VIDEO: More views of the Mini Coupé Concept has us looking forward to Frankfurt
by Sam Abuelsamid on Aug 27th 2009 at 9:29AM 
The Mini Coupé Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
We just saw shots of the new Mini Coupé Concept for the first time yesterday and Mini has now released a bunch of B-roll footage of the diminutive machine ahead of its Frankfurt Motor Show debut. There aren't any shots of the two-door in motion yet, but you get plenty of beauty shots from a variety of angles – including more interior imagery.
One thing is becoming clear with this coupe, if you are one of those people not enamored with the design trend toward high waistlines and low lids, this will not be the car for you, at least in coupe form. If an open top speedster shows up as rumored, however, you may want to reconsider. We're thinking that a John Cooper Works speedster with that lovely 208 horsepower turbocharged four could be a really sweet summertime ride. Check out the video after the jump and the high-res shots in our gallery below.
Gallery: MINI Coupe Concept
[Source: Mini]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MemphisNET 9:42AM (8/27/2009)
I want the look -- I don't want the 40kCND the JCW commands.
Give me a base model with 16" wheels and I'm pretty happy.
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GIUGIK1 12:24PM (8/27/2009)
So this ( or a watered-down version of this ) is supossed to compete with the Audi TT? They're delusional. This doesn't even compete with a Mazda Miata. Who the hell would spend $ 30 plus and get this instead of an Camaro SS ?
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Tomac 2:06PM (8/27/2009)
Some people wouldn't consider a Camaro simply because it doesn't suit them. It also still carries a somewhat negative social stigma, at least where I'm from. I'm a fan of old musclecars and a proponent of rear-wheel drive, but I wouldn't want a new Camaro. I don't particularly like the styling, it's far too heavy for its size, and it pushes like a locomotive in corners. Straight line performance used to amuse me, now I prefer a car with excellent handling and steering feel.
The Mini certainly out-handles the Camaro, looks considerably better, is more economical to own, and some would say is more fun to drive as well. But any "fun" car I buy will have to be RWD. I'd sooner shell out money for a used RX-8.
GIUGIK1 4:07PM (8/27/2009)
The Mini looks better? Not in reality my friends, it doesn't. In all honestly , I'd rather have an STD than this Mini. Plus, doesn't anyone realize that the thing is GROSSLY overpriced?
Todd 9:54AM (8/27/2009)
So ugly. Doesn't flow right at all. The body really should have been modified more than just raking and chopping the roof and adding a trunk lid. Looks like their budget only allowed for a minor tweak not a real Coupé.
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Ligor 10:06AM (8/27/2009)
+1
ugly is all i see
as you say, maybe not enough time and money was provided to turn up a real coupe
zamafir 10:40AM (8/27/2009)
@Todd, that's pretty much the situation BMW's in right now, they're not flush with cash and there are worries that the golden purse string they count on might start to be less giving in the future. Combine that with the Mini brand's decreases in sales and need to focus on real core money maker refresh and it's obvious why BMW took the cheap and easy way out with this car.
I fully expect the production car to simply resemble the convertible with only two seats.
geo.stewart 11:14AM (8/27/2009)
ya know, I posted yesterday it was as ugly as homemade sin, i think design turd came to mind.
I'm still not enamored when I compare to the civic euro hatch and the euroFocus hatch but I think I understand what they are going for and I think they accomplished it.
I agree that they could have straked the bottom lines a little more front and rear, angling them in to mimic the upper glass and differentiating a little more from base model, but familiarity is breeding acceptance for me. At the end of the day, they are putting a coupe top on a car never designed to have one, so its going to be awkward (read quirky for those who love all things Mini)
Paul 4:07PM (8/27/2009)
It looks this way because this is virtually production-ready. It'd be hugely expensive to re-engineer and re-certify all the good below the beltline. The headlights alone are a huge deal to get the governments of the world to let pass.
My problem is that the roof looks like a bad toupé. I just can't get over how badly it spoils what is otherwise a beautiful little speedster. A droptop would be nice but this is all wrong.
zak 10:17AM (8/27/2009)
i'm 14 and i love this car. my older sister likes the mini cabrio more. my middle age balding dad traded in his dodge stratus for a mini last year but my soccer mom wants a mini clubman instead.
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Spike 10:05AM (8/27/2009)
Top looks like it came from some other car.
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RJN 10:08AM (8/27/2009)
It's like the bastard son of a Mini and a Daihatsu Copen...
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Steve_S 10:14AM (8/27/2009)
You may not want to wish for that, remember the Convertible JCW starts at $34,995. You know this will cost more lets say 10% for easy math so starting at $38,500 before options. And just with BMW Mini options jack up the price quickly. You could easily see $45,000 from a roadster version. I like everything about MINI’s except the price and FWD.
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Sofa King Fast! 10:16AM (8/27/2009)
I don't get it.
It's the same car as the cooper from the dashboard down.
A Mini cooper convertible with the top down would be hard to tell apart from this car.
It seems pretty pointless to me. I'd take a CooperS instead and avoid owning an ugly car in the process.
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Critter 10:21AM (8/27/2009)
Wow! They managed to design a car uglier than the Pontiac Aztec. Thats no easy feat.
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Erik 10:38AM (8/27/2009)
Cute, but not as utterly adorable as the original and the clubman.
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1BadE63 10:42AM (8/27/2009)
I think is time for new product
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Jared 10:42AM (8/27/2009)
Man that thing is ugly. And pointless.
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RowFive 10:43AM (8/27/2009)
I typically love hatchbacks and wagons and strongly dislike coupes, so I didn't think I would like a Mini coupe at all. However, this looks damned cool. The top is unlike anything I've seen on other coupes, and while it's not outright pretty, it's far more interesting than other 2-doors out there. Something about it reminds me of an Audi TT.
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Wunderbird 10:44AM (8/27/2009)
That is an ugly @ss top. Looks like a Moe Howard Haircut.
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