Mini introduces the ‘Speedster’
April 27, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Mini, in conjunction with the UK’s AutoExpress, have today released images of its new ‘Speedster’ model.
The eye-catching two seater convertible is said to combine dramatic looks with sizzling performance in what Mini believe will put it in place to challenge Mazda’s long time favourite, the MX-5 and Honda’s upcoming CRZ.
The Speedster will use the same platform as the Mini Cabrio but will have its own identity by being offered strictly as a two-pew convertible.
With increased boot space, electric folding soft-top, distinctive roll hoops, oversized wheelarches, and a lower, wider stance, the Speedster boasts classic roadster proportions whilst remaining unmistakably Mini.
Rumour has it a John Cooper Works model will also be available.
Pricing and availability are yet to be announced.
Pictures compliments of AutoExpress.
Print it: 
Sorry looks wrong……..
No… looks HOT (for a mini).
im with Dlr1, it looks hot for a mini and it looks as if the evolutionary styling has been altered a bit.
I like it a a lot but I would like to see how it looks with the roof up.
I like it.
And the engine? I hope the TDI is an option.
I like it, but i would rather get a noamal mini or a Clubman
Looks like a flattened mini, not really convinced but might change my mind when I see it in the flesh.
I’d much rather a Mini ute instead of the [superfluous]Clubman
Are those pics actually real? They look photoshopped to the max, or at least sketches! You would think they’d make it RWD to not steal sales from the normal convertible which people would ivy use two seats for. Minis are very cool little cars and deserve to sell as well as they do.
Eye-catching? Not even for blind people! What a fugly car… And sorry but a front wheel drive car will never outhandle a good rear wheel drive like an MX5…
Wheelnut, I don’t think there will ever be a Mini ute (thank god) and with good reason. Utes are vile. A ute the size of a Mini would be for people who think that they are being fashionable but are really just making themselves look trashy. Like all those Holden utes.
I quite like it. Like BM wrote, it does look a bit wrong but I think it’ll grow on me. I would even consider buying one. It looks more interesting than an MX-5.
Nemesis, have you driven a new Mini? If you had you would know that the supermini version already out handles an MX-5 so there is no reason why this couldn’t. In fact, I’m almost sure it will. BMW wouldn’t put a car on the market if it didn’t beat Japanese competition.
I don’t see the point of a roadster Mini if it going to be on the same platform of a regular Mini which I’m assuming it will remain FWD. I really think it should be RWD, one to difference itself from a regular Convertible Mini and second a roadster should be RWD.
The longer I look at it the more confused and dizzy I get. For some reason I want to like it, but it just seems wrong. At 6.4 and 120kg I don’t think I will even fit so It really wont matter to me. So I will just say that I think it is cute. If you look up the word cute it means ugly, but interesting….
Alex a Mini ute would look a s-tload beter than the Clubman does. I mean they could simply cut the roof off of a Clubaman then not only would it be better looking but also more practical.
BTW I find it ironic that you say that utes are vile yet you like the look of the Maserati Sedan.. now that’s vile!
Wheelnut, the Clubman isn’t a very good looking car I’ll grant you but if you cut a big chunk of it off it would look worse, not better. Besides, I thought utes were meant to be practical .Something the size of a Clubman wouldn’t be practical. Not to mention that tiny market it would have that would make it pointless in the first place. No tradesman would be seen dead in a Mini ute.
And don’t you think it’s time you dropped the Quattroporte thing? There are more people who think it’s beautiful than people who think it’s ugly. It’s also considered one of the coolest cars in the world by many. That is fact, not up for debate. If you have different opinions well that’s just fine but are you really so immature that you can’t drop it?
Looks good, i like it. My only gripe is FWD sports car? Part of reason for the MX-5 to be so succesful is its FR chassis, delivering driving thrill at a budget price. Outside of MX-5, I can’t think of any other RWD car on the market for similar or less money.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm………mmmmmaserati……
I actually approached a maserati driver to commend him on his choice. Can’t think of any other car I’d bother doing that for.
Whatever the case I hope they put several tough engines in this mini cos I can’t see the Bluesport comming to OZ anytime soon. This is the sort of car I want for a weekender.
Sure the MX-5 is a good drivers car, but in my book it’s nothing special.
BM (.)(.), I hope you’re not saying it looks wrong because it doesn’t look like an X6.
You folk are getting carried away. It’s only a photoshop image, pure speculation by someone who is good on a laptop.
There already exists a softop version, this is seemingly a more impractical version at a greater cost. Can’t see many wanting to spend the extra especially when you can have a proper sport car like a MX5.
And for those idiots referring to RWD minis. Get back in your commie ute for gods sake. If you think BMW will specifically engineer a RWD mini when pretty much the worlds wants FWD you must be daft!!
Yeah, Cupid’s right. I just looked at the actual article and CA, it says nowhere that these came from Mini. It says “exclusive images” but that doesn’t mean they came from Mini. That could be “exclusively” what a design house thinks it will look like if the idea ever comes up. Could be official but I very much doubt it.
Cupid, how would this not be a “proper” sports car when an MX-5 is? I mean, it’s not RWD but neither is the Ford Focus RS. Or the absolutely fantastic Mini JCW. How is this any less worthy than an MX-5?
Alex – Its just another mini just like the other ones. No-one would really consider the original mini to be a sport car. Just because it has two seats removed doesn’t make it a sports car. Ok it would probably handle as well as an MX5 and could be classed as a sports car but it wasn’t a sports car by design. Like the cross version isn’t an off-roader.
BMW probably have a range of vehicles to follow based on the mini. Fair play to them for good marketing. The original mini is still the one to beat as far as owning a small car is concerned.
CarAdvice – you’ve done it again.
“Mini, in conjunction with the UK’s AutoExpress, have today released images of its new ‘Speedster’ model.”
What? No – AutoExpress has published some speculative illustrations. At least you’ve credited AutoExpress this time. But 1) Mini has had no part in their ‘release’ and 2) these pictures were first published days ago so this did not happen on the day of your post.
Get it right.
I would like to see it with the roof up But when is BMW going to wake up the Mini was produced as a poor man car that everybody could afford.
I would also love to see a mini Ute.