BMW South Africa has just released the Mini Cooper Convertible, and though the second generation Mini has only been with us since 2007, this is the third Mini variant in less than two years.Many of the hatchback’s retro cues have been employed so that the Mini Convertible remains true to the brand’s identity – like short front and rear overhangs. The Cooper Convertible boasts a chrome frame radiator grille and three horizontal chrome-plated bars. Both the Cooper and Cooper S Convertible boast large round headlamps with integrated turn indicators and fog lamps on each side of the lower air intake.
As can be expected, the Cooper S Convertible is distinguished by its “Powerdome” bonnet bulge that rises 20 mm from the rest of the bonnet, the stylised vent on the front of the bonnet and the hexagonal grid pattern on the radiator grille – as well as the extra-large lower air intake scoop.
The new Mini Convertible also comes with a single-frame roll hoop behind the rear seat that extends the entire interior width without obstructing the driver’s rear view, and shoots up (150 milliseconds) in the event of an imminent rollover.
The Mini Convertible’s full-automatic electro-hydraulic canvas roof opens in just 15 seconds at speeds of up to 30 km/h. The side windows on the Mini Convertible retract when the roof starts to close, again in a fully automated process and just as fast.
Like its hatchback and Clubman siblings, the Mini Cooper Convertible is powered by a choice of two 1,6-litre four-cylinder petrol engines. The Cooper Convertible is powered by a naturally-aspirated unit that produces 88 kW at 6 000 r/min and 160 N.m of torque at 4 250 r/min. The Cooper S Convertible employs a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection to produce 128 kW at 5 500 r/min and 240 N.m of torque (260 with overboost) from 1 600 to 5 000 r/min.
Both Minis are also available with a six speed manual gearbox or optional six-speed automatic transmission. BMW claims that Cooper Convertible sprints to 100 km/h from zero in just 9,8 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 198 km/h. Cooper Convertible uses just 6,1 litres/100km on the combined cycle and emits 145 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
With the Cooper S Convertible, acceleration to 100 km/h from standstill comes in just 7.4 seconds and it charges on to a top speed of 222 km/h. Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is just 7,2 litres/100 kilometres, with a CO2 rating of 171 grams per kilometre.
In order to retain the “go-kart” handling characteristics typical of the Mini brand, the Mini Convertible comes with front axle McPherson spring struts on the front axle and multi-arm rear axle set-up. As an option, both models are made available with sportier suspension settings, though the Cooper Convertible S remains the more dynamic of the two.
Apart from the sports-tuned suspension and powerful brakes, the new MINI Convertible also comes with the most sophisticated driving stability systems as standard, including ABS with EBD and Cornering Brake Control (CBC), as well as DSC Dynamic Stability Control including Hill Start-Off Assistance.
The Mini Cooper Convertible comes standard 15-inch light-alloy wheels wrapped in 175/65 R 15 rubber. The Cooper S Convertible runs on 17-inch light-alloy wheels and 205/45 R17 runflat tyres – enabling the driver to continue even after a complete puncture with full loss of pressure. The stylish 17-inch “Black Star Bullet” design wheels are available for both models as an option.
The interior of the Mini Cooper Convertible comes with seats in Cosmos cloth and carbon black upholstery colour. The Mini Cooper S Convertible, features sports seats in checkered cloth and carbon black colour as standard. Sports seats are also available on both models with cloth/leather upholstery. Both models include the option of three versions of leather in Carbon Black, Tuscan Beige and Hot Chocolate brown.
The optional “Colour Line” accentuates the lower section of the instrument panel and the armrests on the doors in Dark Grey, Cream White, Rooster Red, Pacific Blue, or Hot Chocolate. The Chromeline Package provides a sophisticated glossy finish around the instrument panel and the centre console.
The rear-seat backrest split down the middle folds down either in a 50:50 subdivision or completely from right to left. With the roof closed, this increases luggage compartment capacity to 660 dm3, exceeding the capacity available in the former model by 55 dm3. Like its predecessor, the new Mini Convertible again comes with an Easy-Load system. With the rear lid swivelling down conveniently, the entire lid also serves as a storage tray able to carry a load of up to 80 kg.
Safety features include frontal airbags and side head/thorax airbags integrated in the outer flanks of the front seat backrest – which protects the head, upper body and hips of the occupants from injury in the event of a side-on collision. All four seats feature three-point inertia-reel seat belts with additional belt force limiters and optimised belt tensioners on the front seats.