2009 Frankfurt: Mini gets a haircut with new concept

Let’s see…It’s the 50th anniversary of the original British Mini debut today. And we’re weeks away from the Frankfurt show. And about the only type of vehicle parent BMW hasn’t put out there is an amphibious Mini.

Add it all up, and we have the long rumoured Mini Coupé Concept.

As if the Mini wasn’t a minimalist ride to begin with, the Coupé does away with rear seats, and a good chunk of whatever little rear cargo space it had from its squarish rear end.

From the waist down, it’s basically a Mini Convertible. But the Coupé gets a more inclined windshield, almost-flat back hatch, curvier roof and a more pronounced C-pillar.

The concept gets the top-line John Cooper Works mill—1.6-litre twin-scroll turbocharged four, with 211 hp and up to 206 lb-ft. But expect the full range available when it goes on sale. Maybe Spring 2011.

Looking at this latest Mini, I’m channeling early-nineties Honda CR-X.

But what do you think of the latest in Mini’s growing model lineup?

Does the non-Mini chop job to its roof work?

[Source: Mini]