Dec 1st, 2008 by RJ Menezes
When the Mini was originally launched, one of the surprise sellers in the range was the fun little convertible model. The Mini Cooper Convertible was a steady seller for BMW’s Mini brand and earned its place in the new lineup.
While the redesigned Mini has been out for a while, the convertible is only now reaching our shores after it was slightly revised for the U.S. market. Looking just like its hardtop brother, the convertible top separates it definitively nonetheless. Folding up or down in speeds up to 20mph, the top also features an integrated “sliding-roof” function. Rear roll bars, which deploy automatically, ensure that occupants are covered in case of a roll-over accident.
The convertible will come with both the engines available in the regular Mini Cooper. These include the 118hp 1.6-liter four cylinder and the upgraded turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, which also now employs direct-injection, rated at 172hp. Both engines can be had with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.
The standard Mini Cooper convertible will be priced from $24,550, while the Mini Cooper S convertible lists for $27,450. Both prices include a $650 destination charge. While no official release date has been announced, the company say we should expect them in dealerships sometime in March of next year, just in time for the sunshine of spring.
Source: Inside Line
Photos: BMW North America
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