theSwitchback - MINI news and reviews from the UK

The new, second generation MINI Convertible goes on sale this Spring, and whenever a car manufacturer launches a new model, members of the motoring press and online media generally get to drive the car far enough in advance to start building the hype, increasing awareness and excitement for the new car. For MINI, that has meant launching a soft top deep in the winter.

When presented with the opportunity to drive the MINI Cooper S Convertible, we of course leapt at the chance. Then, no sooner than we’d said “Yes please!”, our minds drifted back to the South of France in May, or Southern Spain in July, and a break from the damp, snowy, bitterly cold British weather… But when we tell you the invitation included the phrase “temperatures will be below zero… bring your own hat, scarf, gloves”, you can start to appreciate this was no regular convertible car launch.

It would seem that MINI were taking their “Always Open” tag line for the MINI Convertible to the extreme, and at the same time appeared to want to test the attendees’ vigilance and hardiness as much as the motoring press want to test the new MINI Convertible.

We’ve been driving the brand new MINI Convertible in the Austrain Alps. In January. In the snow. It’s been cold. It’s been very cold, at one point the on board computer was telling us it was -6 Celsius, we’ve been stopped on the road by inquisitive, and sometimes hysterical locals, but it’s been an unexpectedly brilliant location to get to grips with the MINI Convertible, with some beautiful scenery and terrific, challenging mountain roads.

So enough about the “where”, let’s get on with the “what”; the second generation of MINI Convertible, available for our test drive only in range topping MINI Cooper S guise, and in the nothing if not eye catching shade of Interchange Yellow, which is an interesting shade, often appearing to have a mustardy hint of green.

Having previously driven, reviewed, and even lived with both the second generation MINI Cooper S and the previous generation of MINI Convertible, the questions we really wanted answered were how well had MINI spliced these two cars together to produce a better, more complete MINI Convertible. How was the handling? How much did the new pop-up rear roll-over bar improve visibility? How much improved was the new hood? And for how long could we keep the roof down in the challenging, chilly environment.

On just about every account, the MINI acquitted itself admirably. The only yardstick of any true value had to be the first generation MINI Convertible, which although a real pleasure to drive, did have several shortcomings that were all too obvious for owners, as well as casual observers and reviewers, if entirely forgivable for any fan.

The car itself is 10kg lighter than than before, 10% more rigid, and the boot capacity has been increased by five litres. The load area and boot have been further improved by a more robust and easy to use system for switching the parcel shelf between summer and winter modes. Rather than having to remove and replace the shelf, it is hinged so you can simply swivel it into position. The easy load system has been improved too, which gives good access to the still admittedly small luggage area. But the difference most will pick up on is the removal of external boot hinges, replaced with a four point hinge inside the boot, which gives a tidier and less fussy feel to the back end of the car, while at the same time perhaps losing a nod to the classic Mini of old.

In terms of design, we were fortunate enough to have a few chats with Marcus Syring, head of exterior design for MINI, and it was clear that with the second generation MINI they very much considered the variants when producing the hatchback, and it does feel like the Clubman, and now the Convertible suit their respective differences well, the chunkier look and higher waistline suit the convertible style, and the new details such as the unique concealed roll-over bar and smoother rear hatch make for a more balanced appearance. Inside the new Convertible too, the forethought can be appreciated, probably best demonstrated by the overhead toggle switches, carried over from the hard top MINI, which include a toggle for roof operation. In the previous generation this component was basically borrowed from the BMW parts bin.

But the MINI has always been as much about the way it drives as it is about the way it looks. The testing conditions were extreme to say the least, the test vehicles were fitted with optional 17″ alloys and winter run-flat tyres, and on day two of our test, when the heavens had opened and coated the roads with fresh snow and ice, the majority of the driving was more cautious than carefree. Fortunately day one provided plenty of time to really test the car out, and the refinements were noticeable from the outset.

While a soft top conversion is never going to be quite a match for a tin-topped original, the MINI does as good a job as we could imagine of delivering as near to the original MINI feeling, while adding the unique appeal of open topped motoring. There was very little by way of shakes or vibrations, nothing off-putting or alarming, and the car felt very well put together, solid, and assured, even on the twistiest of mountain passes. The larger wheels and tyres were perhaps not the most appropriate of winter garb, but they coped admirably given the conditions, and provided a good giggle on a winter driving course kindly laid on by our hosts. Although none of us could hold a candle to Rauno Aaltonen, who was providing rides around the course in a MINI Convertible fitted with spiked rally tyres, as well as winter driving tips.

Internally, the Convertible is very much akin to the hatchback, the rear bench is narrower, and some rear leg room is eaten into from below the car by the reinforced cross members which help to counter the loss of sheet metal from the roof. But overall it’s comfortable inside. Visibility to the rear is improved, but isn’t fantastic with the roof up, not that we really experienced roof up motoring very much at all.

Internationally, MINI market the MINI Cabrio with the slogan “Always Open”, the optional “openometer” for the UK becomes the “Always Open Meter”, and we decided to the take that as literally as possible. The roof didn’t once go up during our time driving the Convertible, on the roads, or the winter driving course, we kept to the “always open” spirit, and while the “openometer” is without doubt trivial, and in all honesty pretty pointless, it did provide a childlike sense of joy to see the meter clock over five and half hours as we drove back to the airport along the motorway, snow beating down all around us. We only got damp when forced to stop at junctions, otherwise, if you really are crazy enough, you could certainly go topless all year round. Our test cars came with standard air conditioning, which kept us surprisingly snug, the automatic air-con also has an additional convertible mode, designed to automatically engage when the top is dropped, keeping you warm in all the right places. Heated seats also are a very sensible option to consider.

As with the hatch and Clubman models, MINI have made good progress in terms of efficiency and performance, both the Cooper and Cooper S gain over 20% more MPG on the combined cycle (49.6 and 44.1 MPG respectively) while decreasing CO2 emissions (g/km) by around the same percentage mark, 137 g/km for the Cooper and 153 g/km for the S. This places the new 2009 models in VED bands C and D, much improved over the outgoing MINI Convertible (bands E and F).

The MINI Convertible goes on sale in the UK and most major international markets on 28th March 2009, in both MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper models, the former with prices starting at £15,995 OTR, and £18,995 OTR for the sportier Cooper S.

For those prices the Cooper comes equipped with 15″ alloy wheels, 50/50 split rear folding seats, a six speed manual gearbox, bike rack preparation, DSC including ASC+T, and all the features of the regular Cooper, plus the addition of Park Distance Control as standard.

The Cooper S includes all the Cooper has to offer, plus 16″ alloys, leather steering wheel, cloth chequered upholstery, honeycomb radiator grills and all the usual styling additions you receive with the hatch version, apart from the fuel filler cap, which is the same on all convertibles, slightly smaller, and positioned further back on the side of the vehicle than on the hatchback.

MINI UK hope to sell in excess of 15,000 new Convertibles in the first two years. In five years of the previous generation, sales reached a total of just under 40,000 combined for MINI One, MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S models in the UK, total worldwide sales reached over 160,000. In these difficult economic conditions it’s hard to predict how well a car promoted so heavily on the fun factor will sell, but we think the new Convertible is a winner.