The new MINI Coupé lands in Latin America and the Caribbean.

A few days after its international launch in Germany and display in Frankfurt at the IAA international exhibition, the new MINI Coupé was launched in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The sunny landscapes of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic were the chosen location for the regional launch. The new MINI arrives in the region in a context of marked brand growth. Sales in the importer markets of Latin America and the Caribbean have grown by 119% so far this year (YTD August vs. same period 2010). This is a most favorable environment for the arrival of this 5th member of the MINI family.

The MINI Coupé is the first two-seater in the MINI ranks. The new model further increases the variety within the brand’s vehicle line-up and, at the same time, offers customers a depth of driving excitement unmatched by any rival in the small car segment. The fifth model of the new MINI generation to wear the British brand’s famous badge represents a reinterpretation of the super-compact sports car category. The MINI Coupé is the first premium car of its genre, faithfully transplanting the MINI brand’s sporting genes into a cutting-edge vehicle concept.

The MINI Coupé is set to thrill customers with levels of agility and performance beyond the reach of even its MINI stablemates. The engines, chassis set-up, weight distribution and aerodynamic properties of the new model all serve the cause of optimum performance. Added to which, the rigorously applied two-seater concept – emphasized clearly by both the exterior and the interior design – underlines the stand-alone status of the new model. Its extremely high-opening tailgate and large luggage area (capacity: 280 liters) with through-loading to the passenger compartment allow the MINI Coupé to display outstanding versatility in day-to-day driving, when transporting leisure items or sports gear, and on touring trips for two.

The MINI Coupé is the brand’s first model to adopt a three-box body structure with a strikingly stepped rear end. Its distinctive, exceptionally sporty characteristics are also reflected in a low-slung silhouette and expressively styled “helmet” roof. Resting atop the MINI Coupé’s glasshouse, the roof is painted in a contrasting color as standard; a new take on Sport Stripes is among the additions available as an option. The distinctive lines of the Coupé body take their lead from the established MINI design language, while stand-out design features in time-honored MINI style also offer clear hints as to the brand identity of the new model.

The BMW Group

The BMW Group is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI, Husqvarna Motorcycles and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 25 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

During the financial year 2010, the BMW Group sold 1.46 million cars and more than 110,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for 2010 was euro 4.8 billion on revenues amounting to euro 60.5 billion. At 31 December 2010, the BMW Group had a workforce of approximately 95,500 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last seven years.