Hot on the heels of...

Hot on the heels of production details about the Speedster - revealed exclusively in last week"s magazine - this is a first look at a stripped-out "CSL" variant. It"s the fastest-ever Cooper S version, and has standard bucket seats, while there are no rear chairs at all.

The car is due for launch before the all-new MINI appears next summer. Top brass at the BMW-owned firm are playing their cards close to their chest, but Auto Express has learned that under the carbon fibre bonnet is the 170bhp supercharged Cooper S engine - although it"s tuned to deliver 232bhp. Sources tell us the car will get a limited slip differential to boost trac-tion, giving 0-60mph in 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. It"s even rumoured to wear the CSL badge previously reserved for the hottest BMWs.