New MINI Coupe 2011 expected

Given that BMW Group officials recently confirmed that MINI’s new coupe model will arrive in the market before the end of the year, it shouldn't come to much of a surprise that the company is gradually stripping away the camouflage from its test cars. Spotted here by our scoop photographers in Germany, is the most potent version of the MINI Coupe lineup, the John Cooper Works model that’s easily distinguished by the aggressive body kit with the flared wheel arches and muscular bumpers.

MINI first showed the Coupe and Roadster models through a pair of concept cars at the Frankfurt motor show in 2009. As predicted, the production version of the Coupe has stayed remarkably faithful to that show car’s design. In fact, with the exception of some very minor details such as the grille and the tail lamp crystals, nothing else has changed, including the shape of the top that’s supposed to resemble a baseball hat worn backwards.

The JCW version seen here, also keeps the concept’s sporty aero kit with the modified front and rear bumpers, beefy side skirts and extended wheel arches that house larger alloy wheels.

The same appears to be true for the interior (at least from what we can see through the window), which ditches the hatchback model’s rear seat bench for a larger boot area that in the concept, was said to be around 250 liters (8.8 cu ft) compared the 160 liters of the three-door variant.

Aside from the JCW model that will make use of MINI’s latest 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbocharged engine with 211HP, the Coupe will also be offered in Cooper S form with a 184HP version of the 1.6L unit. A base Cooper version equipped with a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with 122HP and possibly a diesel-powered model may also be in the cards.

No more hiding under conceptual suits and swirly camouflage for MINI’s all-new 2012 Coupé as the firm’s parent company, the BMW Group, officially lifted the veil off the production model on Monday. The sportiest-looking MINI to date is a coupe-flavored version of the hatchback with seating strictly for two.

The Coupé’s appearance was previewed by the 2009 concept car of the same name and is distinguished by the backwards “helmet roof” design and the more

The first “three-box” MINI also sits 52mm or 2.05-inches lower than its three-door hatchback counterpart. Notably, it also features an active rear spoiler that extends automatically at 80 km/h (50 mph) to optimize airflow at highway speeds.

Inside, the Coupé keeps the hatchback model’s familiar dashboard design and layout sprinkled with new colors and exclusive trim materials. The absence of a rear seat bench creates a larger 280-litre boot that can also be opened from the driver’s or passenger’s seat. Mini has tried to improve the car’s practicality with the larger door bins, three cupholders and a cross-rack behind the seats.

Under the skin, the British company says it has tweaked the Coupé’s chassis to further improve handling over the hatchback models.

Depending on the market, the two-door MINI will offer buyers a choice of three 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engines, including a naturally aspirated version with 122HP for the base Cooper, plus turbocharged variants with 184HP for the Cooper S and 211HP for the flagship John Cooper Works model. There’s also a 2.0-liter turbo diesel churning out 143HP for the Cooper SD.

In the UK, on-the-road prices have been set at £16,640 for the 122HP Cooper, £19,775 for the 184HP Cooper S, £20,510 for the diesel-powered Cooper SD and £23,795 for the 211HP JCW model.

While MINI’s press blurb did not mention anything about U.S. prices, Autoweek reported that the company has released pricing information with the base Cooper starting at $22,000, the S variant at $25,300 and the JCW at $31,900, with all prices including a $700 destination fee.

Albeit different in philosophy, it's worth mentioning that the Coupe is priced on par with Chevy’s Camaro (312HP V6 starts at $22,805, 426HP V8 from $31,070) with the JCW being more expensive than BMW’s own entry level 128i Coupe with its 230HP inline-six ($30,950).