Photo: CarPix
The last time we met up with the Convertible MINI it was also in JCW guise but it was dressed up with a lot more camo. This time, all that pesky, psychedelic stuff is gone and we can revel in the almost undisguised glamor of the upcoming model.
After seeing the Hardtop version in the metal at Detroit live, we’re back trying to figure out how the drop top one will end up looking like. To be honest, they’ll probably be exactly the same, with only the roof being different.
In this regard we have to applaud the effort the test pilots are putting in, driving these soft tops in some of the coldest weather in the world right now. Of course, the textile roof is well insulated and all but it’s still better to have a good old metal one above your head.
Getting down to the technical bits of the car, we should mention the new 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged mill that’s going to be powering it, feeding 231 HP and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque to the front wheels.
That’s not the only change a John Cooper Works model brings compared to a Cooper S version. You also get improved brakes, a new suspension setup and the works inside the cabin that include a new steering wheel, new seats and some other small details.
On the outside, the body design is different as well, the front and rear bumpers being slightly altered to look meaner and add a couple of extra air intakes.
Since the hardtop will do 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.1 seconds, we reckon the convertible might do the same sprint 0.2 seconds slower due to the extra weight added to the mix by the mechanism needed to lower and raise the roof and the extra reinforcements needed to keep the ride composed without a top.
In this regard we have to applaud the effort the test pilots are putting in, driving these soft tops in some of the coldest weather in the world right now. Of course, the textile roof is well insulated and all but it’s still better to have a good old metal one above your head.
Getting down to the technical bits of the car, we should mention the new 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged mill that’s going to be powering it, feeding 231 HP and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque to the front wheels.
That’s not the only change a John Cooper Works model brings compared to a Cooper S version. You also get improved brakes, a new suspension setup and the works inside the cabin that include a new steering wheel, new seats and some other small details.
On the outside, the body design is different as well, the front and rear bumpers being slightly altered to look meaner and add a couple of extra air intakes.
Since the hardtop will do 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.1 seconds, we reckon the convertible might do the same sprint 0.2 seconds slower due to the extra weight added to the mix by the mechanism needed to lower and raise the roof and the extra reinforcements needed to keep the ride composed without a top.
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