MINI Superleggera roadster to hit production in 2019

MINI boss, Peter Schwarzenbauer, has confirmed that his company is working on a production version of the Superleggera concept that made its debut in 2014 to critical applause.

“The interest was tremendous when we showed this concept car. We are now working hard to get it on the street. It’s an economically challenging project and there is no firm decision, but we have a lot of people here that are fighting for it. I think it would be extremely good for the brand,” Schwarzenbauer told Autocar in the UK.

The roadster is expected to sit on the same platform as the three-door MINI due to its versatility, low weight and rigidity. Like most MINI’s, the open-top model will be front-wheel drive with the possibility of an all-wheel drive setup for the more potent versions.

According to Schwarzenbauer, the production Superleggera is not the successor to the MINI Coupe and Roadster, but “a serious sports car”.

It will also share the hatchback’s engine lineup, which range from 1.5-litre to 2.0-litre, all with turbocharge. A hybrid version combining a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with a rear-mounted 64kW electric motor for a total of 159kW is also on the cards.

The production version of the Superleggera concept will reportedly debut in 2019.