Hands up who else has been a bit underwhelmed by the new
Mini Coupe Concept?When I first saw BMW’s latest Mini incarnation, I didn’t really know what to make of it. It’s certainly striking, certainly bold, and certainly different. But is it something you would desire to own?
See the full Mini Coupe Concept picture galleryI’ve been a big admirer of what BMW has done with the reinvention of the Mini brand. The ‘new’ Mini is still as striking now as it was when it first came out and few cars, Fiat 500 aside, look as modern or as chic.
But when a car has been inspired by a teenager’s baseball cap being worn backwards, you know it’s not going to be pretty. A pocket Porsche it certainly is not.
To Mini, it’s also a bit of unnecessary diversion away from the core Mini brand values. Minis are (were) all about a wheel in every corner design, a compact package and, above all, a fun motoring experience which doesn’t cost the earth.
If it’s being pitched as a rival to the Audi TT or Peugeot RC Z, this puts it well into the £20k and over category. Hardly what you would call affordable, but I can’t help but think the badge will ensure it’s a showroom success.
Maybe it will grow on me, but when a car underwhelms this much when you first catch eyes on it, it doesn’t bode well. One thing that is potentially more enticing is what it’s like to drive, and I hope with the Mini Coupe it’s a case of don’t judge a book by its cover.
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