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The new MINI Coupé has been sent on a journey around the globe to fulfill promotional obligations. It’s all to do with having a sense of adventure; so we’re being told.

Today MINI has released official pics and detail about its new R58 Coupé model. The “helmet roof” and two-up seating are the most obvious differences from the bread and butter MINI hatch. This info comes just a couple of weeks after MINI gave us an official preview.

You can see from the pics below that the roof design has an almost sculptural feel in the way it integrates with the high-mount rear spoiler. Air is forced down to the bootlid spoiler which automatically raises at 80km/h. The Coupé is a bit front heavy so we suspect MINI has had to work hard to get more downforce over the rear axle.

Being a two-seater there is additional storage space behind the seats, as well as a cubby hole through to the rear luggage compartment. Inside the low roof line has been compensated for by scalloping the roof liner. We’re not so sure about how that looks and will reserve judgement until a later date. Taller drivers will no doubt approve of the feature.

The Coupé is built on the Cabriolet platform, which means stronger chassis components have been used. Add to this the brace running between the C-pillars and you have the stiffest MINI made to date. The downside of that is the Coupé weighs around a tank of fuel more than the hatch.

There are four model designations for the Coupé:

• MINI Cooper Coupé – 90kW/160Nm, 0-100km/h 9.0s
• MINI Cooper SD Coupé – 105kW/305Nm, 0-100km/h 7.9s
• MINI Cooper S Coupé – 135kW/240Nm (+ 20Nm overboost), 0-100km/h 6.9s
• MINI John Cooper Works Coupé – 155kW/260Nm (+ 20Nm overboost), 0-100km/h 6.4s

More pics and full details, including a detailed press release with technical specifications, are all yours after the break. We can expect the MINI Coupé to make its Australian debut towards the end of the year.

Early last year MINI Australia launched a parts bin special called the JCW Challenge Edition. It was pretty much a few options thrown together at a reduced price and it was only offered for sale down under. Now, though, it would appear MINI HQ is raising the bar considerably by testing out a new prototype at the Nürburgring. Could this be a purpose-built JCW Challenge Edition?

From the spy pics you can see there’s radically revised front and rear spoilers. Indeed, the rear diffuser look to have been heavily inspired by the MINI Challenge race cars.

It’s generally been considered the 155kW engine in the regular JCW is close to its maximum tuning potential. Let’s hope MINI has found a few new ponies in its back shed? Watch this space.

[Source: World Car Fans]

UK mag Car has snapped the first undisguised photos of the distinctive helmet roof on the MINI Coupé. Based on the image above it looks as though MINI has been true to the 2009 concept.

From what we know at the moment the Coupé will only be offered with a contrasting silver or black roof and mirror caps. With the exception of black, which can be ordered with same colour body and roof, all other colours will feature a contrasting roof colour.

MINI will also be offering “viper stripes” as a factory option with the Coupé. The stripes change colour as they go over the roof. You can just see the two blue stripes on the back of the rear spoiler above. On the bonnet (see pic below) the stripes are silver, matching the roof colour.

Expect official news from MINI in the very near future.

[Source: Car via MotoringFile]