Mini Australia adds cheaper two-seat duo

MINI Australia has added a pair of less-powerful Cooper variants to its recently-introduced two-seater Coupe and Roadster line-up, cutting the price of entry by more than $8000.

Kicking off at $34,900 plus on-road costs, the Cooper Coupe joins the existing ‘helmet-head’ Cooper S ($42,990) and hardcore John Cooper Works ($52,600) launched here in March this year.

The soft-top Cooper Roadster is priced at $37,500, and like its Coupe Sibling will sit alongside Cooper S and JCW versions ($45,500 and $55,100 respectively).

The introduction of a base variant brings the Roadster to within $500 of the more powerful, four-seat Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet, which is priced from $36,990.

Power for the quirky Mini duo comes from the naturally aspirated 1.6-litre four used in the Mini Hatch, developing 90kW of power at 6000 rpm and 160Nm of torque at 4250rpm.

The Cooper S and JCW both feature more potent turbo versions of the this engine, developing 135kW/240Nm and 155kW/260Nm respectively.

As a result, the Cooper Coupe does the zero to 100km/h dash in a claimed 9.0 seconds (2.1s slower than the Cooper S and 2.6s behind the JCW), but consumes less fuel at a claimed 5.8 litres per 100km.

The Cooper Roadster is two-tenths slower than its hard-top twin and uses 0.3L/100km more fuel on the combined cycle.

Both Coopers come standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, but can be optioned with a $2350 six-speed automatic.

Standard equipment on both models includes 16-inch twin spoke alloy wheels, sport seats, cruise control, automatic climate control, Bluetooth hands free kit with USB audio interface, and automatic headlights and wipers.

Mini Australia general manager Kai Bruesewitz said the new Cooper variants would give its two-door twins the boost they need to reach the combined target of 450 sales by year’s end.

“With the addition of this engine variant, the striking new Mini Coupe and Roadster are now even more attractive and more attainable to the young and the young at heart,” he said.

In the six months they have been on sale, Mini Australia has sold 165 units – 95 of which were the oddball Coupe.

As we have reported, the base two-door models will be joined in Mini Australia’s swelling showrooms early next year by the high-riding Paceman coupe, the Mini JCW GP Edition – otherwise known as the fastest Mini ever – and the JCW Countryman crossover.

2012 Mini Cooper pricing*

Cooper Coupe	$34,900
Cooper Roadster	$37,500

*Plus on-road costs