Detroit Auto Show: Mini reveals newer, more powerful Cooper hardtop

BMW-owned Mini took the stage at the Detroit Auto Show to take the wraps off a 2015 John Cooper Works Hardtop -- the most powerful Mini the company has produced to date.

The new model, branded with the name of the marque’s founder, produces 228 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, goes 0 to 60 in 5.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 153 mph.

That’s a substantial jump from the 208 horsepower, 207 pound-feet in the company’s John Cooper Works Roadster.

But there’s no correlative jump in MSRP. Mini said in Detroit the new Hardtop will start at barely over $30,000. The current lineup of John Coopers includes the Coupe, at $31,900, the Convertible, at $35,850, and the Roadster, at $36,250. (An entry-level hardtop starts at $20,700.)

Mini could use a sales boost.

Parent company BMW reported that annual 2014 sales for its Mini division were about flat compared to 2013, though December sales were up 20% and fourth-quarter sales had risen 17%.

BMW reported total sales of about 302,000 models for the year.

Twitter: @misterfleming