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Mini John Cooper Works Convertible Wears a Helmet in Its Hair, Starts at $36,450

While the star of the Mini booth at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show was the Mini John Cooper Works Hardtop, the not-diminutive-anymore brand has skipped NAIAS this year, unveiling the JCW Convertible online now that the press days are over (Mini is skipping both Detroit and Geneva altogether this year).
2017 Mini John Cooper Works Convertible 17 photos
Photo: Mini
Mini John Cooper Works Convertible
In theory

The JCW Hardtop's tech formula is still here, which means we get a 2.0-liter turbo dialed up to 228 hp and 236 lb-ft (Nm) of twist. In the transmission department, you can choose between a pair of six-speed units, depending on whether you want a clutch or not.

Do keep in mind that the automatic Mini JCW Convertible can cover the 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) sprint in 6.3 seconds, while the third pedal adds 0.1 seconds to that time.

In the handling department, there's a standard sport suspension, with the list of optional extras including active shocks. The chassis has been gifted with the expected open-top bracing, with a stiffening plate finding its way under the four-cylinder engine.

Since the automaker has always talked about how last year's JCW is a car built around its brakes, the Brembos couldn't miss one more opportunity to show up as standard.

The list of standard goodies that meet the eye includes 17-inch wheels (18-inch units are optional), a cheeky bodykit and LED headlights.

Climb aboard and you'll find a pair of JCW sport seats ready to keep you in place while you put the electronic front differential lock to the test, as well as an array of cool materials and hues.

When it comes to the soft top, this can be operated at speeds of up to 18 mph (30 km/h), while requiring 18 seconds to go from one state to the other.

In practice

Since the 2017 Mini John Cooper Works Convertible comes with a starting price of $36,450, it's hard not to wonder about the justification behind something that, financially speaking, sits in between the EcoBoost and the V8-motivated incarnations of the Mustang.

Well, based on what we've felt behind the wheels of the JCW Hardtop, we can tell you the three letters aren't a marketing exercise. You see, now that the British carmaker's offerings have fully matured, you'll need the JCW to get the kind of driving thrills that use to come with the Cooper S. As for the positive or negative impact of such an evolution, we'll let you be the judge of that.

What if?

What if the price tag of the JCW is too much for you? Mini already has an answer to that question, with the automaker now announcing the pricing for the complete Convertible line-up. On this side of the pond, things start at $26,800 for the Cooper, while the Cooper S takes that to $30,450.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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