Mini Cooper Coupe: First Look

• Competes with: Honda CR-Z, Mazda RX-8, Volkswagen GTI 
• Looks like: The Mini Cooper with a baseball-cap top 
• Drivetrain: 121-hp four-cylinder; 181-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder; 208-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder; six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission 
• Hits dealerships: To be announced 

Model proliferation continues as scheduled over at Mini with confirmation of a production coupe, not to be confused with the traditional Mini Cooper hardtop with rear seats. The Mini Cooper Coupe, shown here undergoing testing, is a spitting image for the Mini Cooper Coupe Concept model shown at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The big distinguishing features from the regular Cooper are the unique roof, two-seat layout and increased cargo capacity. Mini also promises that the Coupe will be the fastest-accelerating Mini ever, with the highest top speed as well.

The Coupe has a unique roof, what the carmaker calls a “helmet roof.” At speeds above 50 mph, the integrated rear spoiler extends automatically to reduce drag. The spoiler can also be controlled manually.

Because of the short rear deck, the Mini Coupe can fit only two occupants, but that leaves plenty of space behind the front seats, Mini says. Mini didn’t reveal any specifics on cargo volume; the concept had 8.8 cubic feet of cargo space, about 54% more cargo volume than the regular Cooper. We expect to see a similar figure on the production model.

Besides changes to the roof and interior, mechanically and dimensionally the coupe model is virtually the same as a traditional Cooper. Mini did lower the coupe’s ride height by an inch compared with the regular Cooper.

When the model goes on sale, it will be offered in Coupe, S Coupe and John Cooper Works Coupe models — the same variants offered on the Cooper hardtop. With the John Cooper Works version, a 208-horsepower, twin-scroll turbocharged engine can move the car from zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, with a top speed of 149 mph.

Mini hasn’t stated a U.S. launch date for the model.

Besides Coupe model shown, expect a coupe variant of the Countryman crossover sometime in the next two years, named the Paceman, according to Norbert Reithofer, BMW’s CEO. There will also be a Paceman roadster variant.