2009 Mini Coupe Concept

MINI Concentrated Driving Pleasure:
The MINI Coupé Concept.

MINI is celebrating a great birthday: Exactly fi fty years ago, on 26 August 1959,
the classic Mini was presented to the public for the fi rst time, a unique story
of success starting out and today giving MINI the perfect opportunity to look
ahead without losing sight of the brand’s great tradition.

The MINI Coupé Concept is an 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.

Presenting the concept of an uncompromisingly sporting two-seater to be seen
for the fi rst time at the Frankfurt Motor Show (17–27 September 2009), MINI is
unveiling an unusually attractive vision of how the model family may well develop
in future. The source of inspiration is once again the fundamental motive so
characteristic of every MINI: driving pleasure. The MINI Coupé Concept therefore
represents the ideal of a car destined in every respect to offer a thrilling
experience and make every journey a truly unique thrill.

The MINI Coupé Concept brings together a wide range of features for a truly
sporting and ambitious style of motoring. Limited to two seats and following
a philosophy of consistent lightweight construction, the car clearly meets all
the requirements made of a particularly active and dynamic coupé. Compact
dimensions, perfect axle load distribution and a low centre of gravity offer ideal
conditions for enhancing the agility typical of MINI to a level never seen before.

Through its design alone, the MINI Coupé Concept brings out all the thrill of
individual mobility and the focus on pure driving pleasure. Powerful proportions
and dynamic design language evoke a sense of desire and strong appeal, the
MINI Coupé Concept offering a particularly undiluted expression of the brand
through its sporting and unconventional stance on the road.

The MINI Coupé Concept: an invitation to enjoy spontaneous mobility.
With the growing model portfolio, the popularity of the MINI brand has also
grown consistently in recent years. The MINI has moved beyond the restraints
of urban mobility, opening up additional options and winning over new target
groups. And MINI allows you to enjoy spontaneous mobility, sporting and agile
handling and unmistakable style on virtually every occasion.

The current models in the range already meet the most varied demands.
As individual characters in their own right, the MINI, MINI Clubman and
MINI Convertible all offer a unique rendition of the driving experience so typical
of the brand. And now the MINI Coupé Concept brings out driving pleasure
in its most concentrated form, extreme lightweight technology making this
two-seater particularly agile and unusually effi cient. At the same time the low
roofline, the precisely defi ned spoiler edge at the rear and other aerodynamic
features enhance the car’s performance to an even higher standard. So that
in its design and in the use of high-performance drivetrain technology, the
MINI Coupé Concept offers ideal conditions as a compact sports car in the
premium segment.

This two-seater is designed to accommodate even the most powerful engine
currently available in the MINI – and with the 1.6-litre twin-scroll
turbocharged power unit carried over from the MINI John Cooper Works,
the MINI Coupé Concept offers truly outstanding performance. Maximum
output is 155 kW/211 hp, peak torque 260 Newton-metres/192 lb-ft
increasing through the Overboost function for a short while to an even more
substantial 280 Newton-metres/206 lb-ft. And now the MINI Coupé Concept
offers everything it takes to exceed even the supreme performance of the
MINI John Cooper Works with this unique power unit.

At the same time this concept car clearly follows the BMW Group’s
EfficientDynamics development strategy. More driving pleasure, lower
emissions – the MINI Coupé Concept lives out this philosophy expressed by
MINI as MINIMALISM in a particularly attractive manner.

Fifty years of MINI: a vision of tomorrow marking
an anniversary of today.
Fifty years after the launch of the classic Mini, the appeal of the brand is greater
than ever before, with the model range exuding sheer fascination wherever you
go. And now, in the anniversary year of the brand, MINI is bringing together this
unique tradition and the successful model range offered today with even greater
creativity and technical innovation for a truly promising future.

The MINI Coupé Concept is a further milestone in this ongoing development of
the brand. The car takes up elementary strengths of the MINI and, through its
modern technology and an innovative body concept, offers new standards and

characteristics never seen before. So that the MINI Coupé Concept offers many
new highlights in adding yet a further character to the existing model range.

Exterior design: the look typical of MINI but with individual character.
The body design of the MINI Coupé Concept also bridges the gap from the
earliest days of the Mini’s history all the way to the more distant future of the
brand, emphasising the unique nature of the concept as well as its full membership
in the MINI family. At the same time the individual and emotional design
language arouses the expectation of a particularly thrilling experience on the
road.

Especially at the front end of the car a number of icons typical of the brand,
as well as the design style so characteristic of MINI, all come together to
create a strong family resemblance. In addition, the individual look of the
MINI Coupé Concept comes out also in the side view of the car as well as in
the design of the rear end.

This unique new two-seater measures 3,714 millimetres (146.2") in length and
1,683 millimetres (66.3") in width. Height is 1,356 millimetres (53.4"). Through
these dimensions and its athletic proportions alone, the MINI Coupé Concept
stands out from the beginning as a compact and muscular sports machine.

The typical MINI look in particularly sporting style.
The new concept car carries over the unmistakable front end look from the
four-seater MINI. Smoothly balanced contours on the engine lid characterised
by wide and sweeping radii, the large headlights, the homogenous shape of
the radiator grille and the wide lower air intake give each model that unique
look, openness and charm so typical of the brand. Through the greater rake
of the windscreen on the MINI Coupé Concept, the car looks even more
striking and dynamic, the low and streamlined body proving clearly that the
MINI Coupé Concept is a particularly outstanding performer.

The hexagon radiator grille and the large round headlights are unmistakable
design features re-interpreting the front view of the classic Mini in particularly
modern style. The direction indicators are integrated in the headlights, just
above the innovative three-dimensional surrounds for the positioning lights and
the foglamps. The entire front air dam has been adjusted to the sporting look of
the car, standing out even wider and more striking than before.

The chrome radiator grille on the MINI Coupé Concept is the same as on the
MINI Cooper S. The inner section in the grille is however fi nished with bars in
body colour creating a clear sign of distinction at very fi rst sight from the other
members of the MINI family. The bonnet stripes also extend into the radiator
grille to provide an even more sporting and dynamic touch.

With its very dynamic curvature and the stylised opening, bearing testimony to
the power of the engine lurking within, the front lid likewise comes in the same
look as on the particularly powerful versions of the MINI.

Individual roofline as a sign of sporting presence.
The side view of the MINI Coupé Concept also brings together features typical
of the MINI family and new highlights in design to form a fascinating whole. The
front side panels, for example, come straight from the MINI Convertible. The
body joint forming the diagonal line characteristic of every MINI along the front
lid and the surrounds on the front side indicators bearing out the style of the
MINI Cooper S again provide an unmistakable sign of distinction with historic
roots – here the classic Mini had a visible welding seam along the body.

The familiarity in design resulting from these features forms an attractive
contrast to the far greater rake of the A-pillars leading into the brand-new,
sweeping line of the roof.

Large wheels and a high waistline already give the MINI, the MINI Clubman and
the MINI Convertible a particularly powerful and sporting look, with the black
strip around the lower section of the body underlining this compact appearance
and short body overhangs front and rear emphasising the athletic stature of the
car and bearing testimony to that typical go-kart feeling at very fi rst sight.

All this now comes out even more convincingly in the MINI Coupé Concept, also
through the unique fl ow of the roofline. The glazed section of the passenger
cell referred to as the greenhouse, for example, is much lower and even more
dynamic than on the brand’s “regular” models.

Another feature of the MINI Coupé Concept is the strongly inclined windscreen
merging gently into the roof. At the rear the roofline initially moving straight
back above the heads of the driver and front passenger fl ows on into the sturdy
C-pillar. The entire roof with all its contours thus comes in a bridge shape quite
unmistakable and featured for the first time on the MINI, made up of a strong
rear cornerstone formed by the C-pillar and the almost filigree structure above
the passenger cell.

The C-pillar is a strong visual expression of the particularly solid and torsionally
rigid body structure providing not only superior occupant safety, but also the
agility typical of MINI in fast manoeuvres. The C-pillar very powerful in design
serves at the same time to guide your perspective towards the rear end of the
car, while the side view of the MINI Coupè Concept forms a very strong and
convincing wedge shape created by the roofline tapering out to the rear and the
waistline rising up slightly in typical MINI style.

All this gives the MINI Coupé Concept a forward-moving impression right from
the start, the car clearly expressing its power and muscle even at a standstill.
Through its design alone, therefore, the MINI Coupé Concept authentically
visualises sporting qualities of the highest standard.

Striking contours and smooth flow of air ensured by the roof spoiler
and the rear spoiler edge.
The rear-end design of the MINI Coupé Concept consistently follows the need
to optimise the fl ow of air in the interest of both driving dynamics and effi ciency.
The principle of “form follows function” so essential to MINI, the look and design
of various body elements, fully refl ects the characteristic features and qualities
of the car. Through its design alone, therefore, the MINI Coupé Concept clearly
confi rms its sporting potential in a particularly credible and convincing manner.

The rear spoiler with its wing profile at the same level as the C-pillar also makes
a particularly effective contribution in guiding the air along the rear end of the
MINI Coupé Concept. This large air guidance element spans the entire width of
the roof, increasing aerodynamic downforce on the rear axle.

Tapering down elegantly, the rear window on this unique two-seater merges
into a short and low rear end with staged contours in typical coupé design.
Again, this follows theoverriding objective to ensure an optimum fl ow of air
without any turbulence harming the car’s aerodynamics – which is also why the
air spoiler on the rear panel is appropriately sharp and clear in its profi le.

Beneath the air spoiler at the rear the overall look and design of the
MINI Coupé Concept follows the typical philosophy of the brand. Horizontal
lines running parallel to one another emphasise the wide track of the car,
the body growing wider from top to bottom in cascading style highlighting the
muscular stance of the car resting on its wheels in that characteristic style.

The rear light clusters in upright arrangement and surrounded by a wide
chrome frame are also typical of the brand. The rear air dam on the
MINI Coupé Concept, in turn, comes with a diffuser split up into two sections
and ensuring a smooth, swirl-free fl ow of air beneath the car.

Impressively functional: wide-opening tailgate,
generous luggage space.
The tailgate on the MINI Coupé Concept is yet another highlight of the car.
Deliberately foregoing the rear seat bench, this unique two-seater offers lots of
additional space for taking along all kinds of luggage.

Luggage capacity is 250 litres or 8.8 cu ft. To use this space most conveniently,
the rear end of the MINI Coupé Concept comes with a large and wide-opening
tailgate. Hinged above the roof spoiler, the entire tailgate including the rear
window swings up gracefully, offering convenient access to the generous
luggage space behind the rear seats of the car. And thanks to the low loading
sill, accessing the luggage compartment with even heavy and bulky objects is
signifi cantly easier.

The complete design of the rear end with its large tailgate is yet another
example of the functional design so typical of MINI. All options offered through
the concept of the car are optimised to the highest standard through carefully
thought-out solutions and a good overall balance. Indeed, this principle
already to be admired on the brand’s existing models, for example through the
easy-load function on the MINI Convertible, makes a signifi cant contribution
to the overall substance of the car. The result is a wide range of innovative
solutions quite unique in the market, emphasising the premium character of the
MINI brand.

On the MINI Coupé Concept this philosophy is borne out by yet another distinctive
feature providing extra space and practical value: The bulkhead between
the passenger and the luggage compartments comes with a lockable opening.
The through-loading provided in this way, quite unusual on a two-seater
coupe, gives the driver and passenger direct access even while driving to travel
items they are taking along in the luggage compartment. So that bags with,
say, beverages, a music CD or maps are stowed away safely but always within
easy reach.

Interior: sports car ambience with an exclusive range of colours
and materials.
The MINI Coupé Concept combines the vision of a compact sports car with
thrilling agility, on the one hand, and the individual fl air and style of the MINI,
on the other. Through its entire concept, the car is perfectly designed to offer
concentrated driving pleasure of the highest standard. This is borne out not
only through the extroverted exterior in its fascinating, sporting look, but also
through the interior conceived from the start for active motoring.

Wide-opening doors give the driver and passenger convenient access to the
interior, where they enjoy sports seats with strongly contoured side supports for
a secure seating position even in particularly fast bends. A three-spoke leather
sports steering wheel with multifunction buttons enables the driver to steer
precisely into bends and control the audio or communication functions with
maximum ease. All other control units, in turn, are arranged ergonomically on
the dashboard, taking their frequency of use into account.

The breakdown of the cockpit, the dashboard and centre console again follows
that special interior design so typical of MINI. Horizontal lines and air vents
placed far to the outside emphasise the sheer width of the instrument panel
and, at the same time, the generous style of the interior, the slender centre
console giving the driver and passenger maximum legroom. The structure of
the door linings so typical of the brand, fi nally, has also been re-interpreted, with
the elliptic main element now completely closed in.

The MINI Coupé Concept also comes with a large rev counter directly behind
the steering wheel, while the speedometer is part of the central instrument in
the upper section of the dashboard. This circular instrument well known as the
Center Speedo also houses the audio system as well as the optional entertainment
and navigation functions.
Two Chronoswiss clocks to the right and left of the rev counter provide a close
link to earlier concept cars by MINI, bridging the gap between the analogue age
of the classic Mini and the digital age of the MINI. One clock is a purpose-built
stopwatch for taking lap times, the second clock shows the time in classic style.

The colours and materials featured inside the MINI Coupé Concept symbolise
the classic sportiness of the car. Like the dashboard, the roof lining of this
unprecedented two-seater comes in black providing a calm atmosphere
just right for concentrating on driving conditions and essential requirements.
Black trim bars combined with a carbon interior trim strip, fi nally, further
enhance this purist look.

Lightweight construction and modern suspension technology
providing a new feeling of go-kart driving.
The MINI Coupé Concept is defi nitely a MINI and defi nitely a sports car. The
particular charm of this combination results from both the drivetrain and the
suspension technology already featured in the current production models, as
well as the special highlights of this two-seater concept car.

Over and above their body design, the MINI, MINI Clubman and
MINI Convertible already set the standard today for agility and driving pleasure
in their respective segments. Powerful engines and suspension technology
quite superior in the small car segment then ensure a truly unique driving
experience. Front-wheel drive, powerful disc brakes on all four wheels, the
front axle with McPherson spring struts and a centrally guided rear axle with
aluminium longitudinal arms and anti-roll bars set the foundation for uniquely
safe and agile handling.

EPS Electronic Power Steering with speed-related power assistance, fi nally,
ensures precise manoeuvring round bends and gives the driver exact feedback
at all times on road and driving conditions. At the same time on-demand
management of steering assistance serves to maximise the car’s effi ciency.

The MINI Coupé Concept offers ideal conditions for raising the go-kart feeling
created by the car’s drivetrain and suspension technology to an even higher
standard. Its entire construction is based on a lightweight concept reducing
weight particularly where it really counts for even greater agility. As an example,
this two-seater comes with an aluminium roof not only optimising the overall
weight of the car, but also lowering the car’s centre of gravity for a signifi cant
reduction of body movement and optimised driving behaviour.

Since lower weight also means greater effi ciency, the MINI Coupé Concept
again offers the option to combine even greater driving pleasure with fuel
consumption and CO2 emissions reduced to a minimum as an important sign of
our times.

Traditional values, modern quality, progressive concept.
Sporting success and agile handling of the highest standard are signifi cant
highlights in the history of MINI now going back fi ve decades – and both factors
have made a fundamental contribution to the ongoing popularity of this small
premium car.

Three overall wins in the Monte Carlo Rally and the concept of driving pleasure
expressed so clearly by the car’s go-kart feeling defi nitely confi rm the sporting
potential of this small compact both back then and today. The anniversary year
is therefore the ideal time to present the MINI Coupé Concept as the vision of
an uncompromisingly active sports car.

Another concept car presented even before the re-launch of the MINI brand
proves that this philosophy has always fuelled the creativity of the MINI’s
designers: The MINI Concept Monte Carlo presented in 1997 was a two-seater
with a 160-hp mid-mounted engine. Through its design alone, this concept car
already came with a wide range of features destined to be taken up again by
the fi rst MINI, short body overhangs front and rear, round headlights and the
re-interpretation of the hexagon radiator grille providing an outlook at important
styling elements on the production model to follow later. With its extremely
powerful body and direct references to motorsport, the MINI Concept Monte
Carlo also made a clear pledge to the rally history of the brand.

Now the MINI Coupé Concept, through its unique look, takes up the almost
aggressive and extroverted appearance of that former concept car, at the same
time providing a new link between the history, the present and the future of
the brand. It takes up traditional values of the MINI brand and combines them
with the most advanced technologies to offer a fascinating vision of how the
MINI model family may continue.

Once again, therefore, MINI is following the needs and wishes of new target
groups fully appreciative of the individual style of the brand and associating
this character with clearly defi ned product features. The MINI Coupé Concept
addresses the motorist thrilled by that unique combination of driving pleasure,
lifestyle, and premium quality so typical of MINI and, at the same time, looking
for sporting driving qualities of an even higher standard.