Mini Coupe priced from $43k

MINI has announced an unexpectedly sharp starting price of $42,990 for its entry-level six-speed manual Cooper S Coupe – a premium of just $2290 over the equivalent hatch version.

An optional six-speed automatic is expected to add the same $2350 as applies to the Cooper S hatch.

The brand has also confirmed that a hot John Cooper Works variant – said to be the fastest volume-produced Mini ever – will form part of the initial Australian line-up when the Coupe range launches here in February.

Mini Australia is keeping its powder dry on pricing for the JCW version until closer to launch, but with the hatchback variant kicking off at $50,400 we expect a figure of around $53,000.

Key rivals for the two-seat Coupe are likely to include the Citroen DS3, Peugeot RCZ and the significantly more powerful Renault Sport Megane RS 250.

Next year will see the introduction of several other rivals including the Volkswagen Scirocco R (from $47,490) in February and the Toyota 86 around July with pricing to kick off as low as $35,000.

Left: Mini Coupe. Below: Mini Roadster.

Mini Australia product communications manager Lucy McLellan told GoAuto this morning that the brand expects the Coupe to attract “much more of a male-dominated customer base than the hatch.”

The Cooper S Coupe is powered by the same 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine as the hatch, with 135kW of power at 5500 rpm and 240Nm of torque available between 1600-5000rpm (with a further 20Nm be accessed with an Overboost function).

The car can officially sprint from zero to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 230km/h, while Mini claims class-leading fuel efficiency of 6.3L/100km and carbon dioxide emissions of 146g/km.

The JCW Coupe is powered by a tuned version of the same 1.6-litre turbo that produces 155kW and 260Nm.

Overseas figures of 6.4 seconds for the 0-100km/h dash make the JCW one-tenth quicker than the hatch version, handing it the mantle of the fastest large-scale production Mini yet offered.

These same figures list the JCW’s top speed at 240km/h, fuel consumption at 7.1L/100km and CO2 emissions at 165g/km.

In a first for Mini, both variants of the Coupe will feature an active rear spoiler that automatically deploys at 80km/h and retracts once the dial falls below 60km/h.

Standard features will include 17-inch alloys wheels, parking distance control, Xenon headlights, leather sports steering wheel, sports seats, automatic air-conditioning and Bluetooth streaming.

Safety features will include electronic stability control, ABS brakes, four airbags, crash sensors, electronic brake-force distribution and a run-flat indicator.

The Coupe is 35mm longer overall than the Cooper hatch at 3734mm and sits 52mm lower, thanks to the cropped roofline.

With no rear seats, the Coupe’s cargo capacity is claimed to be a comparatively voluminous 280 litres, up from the standard hatch’s 160-litre capacity.

The Coupe is claimed to be the first Mini to adopt a three-box body structure, with the engine compartment, passenger space and boot clearly defined.

As we reported in October, the soft-top Roadster version of the car will be launched at the same time as the Coupe, with a price premium of approximately $2000.

Mini Coupe pricing(before on-roads):
Cooper S (manual)	$42,990