“This new Mini Coupé is just going to cannabalise Cooper and Cooper S sales”, I said to myself while my co-driver on the media launch was threading a blue Cooper around the snaking bends on the road from Gordon’s Bay to Rooiels. “Most Mini buyers are singletons or DINKs who hardly ever use their rear seats, this fastback hatch configuration of the Coupé even offers better practicality”.
Whereas all Minis that have been launched since 2001 have been loosely based on the Austin Mini original at least from a stylistic point of view (even the Countryman seems like a oversized version of the Cooper with the addition of two extra doors), the Coupé is an uncompromising two seats-only sportscar. Its entire packaging is all about attitude, driving enjoyment and exclusivity; it simply screams “yuppiemobile”.
But then as proud as Mini may be of its 52-year-old heritage, the Coupé is proof that the iconic Oxford marque has shed its “non-conformist, for the people, small and simple” image, which suited the original product to a tee, for good. These days Minis are being bought for the needs of status, style and the thrill of driving; their customers are mostly young, successful… and not averse to enjoying themselves.
After hustling the Cooper S version of the Mini Coupé on a public road and on cordoned-off sections of Killarney, it suddenly dawned on me: Although this newcomer is naturally imperfect and very focused in its market appeal, it is the best expression of the Mini brand today: Fun for one – and his/her passenger.
Let’s start with the Coupé’s appearance. Given the low-slung contour of the car, its design replete with sharply-raked windscreen, distinctive “flat helmet shaped” roof and a plunging hatchback, the squared edges of the rear bootline seem a bit jarring when one views the car’s rear-three quarter aspect. However, the Coupé looks absolutely dashing in profile; its flowing C-pillars beautifully accentuated by the high spoiler and contrasting roof colour. If you are wondering about the stripes, yes they are perfectly standard.
Inside, the Coupé sports a characteristically Cooper-like design, with the exception being the positioning of a bulkhead right behind the seatbacks. The rear hatch opens up high to reveal a claimed 290 dm3 of luggage space and a loading hatch, which is quite practical for a tiny sportscar. I did hope that the interior of the Coupé would be a little more distinctive from that of its Cooper brethren and the driving position feels a tad too upright given the narrow windscreen and low roofline, but the seats are anything but uncomfortable.
There aren’t many significant under-the-skin differences between the Coupé and the standard Cooper, besides body strengthening at the rear, specific suspension tuning to suit the newcomer’s weight balance and, oh yes, an active rear spoiler that pops up automatically at 80 km/h and recedes at 60 km/h. The spoiler is claimed to reduce lift at the rear axle. It optimises the car’s aerodynamic balance – and grip levels – by adding up to 40 kg of downforce depending on road speed, but I hardly noticed that it was there.
But as a driver’s car, there are few products on the market that can match the Cooper S Coupé for its sheer chuckability, especially at this price level. The capabilities of the turbocharged 135 kW 1,6-litre motor, which is mated with a snappy 6-speed transmission, are well documented, but it only takes a few minutes behind the wheel of a Cooper S to remember what an involving sportscar it is to drive. Although there have been grumblings about the feel of electric power-steering systems, the Mini’s wheel feels delightfully precise and well-weighted. Turn ins are prompt, accurate and if you are feeling adventurous, you can balance the car mid-corner through deft use of the throttle pedal and measured steering inputs. The braking performance is spot on, and although I am still not convinced that the optional Sport suspension (part of the Red Hot Package spec) is really that necessary, I didn’t have the opportunity to drive a model without it.
If I was in the market for one, I would easily settle for an ordinary Cooper at R265 368, but then I’d miss the S model’s extra 80 N.m on virtually every incline. And although I won’t hazard a guess on the Coupé models’ future resale values (the cars are bound to be customised to the hilt and the two seat-only configuration will disuade tentative buyers), there’s no doubt that the Mini Coupé is a marvellously focused machine. For some, the newcomer will be nothing short of a “must-have” purchase proposition… and it’s almost Christmas!
FAST FACTS:
Price: R321 223
Engine: 1,6-litre in-line four cylinder, turbocharged
Power: 135 kW at 5 500 r/min
Torque: 260 Nm at 1 600 r/min
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 6,9 secs
Fuel consumption: 6,3 litres/100 km combined EU cycle
Emissions: 146 g/km of CO2
(Price includes 3-year/75 000 km maintenance plan and roadside assistance cover)