Monday 31st October 2011

Official Pics: New Mini Roadster

Like a Mini, only squashed and without a roof

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These pics of the new Mini Roadster are the first official shots to come out of BMW-Mini's HQ. The Roadster will reach UK roads just in time for spring next year, and will take on the likes of the Mazda MX-5 and soon-to-be-seen Citroën DS3 cabriolet. It will cost from £18,015 for the base Cooper model, and you don't have to wear quite as silly a hat as the chap in the photos when driving it (we hope).

As with its near-identical sister car, the new Mini Coupe, the Roadster is largely based on the curtrent Mini Cabriolet, but is 3mm shorter, 47mm narrower and 25mm lower than Mini's existing soft-top. It is also a two-seat-only affair, with the space behind the seats given over to extra luggage space.

As you might expect, the Mini Roadster's interior is broadly the same as the coupe's (and therefore every other Mini), as is the range of 1.6-litre petrol engines and 141bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel (though it's no doubt the 208bhp Cooper Works that you'll be most interested in).

A six-speed manual is standard on all models, while an optional six-speed automatic is also available on all models apart from the John Cooper Works. The fabric hood, meanwhile, is manually operated in order to save weight.

Talking of saving weight, Mini is keen on pushing the handling of the Roadster, suggesting that its lightweight hood provides it with a lower centre of gravity than other models.

The steel body structure adopts the same stiffening measures as the Coupe, including a substantial brace at the rear.

With a weight distribution biased towards the front, the new open-top, Mini reckons, also gets better traction than other Mini models (we won't talk about the implications that has for understeer, then...)

 

[OwenK]

Will sell like hotcakes. I think it looks great! I had similar thoughts as MINI apparently did when I saw the Coupe (that it would look much better without the roof at all)..

[hornetrider]

Looks far better than the standard Mini Convertible.

Much like AIDS is better than cancer.

[kambites]

I think that actually works rather well, styling-wise. Certainly much better than the other MINI models. I still have absolutely no desire to own one, though.

[ZOLLAR]

I like it

[BigTom85]

I hate to say this, but I REALLY like the look of this, the best (BMW) MINI offering to date, IMHO.

[Kong]

Not quite sure the point of this car, why not just buy a normal MINI convertible?

Love it or hate it, at least the Coupe has the funky looking bubble roof, this offers.. uhmm..

[thewheelman]

"and will take on the likes of the Mazda MX-5"

Somehow, i don't think Mazda have anything to worry about.

[thewheelman]

hornetrider said:

Looks far better than the standard Mini Convertible.

Much like AIDS is better than cancer.

[Switch]

Looks better than any other Mini's... So winning all round.

[Kong]

thewheelman said:

"and will take on the likes of the Mazda MX-5"

Somehow, i don't think Mazda have anything to worry about.

I disagre, this will sell like hot cakes.

[kambites]

Kong said:

thewheelman said:

"and will take on the likes of the Mazda MX-5"

Somehow, i don't think Mazda have anything to worry about.

I disagre, this will sell like hot cakes.

I think this is probably the biggest threat to the MX5's dominance since the MX5 has been on the market.

[CoolHands]

what's that silly spoiler for though?

[f111lover]

God that's effing horrible. Can't see Mazda being too worried, it's a different clientel.

[arkenphel]

I think that looks great! Best looking MINI convertible by far. I still rate the standard JCW hatch as the best looking all round though.

P.S. AIDS is not better than cancer.

[Numeric]

One of the mistakes made by people who love cars is that they think cars like the MX-5 sell to enthusiasts who give a hoot about driving, when for most it is the image and style projected not the actual activity they seek. So arguments that the Mx-5 offers rear wheel drive purity etc matter not a jot to most buyers. That the Mini will also drive well (I personaly have always preferred the Mini cooper S to an MX-5) will just help its cause. I think it is great and will hit the spot, I just regret the hard top version, but in many markets people don't want convertibles so I understand them doing it.

[thewheelman]

kambites said:

Kong said:

thewheelman said:

"and will take on the likes of the Mazda MX-5"

Somehow, i don't think Mazda have anything to worry about.

I disagre, this will sell like hot cakes.

I think this is probably the biggest threat to the MX5's dominance since the MX5 has been on the market.

It will sell well like all Minis, but as a drivers sports car, this just wont compete with the MX5, as for it's biggest threat since being on the market, thanks, i needed a good laugh.

[koolchris99]

proof reading PH, i know its monday but in the first few lines...

[Numeric]

Sorry to be old and I know it's only for a emphasis but having seen the effects of deseases like Aids and Cancer might we refrain from using things like this as comparisons?

[ajprice]

It looks better than the backwards baseball cap coupe, that's not saying much though.

[kambites]

thewheelman said:

It will sell well like all Minis, but as a drivers sports car, this just wont compete with the MX5, as for it's biggest threat since being on the market, thanks, i needed a good laugh.

And what proportion of people who buy MX5s new could give a damn how it handles and even know which wheels are driven? It's not as if the MINI will be bad.