MINI MK II has gone soft. Soft top that is. Come the North American International Auto Show in January 2009 (also known as Detroit), MINI Convertible will be shown to the public for the first time. Live. For now we have to make do with what we have, which is these pictures right here.
The main feature of this car is that it is a convertible, as the name suggests. It features an electrohydraulically-operating canvass roof with an option of having its opening/ closing mechanism operate at up to 30km/h. Even cooler is that you can open and close the roof remotely from a short distance using the key. MINI Convertible comes in 12 exterior and three roof colours.
Mechanically the Convertible is exactly the same as the other two MINI body types. The engine, a 1.6-litre engine developed by BMW and produced by Peugeot- Citroen, is mapped to make two power figures. Naturally aspirated it makes 88kW and maximum torque of 160Nm. BMW says it will accelerate from 0 – 100km/h in 9.8 seconds and top off at 198km/h.
The spunkier version, Cooper S Convertible, is the same 128kW and 240Nm animal which features an overboost function that takes torque to 260Nm for a short period of time during overtaking. Its 0 – 100km/h time is 7.4 seconds and top speed is 222km/h.
Fuel consumption has obviously become an issue these days and MINI claims an average of 5.7 litres/100km for Cooper and 6.4 litres/ 100km for Cooper S Convertible.
We can expect MINI Convertible to hit Mzansi topless during the spring of 2009 at prices of over R300 000.
Durban is an almost perfect setting to launch the MINI Convertible. I say “almost perfect” because sometimes it rains incessantly for days on end. But when the weather does play ball only the words “South Africa’s playground” can come out of your mouth.
It was against this sun-kissed background that I took control of the brand new MINI Convertible along the east coast. This proved to be a great decision because I was able to negotiate small parts of the Valley of a Thousand Hills in one of the best handling cars in its class. That the body is 10% stiffer and the car 10kg lighter overall comes into play under these conditions.
The front-wheel-drive system takes advantage of the Cooper’s naturally aspirated 1.6-litre’s 88kW (120hp) and 160Nm of torque supplied. Mated to it is the standard 6-speed manual gearbox. At altitudes of between 5m and 300m this suffices but it remains to be seen how it will handle Gauteng. I’m encouraged though, by the fact that the Cooper coupe/hatch doesn’t suffer much here and that in fact those who drive this “lesser” MINI must not at all feel embarrassed. Its claimed 0 – 100km/h time is 9.8 seconds and top whack is 198km/h. Our fun route and apparently cement-fitted shoes made it impossible to achieve the stated 6.1 litres/100km fuel consumption.
Turbo boosted Cooper S on the other hand has more guts at 128kW (174hp) at 5500rpm and 240Nm between 1600rpm and 5000rpm with an extra 20Nm overboost function in overtaking. The 0 – 100km/h sprint is said to come around in 7.4 seconds and top speed is 222km/h.
MINI has the dubious distinction of being referred to whenever something tiny or small is discussed. Spaciousness then, is not exactly a forte the cars enjoy. The designers and engineers tried to overcome this by increasing the luggage compartment’s capacity by 5 litres (imagine you can fit in an extra two 2l bottles of Coke and Fanta plus a one litre of Appletizer) when the roof is down. Load space is 170 litres with the roof closed and 660 litres with the rear seat backrest folded down.
The canvass top can be sorted out in either direction within 15 seconds but if it’s only the sunroof function you want you can just open that part and leave the rest out. In keeping up with current technologies the roof can be operated at speeds of up to 30km/h.
Safety has not been compromised just because the roof is softer than passengers’ skulls. Rollover bars that react quickly in case of a rollover accident pop up in a matter of nanoseconds to protect the occupants. Some vehicles of other makes (I won’t say Mercedes-Benz CLK if you don’t) have the tendency to pop up their rollover bars even when hitting things like speed humps at higher-than-average speeds.
Something called Always-Open Timer is fitted and it appears just to the left behind the steering if that option is taken. It basically measures the amount of time the roof is down from the first time it’s opened. There’s really no engineering or performance purpose attached to the device so it’s just a gimmick for those with no clocks or watches. Exterior comes in 12 colours while the roof can be had in one of three.
Nanny electronics to help keep you in line and on the road include ABS brakes with EBD, Cornering Brake Control, Dynamic Stability Control and Dynamic Traction Control. Standard wheels have the MINI internal code of 2RK and come with runflat tyres, as does the rest of the MINI range. Disappointingly these are the ugliest bunch of wheels one can put on any MINI. You can of course get better wheels from about R7 400 a set or buy them cheapest at R22 500 (R11 300 for the Cooper S) as part of a package called the Chili pack that includes things like xenon headlights and a lights package.
Standard features are surprisingly plenty and count among others, park distance control, foglights, a chunky leather sports steering wheel with multi-function ability and four airbags.
MINI has sold over 164 000 units of this version globally since MINI came back to market. This represents about two in ten of total MINI sales. Though pricing is quite steep for the topless experience, MINI should not find too much trouble in its search for buyers, even though these guys will have to wait for three months to get their cars. Fans of the brand are known to be staunch supporters who hardly ever sell their cars, hence their high resale values.
The cars come with a 3 year/ 75 000km full maintenance plan which can be extended up to 200 000km if the buyer feels like it/ can afford it.
“So you wanna play?” she throws a rhetoric question back at me. Her response to my pressing the DTC button for three seconds and thereby switching off the entire traction control system.
“That’s why we’re here” I roar gleefully. A short but telling conversation that took place a the Zwartkops Raceway just south west of Pretoria. I could tell you the clouds covered the sky in grey or that it didn’t rain. I could even tell you there was no breeze, but who’d care? Would you? No. You want to know how the spanking went down, and how much rubber lay wasted on the tarmac.
First of all this was not some kinky get-together with a leather-clad temptress, although she did have full leather seats. No, this was a gathering of three MINI supermodels named John Cooper Workshatch, John Cooper Works Clubman and the newest family member John Cooper Works Convertible. Three different ways to go around Zwartkops.
My previous encounter with the John Cooper Works hatch took place on the karting circuit almost exactly a year ago but this time MINI unfolded the main stage. Most of it anyway; the pit straight was off limits, presumably for our own protection as sometimes-reckless motoring media. Who can blame us? Any date involving this trio is bound to offer boundless smiles and giggles.
One thing I love about Zwartkops is that it’s short and punchy, quick corners, sharp turns and not much in the way of hiding places should a mishap take place. That’s why I tapped on that DTC button cautiously at first, mindful of all these characteristics. But as the day wore on I grew in confidence, not because of my own (highly questionable) driving skills but because the cars did their jobs exceptionally well. Particularly impressive was the Convertible newcomer which is not as rigidly built as the other two because of the nature of its roof. I thought it would be compromised on the track and it was not. Not at all.
Power is sourced from the same 1.6-litre turbo found in the normal John Cooper Works. It produces 155kW at 6000rpm and maximum torque of 260Nm between 1850rpm and 5600rpm. An overboost function of 20Nm is available during certain instances like brisk overtaking. MINI claims a 0 – 100km/h time of 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 235km/h. IN4RIDE will have its chance to test these claims but for those 15 laps or so it felt quicker. Mated with it is a 6-speed manual gearbox that facilitates changes without fuss.
The electro-hydraulic roof mechanism opens and closes the soft-top in 15 seconds. It can also be operated fully at up to 30km/h. What’s nice too is that should you wish to open it just like a sunroof then you can. Two steel rollbars behind the headrests will shield the occupants from a roll-over accident.
The daring aerodynamic body kit is standard and other sporty features include fog lights, carbon fibre mirror caps, a sports suspension, red cross-drilled brake discs and side scuttles. Air conditioning, a radio/ CD/ MP3 player, on-board computer, three-spoke leather steering wheel, park distance control and others come standard.
As with other MINIs in the range the John Cooper Works Convertible is extremely customisable with 12 exterior paint colours and various interior leather options, Bluetooth connection, xenon headlights, armrests, a Sport button, satellite navigation and a 6-CD changer among others.
Joy and happiness are guaranteed daily words should you be prepared to finance one of these babies.
MINI have just added another derivative to its ever-growing list of body shapes. The new Countryman is now being sold in South Africa with two engine choices. I got to drive it for a while and came out impressed. But in the end, it’s nothing like the MINI you know and love.
MINI South Africa launched the MINI Convertible two months ago. Well-known BMW tuner AC Schnitzer is now offering a new range of accessories for the car. Even the power has been upped in the Cooper S, from 128kW to a hectic 166kW. That’s as powerful as the previous generation MINI GP and the Ford Focus ST, but more powerful than that new Golf GTI!
The kit includes things like a new rear skirt, a new front spoiler, a sports exhaust system with chrome finishings and new front styling. Even the interior has been “improved” to show that this is a special car indeed.
I’ll tell you later if AC Schnitzer South Africa/ JSN Motors will offer this new kit as well or not.
*UPDATE: AC Schnitzer South Africa/ JSN Motors said they will not be offering the new MINI kit for the Convertible because they are not a MINI agent anymore and they would lose money by doing so. But if a customer asks they will do it, so I imagine the price would be quite steep.
