Goodness, you can’t move for MINIs these days.

Not the traditional mini Mini. I mean MINI, the BMW-inspired version of the British icon.

The hatch was successful, creating a whole genre of premium small cars. Audi, Vauxhall, Fiat and Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all have jumped on the bandwagon with degrees of success.

So, what’s MINI’s response? To squeeze the brand and turn out no end of MINI models. There are seven in total, from Clubman (an estate-cum-van) to Cabriolet, from Paceman to Countryman. And, tested here, the Coupe. Coupe, not to be confused with Cooper, is a two-seater squashed version.

I guess MINI felt there were enough people out there who didn’t much care for the limited rear seats in the hatch, so why not make it a proper coupe?

It works. The result is a car which is surprisingly spacious and had a great boot, something which can’t be said of the MINI hatch.

So, here at £23,000 we have an expensive MINI. It’s a John Cooper Works version of the MINI Coupe which means it’s quick and firm and very well equipped.

It has everything you would expect from a lavish MINI including powered windows, cruise control, leather upholstery, rear parking sensor, MP3 connectivity and a CD system, plus a spoiler which raises at speeds and lowers as you slow.

I’m sure it works but I guess the real reason for its presence is to make you smile and give you something extra to show off. But the real thrill is in the engine.

It’s a 1.6 litre unit which generates 212bhp and whizzes to 60mph in 6.4 seconds. It’s quick and it feels even quicker, thanks to its low ride and firm handling. The engine is fabulous and although the economy figures might make you wince (32.1mpg around town), it’s exhilarating to drive.

The six-speed gearbox is equally impressive and it has a go-kart quality to its ride and handling.

It’s a low car (1,385mm compared to the hatch’s 1,4077mm) but it feels spacious inside. The cabin is traditional MINI with the bin lid-size dials and chrome switchgear.

The MINI Coupe’s mission is a simple one; to maximise the thrill of being behind the wheel. Keen drivers will be rewarded with a level of handling agility unmatched in the small car segment.

Every aspect of the Coupe – from the choice of engines and chassis set-up to weight distribution and aerodynamics – is focused on delivering the optimum dynamic performance. To prove the point, the MINI John Cooper Works Coupe has the fastest acceleration and top speed of any volume-produced MINI to date.

The styling team led by Head of Design Anders Warming has given the Coupe a distinctive appearance. The most striking view is undoubtedly the profile, with horizontal layering of the car into three separate tiers – the body, the wrap-around glass and the eye-catching roof design.

l The MINI Plant will lead the celebrations of a centenary of car-making in Oxford, on March 28 – 100 years to the day when the first “Bullnose” Morris Oxford was built by William Morris, a few hundred metres from where the modern plant stands today. Today, Plant Oxford employs 3,700 ‘associates’ who manufacture up to 900 MINIs every day.
 

PRICE: £23,800
ENGINE: a 1,598cc, four cylinder unit generating 211bhp
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 149mph and 0 to 60mph in 6.4 seconds
COSTS: town 32.1mpg; country 53.3mpg; combined 42.8mpg
EMISSIONS: 153g/km
INSURANCE: Group 36
WARRANTY: Three years’ unlimited mileage