In celebration of the fiftieth birthday of Mini in 2009, BMW, the company that owns MINI, announced that there would be two new Minis available for the 2011 season. Actual models, or rather prototypes, of the 2011 Mini Coupe and Roadster were shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. Once the official press release was announced, confirming production of the two new models, referred to as the twins, the Oxford plant which builds the MINIs began a massive hiring plan to complete production for the 2011 projected launch. At the February 2011 Canadian International Auto Show, it was announced that release of the coupe is slated for Fall 2011.
The MINI Coupe is a two-seater model with 211 horsepower, and based on the John Cooper Works (JCW) platform. The prototype or concept car showed little space for storage, other than behind the seats, but for the occupants, the ride should be comfortable enough. Nevertheless, the interior would offer several designs and various colors, making this compact vehicle appealing to car buyers. The steering wheel comes in a three-spoked design with leather padding for easy maneuvering on tight bends. The Mini Coupe boasts an ergonomic dashboard with the control features arranged according to how often they might be used. In other words, the functions that were used frequently would be closer and more accessible to the driver.
