The New MINI Coupé

I’ve never been a big fan of front-wheel drive, at least beyond the commutervehicle application. From a performance perspective, somethin’ just ain’t right about the drive wheels being up front. That’s just my opinion, but I don’t think I’m alone on this.  However, there are always exceptions to any rule and if any front-wheel drive automobile deserves respect, it’s the MINI. That includes the British Motor Corporation incarnation all the way through to the present-day BMW subsidiary.

You’ve got to give BMW credit for both modernizing and refining the MINI and at the same time honoring those things that made the original MINI unique. Now BMW has taken the “new” MINI one step further by announcing the two-seater MINI Coupé.  Retaining MINI’s signature bull-dog stance, the Coupé adopts a radically different roof line which BMW appropriately calls the “helmet” look.  Power plants range in flavor from 122 horsepower to 184 horsepower.  Additionally, there will also be a John Cooper Works Coupé that boasts 211 horsepower.  That’s a lot of ponies for such a small package.

Other features of the new Coupé are a six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic transmission, electric power steering and an active rear spoiler that deploys at 50 mph (80 km/h).