Happy Birthday Mini - Coupe Concept Debuts

Well - that was fast! After reporting yesterday that a Speedster/Coupe concept from MINI was coming from Frankfurt, the car has surfaced. Today is the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the original MINI! BMW decided to celebrate that milestone (amazingly, MINI is still thriving 50 years later) with a Mini Coupe introduction.

From a styling standpoint, I'm not sure what to make of it to be honest! It definitely is a move in the right direction from a performance aspect though, as this will be a true performance model. In the design there is some interesting touches, like a body color grille.

To me it looks a bit blocky though- I was expecting the Coupe Concept to be lighter and more lithe. The front end is standard MINI fare, it's the rear where MINI opts for a daring design direction.

As you can see, the lightweight aluminum roof is the centerpiece, with an interesting shape and cut line. It looks somewhat like a cap - with a curved roof shape extending from the A-pillar to the end of the front door.

From a lower level it extends around the vehicle. I've never seen anything quite like it. It seems kind of awkward right now, perhaps it will grow on me over time and after I see more pictures.

The MINI Concept is a coupe for now, but the word is that a Speedster can be easily created with a folding top placed in substitute. We'll see how that works out. More pictures (like of the interior) will come later on. For now though, what do you guys think of MINI's latest?

Image Credit: EVO Magazine