New MINI Cooper Coupe Conquers the 'Green Hell'

HARTFORD, CONN. (07/06/2011)(readMedia)-- Every MINI Cooper available at MINI dealers is built with a long pedigree of motorsport excellence, but the recently unveiled MINI Cooper Coupe has already added to its family's racing history by delivering in the 24-hour endurance race around Germany's famed Nurburgring-Nordschleife, also known as the "Green Hell."

MINI's racing success began the moment the car put rubber to the road in 1959 at the impetus of race car driver and constructor John Cooper, the name that now graces the back of all MINIs. The MINI legend grew with numerous wins in the Monte Carlo rally, with the MINI Cooper defeating much more powerful race cars and cementing its place as a racing icon. That tradition continued June 26 when a pair of MINI John Cooper Works Coupes donning racing equipment and a modified 250-horsepower engine finished 11th and 13th in the SP3T class during the 24-hour race at the Nurburgring.

"The MINI has always punched well above its weight on the race track," said Tim Parker, general manager of New Country MINI, a Hartford MINI dealership. "Any modern MINI driver can feel that racing pedigree when they take a corner or highway off-ramp. MINIs are willing playmates when it comes to enthusiastic driving, and the MINI Cooper Coupe is the most fun yet."

The MINI Cooper Coupe will go on sale to the public this fall, but has gone through a speedy gestation period, having already raced one week after its official debut. Based on the MINI Cooper Convertible, the Coupe swaps out the back seats and soft-top for a lower, more aerodynamic roof and a comparatively spacious cargo compartment.

Each MINI Cooper Coupe will feature the same variants of the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine found in the MINI Cooper, but the Coupe's aerodynamic design will make it faster than other MINIs. Standard Cooper Coupes will spin out 121 horsepower from their naturally aspirated mill and achieve a top speed of 127 mph, while Cooper Coupe S models gain a turbocharger good for 181 horsepower and a top speed of 142 mph. Meanwhile, the range-topping John Cooper Works Coupe churns out a massive 208 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. Overboosting the John Cooper Works Coupe nets 207 pound-feet of torque for short spans, making it the fastest MINI in the lineup with a top speed of 149 mph.

MINI Cooper Coupe interiors will be a familiar place for those who have owned other MINIs, just without the back seats, which give way for a chassis-stiffening bulkhead with a pass-through perfect for skis or golf clubs. The lowered roof height won't be an issue even if the driver is wearing a helmet, as MINI cuts ovals out of the roof liner to improve headroom.

"MINI Coopers are a staple at local race tracks and the Coupe will add to those numbers," Parker added. "Coupes share the MINI face and attitude, but the two-seat arrangement and long, low roof adds more sporting flair to appeal to those looking to blast around the back roads of Connecticut."

About New Country MINI:

Connecticut MINI drivers flock to New Country MINI, a premier Connecticut MINI dealer, for one reason: They work to make sure their customers are happy even after the sale. New Country MINI sells used and new MINIs like the 2011 MINI Countryman and MINI Cooper, and they keep them running like new at their Hartford MINI service center. Part of the New Country Motor Car Group family of dealerships, New Country MINI is located at 1 Weston Park Rd in Hartford, Connecticut. Find them online at www.newcountrymini.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NewCountryMINI, or call them at 877-383-5983.