autoevolution
 

MINI Roadster Is Fun: Romanian Launch

“RACING - Because football, handball, bowling or tennis only require ONE BALL” This message was the first thing I saw when I stepped onto the rooftop of one of Bucharest’s posh malls. It was written on the doors of a brand new MINI Roadster and I was immediately handed the keys to the car. Why was I holding the keys to a MINI Roadster that was parked there, in the middle of the city, but above it?
MINI Roadster 13 photos
Photo: original image created by autoevolution
MINI Roadster funMINI Roadster funMINI Roadster funMINI Roadster funMINI Roadster funMINI Roadster funMINI Roadster funMINI Roadster funMINI Roadster funMINI Roadster funMINI Roadster funMINI Roadster fun
This is how the carmaker decided to launch the car in Romania - by throwing an automotive, party. When rally driver Claudiu David invited me for a drive, with him giving me instructions from the passenger’s seat, I knew that this was not going to be one of those boring events where I stare at my camera and discover specs of dust that remind me of the latest test drive.

We, the automotive journalists, were invited to tackle an obstacle course using a MINI Roadster, with the winner set to receive a MINI folding bike. I was desperately looking for the booth where I thought I should’ve received my helmet and fireproof clothing, but instead the organizers sent me to grab a couple of beers and a blowup doll. Wait, what?

Yes, before we could drift the car on the dusty surface sprayed with cones, we had to secure our man-create lady friend on the passenger’s seat using the seatbelt and fit certain objects, such as the aforementioned beers and a pair of rubber boots into the car. Then, after we completed the course, we had to use the car to score a goal using a gigantic ball. Sounds like a job for a MINI!

I set off and the nervous sound of the exhaust is there, very close to me thanks to the lack of a roof, I play with everything I could find in the car (the lever placed behind the gear shifter proved particularly helpful), complete the course in a time that brings a smile on my face and score a perfect goal. The doll on my right also seems happy.

Unfortunately, this was just the practice run - in the actual run I missed the net, which put me out of the fight. So, no bicycle for me, but at least I had a ton of fun playing with the open-top MINI in order to avoid hitting the cones, boxes and glass elements placed along the course. See you at the test-drive baby (I am taking about the car)!
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Andrei Tutu
Andrei Tutu profile photo

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.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories