MINI Coupe, Roadster Have 'Run Their Life Cycle'

Colum Wood
by Colum Wood

After a long list of successful new product launches, MINI is admitting a rare defeat on two of its current models.

“The Coupe and the Roadster will actually go out of production next year,” said MINI USA product boss Patrick McKenna speaking to AutoGuide at the LA Auto Show last week. “They’ve run their life cycle,” he said.

The car was critiqued for being too similar to existing MINI models. With the hard-top and convertible versions already available, the Coupe and Roadster attempted to distinguish themselves with unique design. Sharing the platform, interior and engine options with the existing models and costing a premium, consumers never warmed to the new offerings.

SEE ALSO: 2014 MINI Cooper S First Drive

With their demise rumored for a year now, McKenna says the move is part of a larger “superhero strategy,” that MINI USA is enacting. The plan will be to put the focus on higher volume models rather than mining niche products like its parent company BMW.

Included in this strategy is the launch of the new 4-door model that’s designed to appeal to those who find the 2-door model too constricting.

GALLERY: MINI Roadster

Discuss this story at our MINI Hardtop forum.

Colum Wood
Colum Wood

With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.

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  • Dave Stabley Dave Stabley on Nov 24, 2014

    I wont be getting rid of my Roadster anytime soon! :)

  • Jimmyselix Jimmyselix on Nov 25, 2014

    sweet! my coupe is going to be a very rare MINI in a few years.. we had about 7K total sold in the world or so.. i say.. the coupe is THE best MINI yet in terms of performance.. add a nice 3" downpipe exhause and you'll never hear the world cute from anyone following you in traffic in sport mode ;)

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