When you want a Mini Coupe at all costs, you sometimes end up taking fairly radical measures. In Indonesia, a car enthusiast embarked on an extreme project using his small Suzuki. He transformed his 2011 Suzuki Swift into an unmistakable clone of the British two-seat sportscar. The result: a car that looks fiercely like a Mini Coupe, without quite being one.
The Mini Coupe, a two-seater derivative of the Mini Hatch R56, was produced only from 2011 to 2015. Not so for a Sewon, Indonesia owner, who drew inspiration to transform his Suzuki Swift. His 2011 Swift was redesigned to resemble a Mini Coupe R58 and offered on Facebook Marketplace. The listing shows 129,000,000 Indonesian rupiahs, about $7,200, that is roughly €6,600. But behind this English-styled coupe silhouette, what remains of the original Swift?
A Suzuki Swift Transformed into a Mini Coupe
Externally, only the windshield, A and B pillars, the doors and the mirrors still reveal the Swift origin. The rest of the body has been redesigned to adopt the styling cues of a Mini Coupe replica. The front end receives round headlights, a distinctive grille, a new front bumper and a fully customized hood. It lacks a few details of the real Cooper S, such as the hood intake or the chrome surrounds of the headlights. Side skirts and white wheels further reinforce from the front the impression of a Suzuki Swift transformed into a Mini Coupe.
To reclaim the Mini Coupe silhouette, the owner shortened the roof and installed a highly inclined rear window. The tail end features vertical taillights with a Union Jack motif, a rear bumper with a unique diffuser and a fixed spoiler. A new tailgate completes the package, adorned with “Swift Sport” stickers that echo the Suzuki base under the Mini disguise. According to the listing, it is a 2011 Swift with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine of about 110 hp and a CVT gearbox, engine reportedly leak-free. This base remains far from the Mini Coupe John Cooper Works and its 211 hp 1.6 turbo. The electricals work, and the interior is described as clean.
Inside, a Fake Mini Coupe That Remains Very Swift
Once the door is opened, the Suzuki origins leap out. The dashboard and the steering wheel are those of a standard Swift, with their layout and controls unchanged. To give a more upscale feel, the owner had the seats and door panels redone in quilted faux leather. A quirky detail: the floor mats bear the Toyota Racing Development logo, Toyota’s sport division. A blend of brands gives a patchwork vibe to this interior of a faux Mini Coupe.
Under the body, this build remains close to a Swift, with its 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine and CVT automatic. By contrast, a Mini Coupe John Cooper Works relies on a 1.6-liter turbo producing 211 hp. In the French market, used Mini Coupé R58 models can be found for roughly €9,000 to €15,000. This Mini replica based on a Suzuki Swift remains cheaper, at about €6,600. No precise details are given about the Indonesian Mini Coupe, but this project clearly shows the devotion of some enthusiasts.
