Revealed: New Mini Coupe set to become first modern two-seat Mini

This is what enthusiasts have been waiting for. From the cute Mini Coupe concept that debuted almost two years ago at the Frankfurt motor show to Monday, when the sporty two-seat Mini Coupe in the United States has finally been revealed as reality.

Mini released the first pictures of its diminutive new car on Monday, which will fittingly and simply be called the Mini Coupe. As the name implies, this is the first two-seat Mini since the brand relaunched in the U.S. market in 2002. It will be offered with a lineup of potent four-cylinder engines, including a range-topping John Cooper Works variant making 208 hp from a 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbo with direct injection. The Cooper S model will push out 181 hp, also from a twin-scroll turbo four, and the base unit will make 121 hp.

A six-speed manual gearbox will be standard, with a six-speed automatic an option on some versions of the Mini Coupe.

Mini paid close attention to the chassis setup in keeping with its tradition of go-kart driving character, and the car employs a MacPherson-strut setup in front and multilink configuration in rear. Wheel packages range from 15 inches on the standard Mini Coupe to 17 inches on the John Cooper Works model. An optional sport suspension returns a firmer drive, Mini says, and a Works suspension lowers things by 10 millimeters.

The styling is typical Mini, with the familiar headlights and grille accenting the brand's slight but distinctive proportions. The Coupe gets what Mini calls a “three-box” layout, which differs from other models in the line. Three boxes account for the engine compartment, passenger area and trunk.

Also of interest, the Mini Coupe is fitted with a rear spoiler that's automatically deployed at speeds of 50 mph—the first Mini to get such technology.

The Mini Coupe: Two seats. Finally.

By Greg Migliore