The latest issue of Winding Road has a link to an intriguing article on a concept vehicle MINI reportedly is planning to display at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. The 2-seater car is essentially a JCW Cooper with the traditional top replaced by an aerodynamic greenhouse, with no back seat. The coupe is said to be lighter and faster than the JCW. Very interesting concept, whether or not it makes it to production. Looks take a bit of getting used to, but it is certainly much better looking than the forthcoming Crossman.

http://www.nextautos.com/frankfurt-p...es-performance

 

The only new MINI concept I have been okay with is the Speedster.

Whatever these 3 new concepts are (Crossman, Speedster, and new thing), aren't very MINI at all...

I can't even tell what this new one looks like a cross between, but it's ugly. I hope to God they don't start selling that.

 

I'd buy this if it had a Mid-Engine rear wheel drive setup.

 

Talk about a Chop Top . I really think that MINI is trying way too hard to make new models and in effect ruining the name brand. I mean really a 2-seater cooper, the cooper is essentially already a two seater car unless you are a smaller person. I think the concept looks ugly unless you view the car from the front then it looks ok. MINI needs to stop making new models and just spend their time and money improving and innovating their existing models. Sorry for the rant but it needed to be said.

 

I think it looks amazing, and fun.

Also, you don't really know your Mini history very well, do you?

 

I always feel when it comes to concepts people should wait till the final product comes out.

if it comes out looking anything like the concept does sign me up. first mod is to get rid of the base model grill.

 

fill me in...what Mini history r u refering to?

 

just that there were vehicles ranging from pickups to dune buggies to coupes to wagons all in the Mini family.

so a new coupe isn't really that radical of an idea.

seems a lot of the 'new' MINI owners only remember cars like the one in your sig.

 

Hmmm...there's something I don't like, but I can't put my finger on it. Perhaps the roof? I'd love to see this in person, though.

 

There were tons of variations but nothing that extreme. I mean obviously, if they make it, people will buy it and some will love it, but it's just not for me. I don't think it's something I would ever buy.

I agree with Davidoyo, seems like MINI is trying way too hard. But who knows, maybe it'll grow on me.

 

MINI has to diversify sooner or later and introduce new models ideally not always based on old MINI body styles.

I'm sure if this made it into production (good luck) it would be much better looking than what we see now.

 

i didnt' like it the first 3 seconds and it grew on me fast.

please make them! i can't stop thinking about how fun it will be to drive one.

 

This sort of thing isn't new for Mini...

http://www.worldcarfans.com/10907202...rumours-emerge

I'm not really sold on the whole thing. It's likely to be more expensive, less practical, and no better dynamically than the current R56 lineup. It doesn't help that they only changed the roofline. My advice: If you're going to call it a new car, do something more than a photoshop roof job.
If Mini went RWD with it then that would be a different story, but I don't see that in the cards.

 

I was prepared to disagree but u r right there was the Moke and the van and the p/u truck....I don't recall a coupe...they were all 2 door (sans the Moke which was SANS the DOORS!)

The design in question looks like a very bad wedding 'tween an Audi TT Coupe and a MINI in my opinion.

{my ELEMENT wears a rear sign: HUMMER H2 and MINI Cooper luv child}

 

I think it needs to be shorter in height. I'd like it to be RWD personally, but that may not be MINI from what I understand of their history... The car should certainly have some resemblance of the original family. Front end is usually where that happens, especially when sharing the engine.

Right now, I just want my regular ol' Cooper S.

 

After looking at a couple more photos from the world car fans website, it looks like they designed the roof from a regular cooper's roof that got crushed when it was being delivered .

 

I see the resemblance. Its gonna be a winner for sure.

 

Excellent comparison! I like it!

 

I dig it, but then again I tend to be attracted to cars that other people don't like. Heck, I owned a BMW 318ti for a couple of years that I loved, and NOBODY liked those!!

 

i would buy it would be even better awd

 

I want those blue and black wheels!

 

Thats going to ultra super sell your first child rare. Unless you do what I plan on doing and that is when I see this concept on the car show circuit I am going to leave it up on cinder blocks. Might even just leave it on rotors.

 

I have trouble with the "coupe" moniker. after all, I, and most of us here already drive 3-door hatchback MINI coupes. at least that's what my dealer, and my insurance company, calls them.

 

Most here dont realize that the Mini's first run from 1959 to 2000 produced hundreds of variations on Issignois' base model. By the time I die I bet there will be 10 different MINI offerings. I'm waiting for a pickup.

 

This thing is 175-200lbs lighter than R56 with lower cg