Tuesday 15 September 2009

MINI ROADSTER CONCEPT WOWS FRANKFURT











MINI celebrated 50 years of life by unveiling this stunning Roadster Concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The two-seater convertible has a twin brother in the Coupe Concept and both are extremely likely to be built in the near future. In fact from the reaction these two have garnered I’d probably bet my 13th cheque* on that.

The engine is a 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbo that’s used by the MINI ­John Cooper Works and the Peugeot 308 CC. It makes 155kW and peak torque of 260Nm with a 20Nm overboost function. Given those figures the 0 – 100km/h sprint time should be in the low 6s.


Characterising the MINI Roadster Concept is a low roof line, seating space for only two people, lightweight construction and a rear spoiler.

I’m sure this car will be on the roads in 2010 and Mzansi might just be lucky enough to see it in the same year. My 13th cheque* is on this.


*IN4RIDE policy is not to offer its employees 13th cheques. The writer is clearly smoking one his XBox 360 games.