MINI Coupe Due In Australia By Late 2011

Two years on from its Frankfurt Motor Show unveiling, the MINI Coupe - the British brand's sportiest offering yet - is set to make its debut later this year.

Speaking with website Autoblog at the Detroit Motor Show this week, MINI's Nathalie Bauters confirmed an overseas market debut sometime around September, followed not long after by its Roadster twin.

"It will go on sale in the fall, probably as a 2012 model year. The Roadster will come six months later as a 2012 or 2013 model," Ms Bauters is quoted as saying.

This news follows confirmation in late 2009 that both models would see a production debut sometime this year, with power likely to come from the same turbo-charged 1.6 litre petrol engines driving the John Cooper Works line-up.

Power figures for the new models are unclear, but if the JCW range is any indication, we can expect figures in the neighbourhood of 155kW and 260Nm.

The Coupe and Roadster will form only part of a product explosion for MINI, with its Paceman concept confirmed for production this week, and the diesel-powered Cooper SD range expected to appear later this year.

Australia

Speaking with TMR today, MINI Australia's Piers Scott confirmed that while details will be finalised closer to its unveiling, the MINI Coupe is scheduled for an Australian debut in the fourth quarter of 2011.

MINI's brand-new and high-riding Countryman is also set to debut in February.

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