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2009 MINI Roadster Concept and Coupe Concept, dubbed as the Oxford Twins, have been unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Looking at the elegant design and fascinating, sporting driving characteristics, we can’t help hoping that MINI brings these two cars to market.
Under the hood, the two-seater MINI Roadster gets the John Cooper Works edition 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbo engine that generates 211 horsepower and 260 Nm of torque. An extra torque comes from the "overboost" button, then the torque rating increases to 280 Nm. Thanks to the improved weight distribution, the slightly shorter layout and lower weight, the Roadster gets a better handling. Safety is taken in seriously consider. MINI has you covered with a pop-up rollbar that helps keep the car's passengers safe even if things go horribly wrong.
As a MINI being, it’s easy to recognize from the styling. Extensive use of family design cues makes that possible, including the round headlights, short hood and circular interior theme. The Roadster is identical to the standard Cooper from the windshield forward and the door panels. From the windshield back, there are numerous differences, including a more steeply raked windshield, a more rounded rear end, and a short decklid--not to mention the convertible top. Talking about the top, however, the Roadster's soft top won't drop on its own--it's manual-operation only.
The Roadster comes in at 3.71 meters long, 1.68 meters wide, and 1.36 meters high. Meanwhile, the roadster has a cargo capacity of 250 liters, much more than the 150 liters found on the Mazda MX-5 Miata, or the 142 liters in the Honda S2000, also beats out the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster. The cargo space falls well short of the 283 liters available in the BMW Z4.
Some special MINI features include the "openairometer", which will warm the hearts of Convertible fans, plus the NatureGuard function which informs the driver of the environmental impact of their driving. Not that this green machine isn't concerned with speed either: a "Highspeed Shifter" swaps cogs with ease and the "Gravity" indicator gives a readout on lateral acceleration. The Roadster Concept can even measure the driver's heartbeat--perhaps the gold standard of how exciting a car is to drive.
Mini is 50 years old now. In order to celebrate this great event, Mini has introduced the Mini Coupe Concept which will also be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
According to the carmaker, the Mine Coupe Concept is the “expression of MINI design and the great ability of the brand’s designers to fill the elementary values of the brand with new life, using the options of modern drivetrain and suspension technology, and developing fascinating perspectives for the future of the brand on this basis”.
The model will carry the most powerful engine available at Mini, the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that produces 211 hp and 260Nm (192 lb-ft) of torque. Considering that the JCW Mini runs from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds, the Coupe should be able to do the same task in less than 6 seconds. Like every current Mini, the Coupe Concept is front-wheel drive.
Strictly a two-seater, 3.7 metres long and 1.4 metres high, it's a little longer but lower than the regular Mini hatchback. However, the Coupe is claimed to be 'the most dynamic and agile Mini ever built'.
On the outside, the Coupe features typical Mini styling, such as the large round headlights and hexagonal grille, but unique to this model are its rear spoiler and bonnet stripes that run over the front grille. The angle of the windscreen and gentle slope of the roof to the rear of the car are designed to give it a distinctly wedge-like and sporty shape. Other exterior instruments include massive wheels, a sporty rear bumper, and dual center-mounted exhaust pipes.
Inside, the Coupe features two individual front seats and an open rear compartment which accommodates 250 liters (8.8 cu ft) of luggage. The cabin is outfitted with leather upholstery, carbon fiber trim, and two Chronoswiss clocks (one is a traditional clock, while the other is a dedicated lap timer). A three-spoke leather steering wheel is also included.
However, it’s still in the stage of Concept car, we expect it to be added in the Mini range in near future.
