BTM December 2011 149 wheels DAVID M. ROBERTSON Model MINI Cooper Coupé Model year 2012 Engine type 1.6-litre, four cylinder Displacement 1,598 cc Horsepower 122 hp @ 6,000 rpm Torque 160 Nm @ 4,250 rpm Transmission Six speed manual gearbox Acceleration 0 to 60 mph: 9 seconds Top speed 204 km/h As if the MINI brand lacked an attitude, the latest addition to the family is brimming with assertiveness, delivering a clear statement of intent. Road Warrior An opportunity to spend an afternoon test driving a number of MINIs around the Dubai Autodrome was simply a chance too good to pass up. The star of the show was undoubtedly the latest, and fifth member of the family, the MINI Cooper Coupé. Quite what the designers who engineered the first MINI off the production line during the 1950s would have made of this incarnation of the British motoring icon is anyone’s guess. What’s certain is the functional ‘affordable’ car of the past has morphed itself into a road warrior of the present. On a racetrack what you want is a vehicle with a manual gearbox; none of this automatic convenience on these occasions is in order, thank you! Waiting to be kitted up with a suitable level of protection — a helmet! — the executive from MINI directing members of media to their vehicle was keen to point out an impressive fact. In testing at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany, a racing version of the coupé sped around the track faster than any of its more illustrious competitors. With its low centre of gravity and relatively lightweight frame, the coupé was never likely to be a slouch around the autodrome; any off-track manoeuvres were purely the result of driver ‘error’. Hugging the track and cornering as if one were doing no more than flicking a switch, this MINI was extremely stable, allowing you to drive aggressively within your own comfort zone. This is down, in no small part, to the precise Electric Power Steering, the standard-fitted DSC stability control system, powerful brakes and measures which are designed specifically to optimise torsional rigidity. Built for performance The latest generation of four-cylinder petrol engines, chassis setup, weight distribution and aerodynamic properties of the coupé are all focused on delivering optimum performance. As a result, the new car radiates the brand’s hallmark go-kart feeling with a whole new depth of intensity and achieves the best performance statistics ever recorded by a volume-produced MINI. Innovative styling At first glance the innovative design is apparent with its flat silhouette and ‘helmet roof’, offering the coupé a sporty and individual appeal. In addition to the integral roof spoiler, an active rear spoiler optimises airflow at higher speeds. The coupé is also the brand’s first model to adopt a three-box body structure, best seen through the strikingly stepped rear end. Its distinctive lines are expressed in the customary MINI design language and reflect the unmistakable DNA styling of the brand. MINI is available in the Kingdom through Euro Motors, the exclusive distributor for the brand. E Call 17 750-750.
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