MINI has finally released images and information on the new convertible in advance of its official debut in Tokyo. Available starting next March in Cooper and Cooper S variants, the 2016 MINI Cooper convertible is built upon BMW’s front-wheel drive platform and – just like the hardtop – powered by three and four cylinder engines.
DESIGN
The new Convertible is much larger than its predecessor. It’s 4.5 inches longer, 1.7 inches wider and nearly a full inch taller than the outgoing model. The wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer, and both the front and rear track are almost two inches wider. The luggage volume is up roughly 25 percent, to 7.6 cubic feet with the Convertible top up – 5.7 when it’s down.
MINI’s new convertible retains the fabric roof with wide C-pillars and roughly the same roofline as the hardtop. The roof can be opened at speeds up to 18 mph and it’s fully retracted behind the passengers’ seats. It takes only 18 seconds for the action. In the event of a rollover, two integrated protection bars will spring forth to protect occupants.
FEATURES & OPTIONS
The 2016 MINI convertible will be offered in eleven colors, including a new Caribbean Aqua paint. The Always Open Timer – which logs all the time the car has been driven with the top down – is available again. Plenty of technology is available – adaptive suspension, an 8.8-inch infotainment display with navigation and a touch-sensitive controller, LED headlights and a head-up display. A Driving Assistant package includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic braking, automatic high beams, road sign detection and Parking Assistant.
ENGINES
The entry-level MINI Convertible is powered by a 1.5-liter, turbocharged engine offering 134 horsepower, 162 pound-feet of torque, and a 0-60 time of 8.2 seconds with the automatic and 8.3 seconds with the manual. For the Cooper S, the 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder outputs 189 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque, along with 0-60 times of between 6.7 and 6.8 seconds, depending on the transmission. A standard six-speed manuals and optional six-speed automatics are offered.
Pricing will be announced in January 2016, prior to the Convertible’s launch in March.
MINI Convertible sketches
MINI Convertibles Over Time
