A new premium drop top that places a premium on safety as well as style, the latest generation Mini Convertible is also the roomiest version yet.
The car has grown 98mm in length and is 44mm wider, and the wheels have moved even further into each corner so that cabin space is much improved. The company promises that accessing the rear seats should be much easier as a result.
But despite growing in size, the new car should be more fun to drive - historically the Mini's raison d'être - thanks to a more rigid, responsive chassis and suspension set-up and reinforcements that have only added 115kg to the car's weight compared to its hard-top brethren. For good measure, each model, regardless of engine choice, will also come with traction and stability control plus an electronic differential lock as standard to keep waywardness and rocking to an absolute minimum.
As for security, the new convertible gets a pop-up roll cage that is usually hidden behind the rear seats but at the precise moment that the car starts to lift or is in danger of rolling will instantaneously deploy for ultimate protection.
The car's fabric roof has also been reworked for greater soundproofing and a tighter fit and can even be specified with embroidered patterns, including the Union Flag. But whether plain or decorated, it can be electronically raised or lowered in just 18 seconds and at speeds of up to 30kmph.
Other premium touches include air conditioning and park distance sensors as standard and a head-up display, active cruise control, emergency autonomous braking and road sign recognition systems among the optional extras. There's even a system that projects the Mini logo on the ground as a light to help the driver and passengers find their feet when stepping out of the car at night.
At launch the Mini will be offered with a choice of three engines - a three-cylinder 136hp turbo petrol unit, a three-cylinder 116hp turbodiesel and a 192hp four-cylinder unit, all of which will be mated to a six-speed manual transmission as standard. For those who like a sportier feel, a paddle shift system is available as an optional extra.
The Mini Convertible will go on sale in early 2016 following its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, which opens its doors to the public on October 30.
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