The new Mini Roadster isn’t expected to reach showrooms before late next year, but Carscoop reader Klaus M. has spotted a prototype model in a swirly camouflage at a roundabout near Oxford in South East England. Caught by surprise, Klaus managed to shoot a single photo of the 2012 Mini Roadster but promised to keep an eye open and send us more photos in the future.
Mini has already revealed plans to debut the Coupe version of the series at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show this September, with sales to follow towards the end of the year. The ragtop Roadster model will follow at a later date.
Both cars were shown as thinly disguised concept models at the Frankfurt motor show in 2009. Their production counterparts make use of the platform and mechanical hardware of the current Mini hatchback and will be built at the firm’s Oxford plant in the UK.
The Mini Roadster and Coupe are strictly two-seaters and will be offered in Cooper S and John Cooper Work flavors sporting Mini’s 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbocharged engine with 184HP and 211HP respectively, while a base Cooper model with a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter petrol unit plus a diesel-powered version are rumored to make the cut.
Hat tip to Klaus for the scoop!
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