MINI Coupe Concept Revealed In Lead-Up To Frankfurt Motor Show, Video Teaser Released

AFTER MONTHS of rumours and speculation, the MINI Coupe Concept was officially revealed earlier this week ahead of its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Offering a better look at the finer details of the Coupe, MINI has today revealed a video that shows the coupe from a number of different angles (although does not include footage of the car in motion).

Designed as a driver's car and conceived to celebrate MINI's 50th birthday, the Coupe Concept has been developed with a focus on power, handling and lightweight construction.

Purely a concept prototype at this stage, the MINI Coupe is powered by the same turbo-charged 1.6 litre petrol engine that drives the MINI John Cooper Works, developing 155kW and 260Nm of torque (up to 280Nm through the JCW MINI's Overboost function).

Still identifiably 'MINI' from the road up to the belt line, it's the unique glasshouse and roof that sets the Coupe apart from its more regular brethren.

Featuring an aluminium roof to keep the car's centre of gravity low, the Coupe represents a bold new step into genuine sports car territory for the BMW-owned British marque.

A two seater only, the Coupe Concept features a special luxuriously appointed interior with lashings of custom-stitched leather and two Chronoswiss clocks - one for the time and the other for lap times - surrounding the oversized rev-meter.

Measuring 3714mm long and 1683mm wide, the Coupe is virtually identical in size to the regular hatch - except for height. With the aggressively-raked and low-slung roof, the Coupe stands only 1356mm tall; a full 50mm shorter than its hatch forebear.

MINI describes the Coupe Concept as "an unusually attractive vision of how the model family may well develop in the future".

No word has been offered yet on whether the Coupe Concept will see its way to production, or whether the rumoured convertible Speedster version will ever surface.

More details will certainly be revealed with the car's unveiling at Frankfurt.