 "Mini Cooper convertible range launched in UK")
British marquee, Mini will be joining the very small club of topless hatchback makers when convertible versions of the Mini Cooper, Mini Cooper D and the Mini Cooper S go on sale in UK, in March, 2016.
Mini has made a few mechanical and cosmetic changes to the three models but the most notable addition is the retractable electric roof which, according to Mini, takes a brisk 18 seconds to deploy. The soft top can also be optioned with the Mini Yours Union Jack print. There’s extensive use of chrome around the larger headlamps, tail lamps and the band that runs along the shoulder line of the car.
Other details that set the convertible versions apart from their regular counterparts are a new hexagonal grille and a blackened edge on the body panels. The Mini Cooper S Convertible even gets a set of twin exhaust pipes positioned at the centre of the rear bumper.
On the inside, the front seats get more adjustment setups than before and a slightly longer wheelbase has opened up more space at the rear. The boot too has increased by 25 per cent to 215 litres with the roof deployed, and 160 litres when folded.
The roomier cabin is done up in Chester leather and fitted with a 6.5-inch infotainment system. Equipment includes Mini Visual Boost Radio, Mini Connected, Bluetooth, USB and a reverse parking sensor with camera.
A 1.5-litre 137PS/220Nm making petrol unit powers the Mini Cooper Convertible while the Mini Cooper D’s 1.5-litre diesel engine makes 117PS/270Nm. The Mini Cooper S Convertible gets a four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbopetrol producing 194.6PS/280Nm. Mini claims a 0-100kmph time of 7.1 seconds and a top speed of 228kmph for this unit.
Price? £18,475 (Rs 18.48 lakh) for the Mini Cooper Convertible with 6-speed manual transmission, going up to £24,077 (Rs 24.1 lakh) for the automatic Mini Cooper S Convertible.
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