The high-performance John Cooper Works version of the car reaches 60 miles per hour in 6.1 seconds (as compared with the Hardtop's 6.3) and can eke out another 2 mph of top speed, hitting 150 mph.

WSJ: 2012 Mini John Cooper Works Coupe Review: Drive It��If Your Pal Buys One | Rumble Seat by Dan Neil

These have made it increasingly difficult for the pair to argue that airlines should be satisfied with the incremental improvements in efficiency of 1-2% a year that they eke out of their existing designs.

ECONOMIST: New competition for Airbus and Boeing