Mini Cooper Convertible – All you need to know
Minis have been fun little cars ever since the original model. Small, nippy and easy to drive, these cars found millions of buyers the world over. What made it an even bigger icon was the fact that it starred in the Mr.Bean series and inspired many to collect Minis. Fast forward to today, and the Mini Cooper is larger, packed with tech, is fun to drive and costs a lot of money, unlike the original. We tell you more about the current-generation Mini Cooper Convertible.
Anything new?
The new Mini Cooper Convertible is based on BMW’s UKL platform. Mini Cars have designed it to be bigger and offer more cabin space. Compared to the previous-generation Mini Cooper Convertible, the new car is longer and wider. Usually, space is not something that is considered when buying a Mini, but over the generations, Mini Cars have gotten bigger. The Mini Cooper Convertible has no roof so it gets a lot of added bracing to help make up for the absence of structural rigidity.
The same can be found under the radiator, the doors and you will find two V-shaped braces beneath the passenger seat too. This stiffening also means the car is heavier compared to the Cooper S hatchback. The Cooper S is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, producing 189bhp and 280Nm of torque, paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission; the convertible also features steering wheel-mounted paddle-shifters. Buyers also get multiple accessories like a parking assist system, on board navigation, dynamic damper control and a rear-view camera.
Bigger and better
Inside the Mini Cooper Convertible, you gets lots of space. The current-generation car just feels so much bigger on the inside, thanks to the bigger and comfier seats and the huge foot wells too. Boot space has been increased to 215 litres, which means it can take in more luggage. But with the roof down, all you have is 160 litres of boot capacity. The hatch seen on the convertible is of the slip-down type, which means you can even sit on it, provided you don’t weigh too much.
The dashboard features a huge, circular screen in the centre; then there’s the fully-electric cloth roof that can be opted for with the Union Jack on the roof, which can be opened and closed in 18 seconds, even up to speeds of 30kph. For those of you who’d like to let some light in, a part of it can slide back. However, the cloth roof does not come with a cover when it’s folded and this somehow ruins a part of the car’s charm and hampers rear visibility. You are protected at all times with a reinforced windscreen frame and pop-up roll bars that extend from the back of the rear seats just in case of a roll-over.
An expensive go-kart
About the Mini Cooper Convertible engine
On the move, it simply darts ahead and even changes directions promptly. It may not feel as go-kart like, like the hatchback since it responds slower to steering inputs and has lesser bite up-front. In Sport mode, the electric steering has a good amount of weight to it and feels very direct, while the brakes are sharp and responsive, giving the driver lots of confidence around corners. Over bad roads, the Copper Convertible does feel firm and through the deeper ruts, the suspension does bottom out. The ride is just about average. The engine is full of life; it feels urgent from the get-go, all the way to the limit where it begins to snarl, pop and crackle, especially in Sport mode.
Don’t think twice
The Mini Cooper Convertible is a great small, iconic car that is now roomer and a lot more comfortable; the roof is fully electric and functions up to speeds of 30kph. The convertible model doesn’t look as attractive as the hatch and boot space takes a hit too. But a lot of Mini enthusiasts may well ignore some of these facts because this is a car you buy to get looked at in; it’s a car that will have many inspired. The styling cannot go unnoticed, neither can its driving dynamics and of curse, it’s lively engine. We cannot think of anyone who doesn’t want one of these things, including us.
