Competes with: Audi A3 Cabriolet, Fiat 500c, Volkswagen Beetle convertible
Looks like: A topless Mini Hardtop
Drivetrains: 134-horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-three-cylinder or optional 189-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine, six-speed manual or automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Hits dealers: March 2016
Related: 2015 Mini Cooper Hardtop Four Door: Up Close
BMW's Mini brand has unveiled the latest droptop version of the iconic Mini Cooper city car, the new 2016 Mini Convertible in Cooper and Cooper S trims. It's meant for the enthusiast driver who loves the go-kart handling and dimensions of the Hardtop, as Mini calls it, but wants a more open-air experience. The Mini Convertible maintains that spirit, but also allows you to bring along friends, something that's hard to do in a Mazda MX-5 Miata, for instance.
Exterior
Like the last version, it looks much like you'd expect - take one Mini two-door, lop off the top and off you go. There are no other cosmetic changes for the Mini beyond that, but there are a few new options. Two new colors are available: a throwback Caribbean Aqua blue meant to emulate Mini's original color palette and a new Melting Silver, which was first introduced on the new Clubman.
If you want to let your Anglophile flag fly, opt for a new Mini Yours soft-top that features an embroidered Union Jack flag with a herringbone pattern woven into the convertible top. The top also features some interesting offerings, such as a sunroof function that allows it to be driven only partially open, instead of fully retracted.
Interior
Inside, there's seating for four people, with the two in back likely to be a little cramped thanks to the folding top. Several premium seating options are available, including a leather interior in Malt Brown with diamond stitching, which Mini says evokes "classic English chesterfield sofas." The easy pass-through cargo system is still present, as is the "Always Open Timer," a built-in meter that records the amount of time the vehicle has been driven with the top down versus the top up. A 6.5-inch multimedia screen is standard, as is the Mini Connected system; an 8.8-inch screen with navigation and a rain warning app are optional equipment.
Under the Hood
Powering the Mini Convertible are the same engines and transmissions that you'd find in the Hardtop. Standard is a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder BMW engine making 134 horsepower and mated to a six-speed manual transmission, driving the front wheels. Move up to the Cooper S and you'll get a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, also from BMW, making 189 hp. A six-speed manual is standard here too, but a six-speed automatic transmission is optional on both models.
The new Mini Convertible will be available in March 2016; pricing will be announced in January.
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