Well we knew MINI had big plans up its sleeves for the Frankfurt Motor Show on the little icon's 50th anniversary year and today (August 26) - apparently on the actual birthday of the original Mini - the new MINI Coupé Concept has been revealed in all its two-seat glory.

Given the 'concept' tag, the Coupé looks surprisingly ready for sale. On the one hand that's disappointing, as the show car could have been used to give MINI's designers a free reign, but on the other, it more than likely means that the MINI Coupé will join the line-up in less than 12 months.

Hence, the Frankfurt show car shares most of its styling details below the glasshouse with the rest of the range and it's virtually the same length and width too. Obviously the concept takes the John Cooper Works model as a starting point and combines an even more aggressive front bumper and air intake with a body coloured radiator grille - incorporating the silver stripes.

Above the familiar lines, the rakish new windscreen and roof take a little time to get used to. Taken as a bare profile it's not a radical shape, but the silver treatment of the roof contrasts vividly with the dark glass while the full-width roof spoiler apparently contributes to managing the airflow around the truncated rear window. We'd expect the roof to be available in several different colours in the finished product.

Supporting our 'nearly ready for production' theory is an interior that, while obviously trimmed in the nicest leather MINI could lay its hands on, is virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the range's cabin. Obviously there are only two seats, but the upshot is that the Coupé actually boasts more luggage space than the Hatch and only 10 litres less than the Clubman.

But potential buyers, as has been proven since the MINI's inception, don't rate practicality too high up their list of priorities. Instead they'll want to know about the 'go-kart' handling (MINI's press release mentions it four times) and customisation (though it's a concept, MINI still referred to the navigation system as 'optional').

A few clues to the Coupé's handling prowess were given, including 50:50 weight distribution and use of aluminium in the roof to lower the centre of gravity. Apparently weight reduction is employed throughout, though where we're left to guess where savings have been made. Either way, the current line-up of engines will have an easier time of propelling the Coupé with a resultant improvement in terms of performance, emissions and economy.

No doubt MINI will tell us a little more when the concept is unveiled in Frankfurt, but there's no doubt that a production version of this car will have buyers clamouring over each other to get into. Unless of course there's another all-new MINI for them to consider...

Shane O' Donoghue - 26 Aug 2009