First spy pics of the new Mini Coupe in action ahead of launch this autumn

Mini’s new Coupe has been spied in testing ahead of its launch at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

Along with its soft-top Roadster sibling, which will be launched at Geneva in March 2012, the Mini Coupe is a last hurrah for the current generation of Mini models before the all-new model range starts to appear in late 2012.

The Mini Coupe will go on sale before the end of the year. It will be a strict two-seater and will offer significantly improved luggage space over the current Mini Cabrio it is based on.

It also gets a new windscreen surround and more heavily raked windscreen than the Cabrio, while the rear wings and elevation are also all new. An Audi TT-style pop-up rear spoiler features, too.

The Mini Coupe is expected to be available in Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works formats. A diesel model is also likely for European markets, using the new 2.0-litre BMW diesel unit.

The Roadster and Coupe are, however, unlikely to get the upcoming 1.5-litre, twin-scroll turbocharged, three-cylinder engines destined for the new-generation Mini hatch.

This new-generation engine has been designed specifically for use in the new-generation Mini platform, which will also underpin the front-drive replacement for the BMW 1-series.

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