In just a few short years, 2029 to be exact, the motoring world will be celebrating the 70th birthday of that 1960’s icon, the Mini. Some of those original cars are still on the road thanks to a dedicated band of automotive conservationists who keep these legends running. For most of us though, a classic car is too much work and expense: we like our cars newer. Well, the good news is, you can still have a Mini; it’s still going strong, but it’s in 21st Century guise.
The Mini Cooper is, essentially, the mainstay of the brand, now made by the prestige German car maker, BMW. There are plenty of variants but it is the standard Cooper that tops the list and the latest and last in this generation to roll of the line is the Mini Cooper convertible. It’s the same as the tin-top version but with the added benefit of fresh air.
Yes, the new generation of the Mini Cooper Convertible rounds off the current Mini family with a model that is full of unique features. It’s a convertible model that perfectly embodies the brand's identity. The folding roof opens fully automatically in just eighteen seconds even at speeds of up to 30 km/h allowing the driver to enjoy the breeze and sunshine at all times. At the same time, the window bars and side windows are lowered to provide a completely unobstructed view of the surroundings. The soft top closes in 15 seconds at the touch of a button. Ideal for the city, on country roads or being fully able out on the highway, this topless model offers pure freedom and unmistakable driving pleasure.
The Compact Exterior
The Mini has always offered compact proportions, short overhangs but now bigger wheels to give the Cooper Convertible plenty of agility and manoeuvrability for maximum driving fun. With its focused design, the front end shapes the charismatic character of the car. In can only be a Mini. Newly designed exterior details enhance the striking appearance of the model, which is unique in the premium small car segment.
The shoulder line continues into the lower part of the black soft top. This separates the surrounding window area from the cleanly designed body. This three-part exterior is typical of the brand. It makes the Cooper Convertible an unmistakable original. The woven fabric soft top is available in black and optional with a grey Union flag (UK), a nod to the brand's British origins for UK buyers, although overseas buyers will probably opt for the black version.
The convertible retains the iconic round headlights with a newly designed front grille. The octagonal-shaped surround encompasses the wide air inlets in either ‘Vibrant Silver’ or high-gloss ‘Jet Black’.
Standard LED headlights with light signatures are available in three versions to emphasise the car's character. A specially orchestrated welcome and goodbye animation with MINI logo projections on the floor of the driver's and passenger's side enhances the connection to the Mini Convertible even before getting in.
From the side, the clean lines of the sporty body are characterised by the striking contrast between the short overhangs and the long wheelbase. The reduced design of the body emphasises the elegant impression of the vehicle's silhouette and gives the Cooper a generous appearance despite its small exterior dimensions. To match the unmistakable driving fun, the new Convertible is available with aerodynamically optimised wheel designs in sizes ranging from 16 to 18 inches, depending on the model variant.
The rear view is characterised by the flush design of the vertically aligned LED rear lights. The rear section is divided by a black handle strip with striking model badge, whose horizontal alignment emphasises the car’s wide stance.
Premium Interior
The interior design of the Mini Cooper Convertible focuses on minimalist details and textile surfaces. This is part of the new ‘Charismatic Simplicity’ design language of the entire Mini family with fewer components, clever design and high-quality, premium workmanship. Three key elements structure the cockpit: A sporty steering wheel, the central OLED display (Of which more below) and the classic, newly designed toggle switch bar.
Directly behind the steering wheel, the Head-up Display projects all relevant information into the driver's field of vision. This means that the dashboard on the driver's side does not require an additional instrument panel and, in keeping with the open-top driving fun, allows a clear view to the front. The textile surfaces in the cockpit are based on a newly developed knitted material and create a pleasant atmosphere. The two-tone fabric is made from recycled polyester and has an easy-care texture.
Comfortable seats for the driver and front passenger add to the modern, airy feel of the well-designed cockpit. There is a choice of grey or black seats in a combination of artificial leather and textile silhouette in blue. The ‘JCW’ (John Cooper Works) sport seats are available optionally in beige and Nightshade Blue synthetic leather with contrasting stitching. In the ‘JCW’ Trim, the sport seats are upholstered in black leather with multicoloured knitted fabric on the shoulders and red stitching.
The new central traditionally circular instrument panel in the cockpit of the Convertible combines innovative technologies in an extremely flat design. The high-quality glass surface allows the driver and front passenger to operate all vehicle functions conveniently by touch or voice. The innovative ‘Mini Operating System 9’ simplifies connectivity and brings apps and digital content from the smartphone to the display. This turns the Mini Interaction Unit into both a comfort and experience centre.
Thanks to advanced OLED technology, the contents of the display are high-contrast and easy to see, even with the soft top open and in bright sunlight. Speed is displayed at the top of the screen, and tapping on the speed display opens a large full-screen speedometer that focuses on the driving experience. The other widgets are shown in thumbnail view in the Home menu, to the left and right of the current menu function. These can be moved to the centre and selected by means of a horizontal swiping movement. In the lower area of the OLED display, the menu items Navigation, Media, Telephone and Climate can be selected directly at any time.
The Power
There is a choice of three advanced two litre petrol engines for the Cooper Convertible. All have four cylinders. The entry-level model is the MINI Cooper Convertible C with a power output of 163BHP (165PS / 120kW) and a maximum torque of 250Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 62MPH (100 km/h) in 8.2 seconds. The performance-enhanced MINI Cooper Convertible S delivers 204BHP (207PS / 152kW) and accelerates from 0 to 62MPH (100 km/h) in 6.9 seconds with a maximum torque of 300 Nm. In addition to these two variants, the performance-oriented John Cooper Works model focuses on sportiness and maximum driving pleasure.
The Mini range is ideal for the modern urban lifestyle and you can see the current stock of Mini Cooper cars at MHH International on this page. Remember, we export both new and used cars from the UK to Kenya, New Zealand and many other destinations. See our website for details of countries served and also the VAT-free options available. We supply vehicles for export from many prestige car manufacturers and, again, the full list of brands can be accessed via our Home Page.
