PEABODY, Mass., June 28, 2011 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Massachusetts MINI dealer MINI of Peabody will soon have the sportiest MINI yet, the MINI Cooper Coupe, or “Couper,” as it has already been lovingly dubbed on the internet. Available in three guises, the Cooper Coupe won’t arrive at MINI dealerships until October, but the much-anticipated vehicle recently made an early New England appearance at the June 18th MINIsOnTop meet, an annual event sponsored in part by MINI of Peabody that saw an eclectic caravan of MINIs climb up Mount Washington.
A lightly camouflaged 2012 MINI Cooper Coupe appeared at the MINIsOnTop event, giving MINI fans an up-close and personal look at the newest car to carry the MINI name. Sharing an engine and performance enhancement options with the 2011 MINI Cooper, the MINI Cooper Coupe ditches the back seats in favor of a stylish sloped roof covering a small parcel shelf, making it a MINI that is even more mini.
“The MINI Cooper Coupe gives the growing crowd of MINI fans a fresh take on the MINI design, one that’s aimed at taking the car’s performance up a notch,” said Marshal Cabot, general manager of Greater Boston MINI dealer MINI of Peabody. “There’s no mistaking that it’s a MINI, but at the same time it has a very different look than the Cooper we’ve come to know and love. It will be a great car for young Massachusetts drivers that want quick bursts of speed and more of that signature go-kart grip.”
The three different trims of the MINI Cooper Coupe will include the base Cooper Coupe, the Cooper Coupe S and the John Cooper Works Coupe. Each trim will come equipped with the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine found in the Cooper hatchbacks, but their streamlined shape will make them swifter than their fellow MINIs. The base Coupe comes with 121 horsepower, goes from zero to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 127 mph. Equipped with a twin-scroll turbocharger, the Coupe S uses 181 horsepower to reach 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 142 mph. The John Cooper Works Coupe turns the wick up even more with 208 horsepower, a zero-to-60 mph time of 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph, which will make it the fastest MINI on the showroom floor.
The Coupe is based on the Cooper Convertible, but has a further swept-back windshield and a lower roofline that makes it more aerodynamic. The rear of the roof tapers down to what appears to be a trunk, but in fact the Coupe operates similarly to a hatchback, with the whole rear section of the car opening up. There’s also an automated rear spoiler which deploys at around 50 mph, or which can be manually controlled to provide more down-force and stable handling.
While the word “sporty” may be on the minds of most people looking to buy a MINI Cooper Coupe, its cargo space makes it more practical than it might seem. The Coupe actually has more cargo room than existing Coopers with the rear seats up, and there is a pass-through that will allow things like skis or golf clubs up to 67-inches long to fit without bothering the passengers.
“MINIs are all about fun behind the wheel for a wide group of people,” Cabot noted. “That means there are a variety of MINIs to choose from, including the Cooper Hardtop, Cooper Convertible, Countryman, Clubman, and now the Cooper Coupe. It’s opening up the brand to more people, and we think the Coupe will be an exciting new addition to the family.”
About MINI of Peabody:
Since 2002, MINI of Peabody has been the leading source for new and used MINI vehicles in Northern New England. Their dedication to professional, friendly customer service allowed them to win the 2009 MINI Motoring Cup, a national award presented to the dealership that has the highest sales and customer satisfaction. Their brand new location in Peabody offers a state-of-the art service center and an expanded selection of MINI parts and accessories. See their MINI inventory or schedule a service appointment at www.minipeabody.com, call (877) 212-9727, like them on at www.facebook.com/miniofpeabody or visit their new showroom at 209 Andover Street (Route 114) in Peabody, Mass.
Media Contact:
Lori Connolly, of Lyon-Waugh Auto Group, 978-532-8312