As you probably know from an earlier report, Mini doesn’t plan to offer replacements to all of its current models. The Coupe and Roadster are reportedly among the models that will be discontinued, as they haven’t exactly been sales hits.
According to a report from Car Sales that cites sources from within the company, the two slow-selling models will be replaced by a stand-alone sports car, which will have both hard- and soft-top versions.
Based on the next Mini hatch’s front-wheel drive platform, the sports car will be completely different from the rest of the range, even if it will feature key styling elements like the round headlights.
The sports car, said to be internally known as F58 (coupe) and F59 (roadster), will go on sale by late 2015 or early 2016 and will only be available in Cooper S and JCW trims.
Under the bonnet, the new model will have a big turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, unlike the rest of the Mini range which will use turbo 1.5-liter three-cylinder engines (gasoline or diesel) by that time.
This means the sports car will have the performance to match its special status. The rest of the car’s mechanical components will be similar to those of the upcoming Mini hatch, including suspension, steering and transmissions.
As for the sports car’s looks, the report says it will have a plunged nose and a curvaceous profile. The interior will borrow some of the futuristic materials seen in the Mini Vision concept car (first row of photos in the gallery) and is also set to benefit from the carbon-fiber technology of the BMW i3 EV.
By Dan Mihalascu
PHOTO GALLERY
