Exclusive images in...
Exclusive images in this week"s issue reveal the Speedster two-seater, which is set to become the flagship model. Its innovative roof design and supercharged power will see the car battle it out with rivals such as Toyota"s MR2 and the Mazda MX-5.
Taking the MINI Convertible as its base, the Speedster will have two roof options. Alongside an electrically operated canvas roof, a removable hard-top will also be available. It will extend to the rear of the car, offering extra security and increased protection from the elements, effectively turning the MINI into a coup탩.
The key to the Speedster"s appeal lies in the removal of the rear seats. This has allowed the designers to blend a swooping roofline into a more steeply raked windscreen, while also freeing up vital space to hide the complex fold-ing soft-top. The lack of rear chairs also gives front-seat occupants more room, and there"s a bigger boot, too, compared to the exciting Convertible.
Under the bonnet, the Speedster will use the same 1.6-litre petrol engine as the standard MINI, with top-of-the-range versions powered by the 170bhp supercharged unit found in the Cooper S.
Our sources tell us that the MINI Speedster is not likely to reach showrooms before 2007, in order to avoid harming sales of the MINI Convertible. When it does arrive, expect it to carry a í‚á£1,000 premium over the soft-top, with prices starting at around í‚á£14,300.