2012 MINI Coupe - Is IT What The NEW Beetle SHOULD Have Been?

At the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Volkswagen surprised a lot of people with its Beetle R. It was sportier and actually had some gusto, considering it was a Beetle.

There was one problem though: it just wasn't enough. Although VW has given the Beetle a more masculine look, that's not saying much. Even with the beefier R bits, the car just seemed to be lacking.

However, BMW Group has been working on its own little treat, the 2012 MINI Coupe.

Armed with its backwards-style cap look and some nifty little features, it seems that 001 has been sold on it. A couple of the things that 001 fancied:

1) The "Porsche-style" auto pop-up rear spoiler
2) Cargo space, which is "impressive for a two seater"
3) An EASY 30 mpg, no problem

With that said, we want you to take a look at some of 001's snaps from today and compare them against our shots of the Beetle R concept.

Let us know: is the MINI the all-new people's car?


2012 MINI Coupe Photo Gallery














































2011 Frankfurt Motor Show Photo Gallery

shabaru - 9/23/2011 12:28:43 AM

-5 Boost

Sorry but the new mini butt is not doing it for me..... Beetle for me handsdown

Agent001 - 9/23/2011 3:08:38 AM

+6 Boost

Coupe looks sooo HOT in person. You will change your mind.

Heads turned EVERYWHERE I drove.

001

1c3am5 - 9/23/2011 6:47:27 AM

-3 Boost

How much estrogen would have to be flowing through your veins in order to regard either car as masculine? The male public's acceptance of these types of vehicles is just depressing and represents "backwards" progress.

Instead of the jet-age inspired cars that my grandparents could purchase, or even the gatsby-era personal luxury coupes of my parent's generation, X'ers and Y's are supposed to get excited about stubby little shitboxes inspired by post WWII European rationing and taxation policies!? Barf.

You'll deboost me because it's true and you hate me for pointing making you aware. Long-live vintage iron, the Challenger/Camaro/Mustang, and all the new Cadillacs.

1c3am5 - 9/23/2011 6:52:51 AM

-3 Boost

* "hate me for pointing making you aware" (Was going to say "pointing it out", but didn't want to end a sentence with a preposition.) Pardon my inadaquate backspacing.

internationalmanofmystery - 9/23/2011 8:05:42 AM

+3 Boost

What can I say??? I think your gender bias, questionable logic, and poor grammar speaks for itself! (That pause means I have NOTHING nice to say about your comments even though a few expletives come to mind to describe you!)

So glad your kind is on the way out!! Happy extinction!!!

USNA1999 - 9/23/2011 7:18:44 AM

-4 Boost

1c3am5,
Totally agree with you. We purchased a MINI for our daughter and I do agree the car is cute and drives well but the only reason I think its a "head turner everywhere" its because every time I drive it in for service I look like a fa*! driving it. LOL!

internationalmanofmystery - 9/23/2011 8:01:05 AM

+2 Boost

The fact that you agree with this clown says a lot about YOU!!! Hey, there is a cross burning in your front yard too!

Steve - 9/23/2011 8:05:35 AM

0 Boost

So much like a dude with a bad hair cut.

PUGPROUD - 9/23/2011 8:26:06 AM

+3 Boost

Coupe looks cool...if your man enough buy it. It may be a benefit that women like the Mini. Against advice of my buddies I painted my rod Hot Licks Turquoise instead of the usual black and whenever I buy gas at least two women come up to me to say how much they like the color and looks.... made a lot of new friends !

1c3am5 - 9/23/2011 11:04:56 AM

+1 Boost

Dear MOM (Man of Mystery)...

The article we're commenting on raises masculinity/gender issues, not I:
--------
"Although VW has given the Beetle a more masculine look, that's not saying much."
--------

My logic is straightforward. (Straight meaning "in a single direction", not hetrosexual, so don't get your undergarments in a bunch.) The cute/retro-appeal of cars like the mini, beetle, and Fiat 500 comes from a post WWII era when food and other staples in a war-ravaged Europe might sit in a warehouse and rot because of short supplies of fuel. Thus fuel was highly taxed to ensure it was available for moving staples about the nation.

I don't find anything to get sentimental about in that bit of history.

As to the grammar MOM, care to point out the error(s) I've made beyond the one I attempted to correct?

internationalmanofmystery - 9/23/2011 11:23:35 AM

+1 Boost

I am not here to make YOU a better person, but let's give it a try

1. "How much estrogen would have to be flowing through your veins in order to regard either car as masculine?"

2. Yet YOU say: "The male public's acceptance..."

So, if the MALE PUBLIC accepts this, aren't you in essence contradicting yourself??

This is an "open" forum and you are free to express your opinions, but do you have to put someone down to do that??? And your "friend" adds a slur against gays??? Come on!! Don't you see what's wrong here??????

internationalmanofmystery - 9/23/2011 11:25:36 AM

+1 Boost

And have a great day!!! If the comment about grammar was a cheap shot, I apologize!! Profusely!!!!

internationalmanofmystery - 9/23/2011 11:27:24 AM

-1 Boost

The "...don't get your undergarments in a bunch" comment is a freebie!!!

1c3am5 - 9/23/2011 12:12:13 PM

+1 Boost

MOM, comments are editorial in nature. Expressing an opinion that the car is favored by females (espeically if the data backs this up) doesn't automatically make someone a homophobe. Satire is mearly a means to make a point.

I would say that a certain percentage of the male population (not all) accept the idea of embracing an ever more collective-minded (smaller footprint, if you will) approach to life. However, I see collectivism as the road to tyranny and equate individuality with freedom.

internationalmanofmystery - 9/23/2011 2:29:06 PM

-1 Boost

Point taken!

USNA1999 - 9/23/2011 12:35:33 PM

-2 Boost

internationalmanofmystery,
I apologize if I offended you, I am assuming you drive a MINI. Nothing wrong with that, my 16 y/o does too! This is the great thing about this country, their is freedom of choice.
I don't really care about which country makes the car, what magazines say and I have never been loyal to any automaker. I buy what I can afford and what I think fits my driving style (sporty/luxury). I just think of MINI's as being to girlie since I purchased one for my daughter.

internationalmanofmystery - 9/23/2011 2:15:41 PM

+1 Boost

For the record, I drive a X6M!

internationalmanofmystery - 9/23/2011 2:23:53 PM

0 Boost

"I apologize if I offended you"

You didn't offend ME! A little sensitivity couldn't hurt! Just saying!

And my last comment is this: Agent 001 (you know the guy whose site you are on) drove this car and liked it! Would you call him the F-word then?

1c3am5 - 9/23/2011 2:31:14 PM

0 Boost

Who said Fu*K?

Joe_Limon - 9/23/2011 2:46:15 PM

+3 Boost

I like the Mini Coupe, I'd never buy the standard mini, but this debatably smaller one looks quite aggressive!

CarCrazedinCali - 9/23/2011 9:44:55 PM

+3 Boost

I think most would agree the MINI is still more masculine than the Beetle even after their update. I guarantee that the MINI will be more fun to drive than the Beetle too.

MorePower - 9/24/2011 1:18:11 AM

+3 Boost

Reminds me of a mini Subaru Brat, no pun intended. It looks cool, but why anyone would buy this over a normal mini, I don't know.

mini22 - 9/25/2011 12:27:15 AM

+1 Boost

The only Mini that is not considered masculine is the current convertable. That is definately a "Womens" car.However I thinl the spider might be more masculine when it comes out provided it is ordered in a color other then white with tan uplostery.

Hoorayforpeepee - 9/27/2011 1:58:41 PM

+1 Boost

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