More than a decade ago, before the Mini brand made its triumphant return under BMW stewardship, the then Rover Group (also BMW-owned at the time) showed what was in essence the first new-generation Mini concept -- a bulging, retro-styled coupe called the Mini ACV30 which was created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Mini's win at the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally. Now, as Mini begins celebrating its 50th anniversary, it's taking another crack at the body style.
While the Mini Coupe Concept may not share the ACV30's dramatic bulging fenders and mid-engine layout, it reflects elements of the original's sloping roofline and race-inspired design. Starting with a standard Mini Cooper with the JCW package, engineers tossed out the rear seats and the C-pillars and reworked the Mini's signature boxy hatchback into a sleek fastback. To give the Coupe a sportier appearance, the windshield and A-pillars are raked back several degrees -- lowering the car's height by two inches over the Cooper.
In classic Mini fashion, the roof is a different color from the rest of the car and, in this case, it sets off the new body style much more than on a standard Mini Cooper. The drastic color change draws attention to the tops of the B-pillars, which have been tucked under the roof, making it look almost like a bottle cap on the top of the car. More than just a change in paint color, the line that starts at the back of the side windows wraps around the rear of the car over the tops of the rear window and forms an integrated rear spoiler at the back of the roof. The whole roof piece is aluminum rather than steel to reduce weight and lower the car's center of gravity for better handling and performance.
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