This week's grapevine story concerns the possible unveiling of a near-to-production MINI Roadster study at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Britain's Autocar magazine joined the hype today corroborating an earlier report on the matter from French car mag, L'Automobile. The so-called MINI Roadster is said to be a sportier-looking two-seater version of the current 2+2 MINI Cabriolet featuring a steeply raked windshield and a retractable soft top. The reports also suggest that due to the lower gravity of the car, the MINI Roadster will offer improved handling over its Cabriolet counterpart. 
Not surprisingly, the Roadster is said to be offered with a similar engine lineup as the standard MINI's including the John Cooper Work model's 1.6-litre twin scroll-turbocharged engine that produces 211 horsepower and up to 280 Nm peak torque with Overboost deployed.
The production version of the Roadster is slated to hit showrooms around the world as early as 2010.
However, what the reports don't say is where MINI plans to produce the Roadster model. As you may have already read before, the firm's Oxford plant is at peak capacity and due to this reason, MINI has made plans to assemble the forthcoming Crossman SUV, which will be revealed in production form at the Frankfurt Show, at the Magna Steyr plant in Austria.
Via: L'Automobile & Autocar
13 Comments:
sorry, but does it only look as photoshop or it is one? not expert on this topic.
anyways, can't see any MINI in it :(
BMW, please take note of what's happening to GM here in America. The rush to milk Mini for all it's worth has already created one horrible product - the Clubman. Now you want to create a "roadster" when you already have one?
You are going to drive would-be customers right into the hands of Citroen for a new DS.
photoshop :]
I'm considering it but it better have a reasonable price. None of this 'special edition' BS.
Hahaha! Look at the size of that thing! Are you sure it's not a Hummer roadster?
looks photoshopped... cause the front looks too big and the wheels look to small
Well, whoever Photochopped it has zero imagination. It's a direct ripoff of the Mini ACV30 concept from 1997.
Is it April 1st already?
PhotoShopped? Wish I had those skills. Miata with a custom front end?
Shades of the original 'Bug Eye' Sprite. Love the 'Peaked' fenders and unique mirrors and glued to the ground disposition.
I say, Build It!
A Knesal ......... Portland Oregon
What Photoshop skills? All this person did was rip off an existing photo and then added some undersized interior and driver.
Here's the ACV30 from 12 years ago:
http://www.diseno-art.com/encyclopedia/concept_cars/mini_acv_30.html
Anon# As I have told you before - because it is evident that you're the same person, if you do not like Carscoop, there are many other car blogs on the net.
Hey, if you think you can do a better job, I suggest you open a site of your own - that is, if you haven't already. What exactly are you trying to achieve by constantly posting derogatory comments?
I 'Second' that John ...Hell! I 'Third' it.
The current level of comments could use a substantial quality improvement. Where are the grownup 'Considered' comments?
Way to much of the Reactionary 'Lizard Brain' comments.
The 'anonymous' feature of 'comments' contributes to this type of comment. If a commentor has a 'Handle'(User Name) the commentor can be chastised by the group, keeping comments somewhat in line.
A Knesal ......... Portland Oregon
Waow ! But normally it's not Mini, Austin Healey would be better
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