equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox with the option of six-speed Steptronic automatic.
Roadster
The Mini Roadster is the convertible version of the Coupé and was first shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009 as a concept,[9] and formally launched at the Detroit North American International Auto Show in January 2012.[10]
The range of models and engines mirrors the Mini Coupé with a range of 1.6 L petrol engines in various levels of power and a 2.0 L diesel engine offered in some markets.[11]
Depending on the market, the soft top is either manually or electrically operated.[12] The electrically operated top required the driver to unlock it and then could be opened using a toggle switch above the rear view mirror. Once fully open the top would sit flat behind the driver, a significant change from the R57 Convertible, which stowed the convertible top within view above the "boot." The convertible top included a rear window but did not include a window behind the driver's door. The soft top was only available in black.
References
- Dan Mihalascu. Mini to stop production of the Coupe and Roadster next year carscoops.com, 26 November 2014, retrieved 26 November 2014^
- Mini Coupe revealed Autocar, 13 September 2011, retrieved 10 April 2012^
- Mini Coupe natgeotv.com, National Geographic (TV network), 2011, retrieved 12 April 2019^
- Full List of Ultimate Factories Episodes Ranker^
- Mini Coupe revealed Top Gear, 6 June 2011, retrieved 10 April 2012^
- Noah Joseph. Mini says goodbye to Coupe and Roadster autoblog.com, 12 February 2015, retrieved 22 February 2015^
- Autocar 21 June 2011 Autocar, 21 June 2011, retrieved 25 June 2011^
- 2012 Mini Coupe Pricing, Pictures and Video Revealed Motor Trend, 21 June 2011, retrieved 10 April 2012^
- Noah Joseph. Frankfurt 2009: Mini Coupe & Roadster Concepts Autoblog.com, 15 September 2009, retrieved 12 February 2012^
- Mat Watson. Mini Roadster at Detroit Auto Express, January 2012, retrieved 10 April 2012^
- Andrew English. Mini Roadster review The Daily Telegraph, 5 March 2012, retrieved 10 April 2012^
- Mini Roadster review What Car?, retrieved 24 February 2012^