Soft top season is here and MINI has two drop-top models that offer wind-in-the-air-motoring as standard.
Of course, deciding on what model is the more appealing open-top driving experience is down to you.
The Roadster MINI is the first open-topped two-seater in the company’s history, with sharp and individual looks re-interpreting a classic motoring concept. This latest model aims to offer the driving dynamics of a taut-handling roadster, with the cheeky charm of a MINI.
MINI Convertible can share the joys of summer travel with up to three passengers while in the MINI Roadster, the suntan and windswept hair is strictly for two. The Convertible’s roof can be partially opened at the press of a button and fully opened in 15 seconds. Only the MINI Roadster has the faster alternative here, activated manually. The soft top is unfolded and locked into place behind the seats in a single operation. There is also an optional semi-automatic open and close mechanism which requires the roof to be released and secured at the windscreen frame.
Both models promise to keep their occupants safe if things go a bit topsy-turvy. Two rollover bars made of polished stainless steel behind the seats along with a rigid windscreen frame form a stable passenger cell in the MINI Roadster, while in the MINI Convertible, a single-section rollover bar springs up automatically behind the headrests at the rear.
Each variant uses a light soft top and additional body reinforcements to ensure a high degree of torsional stiffness and a low centre of gravity, making for increased agility when cornering at speed. The MINI Roadster is a tad more radical when it comes to combating the airstream. Its A-columns have a greater tilt angle, and from a speed of 80 km/h the active rear spoiler automatically extends to optimise aerodynamic balance.
In terms of versatility, the MINI Convertible is the clear winner, thanks to a load opening between the luggage and passenger section, giving additional flexibility. With all seats in use, it has a storage volume of 125 litres with the top open and 170 litres when closed, which further increases its luggage hauling capacity to 660 litres. However, it’s the Roadster that has the bigger boot at 240 litres.
Both the Convertible and Roadster come with a selection of diesel and petrol power. All engines are combined as standard with a six-speed manual transmission, with a six-speed automatic transmission available as an optional extra. For those wanting higher performance there are the more powerful and focused John Cooper Works variants. Both body versions use a 211 bhp turbo engine, which will help whip up a storm of enthusiasm on any open-top trip.
More information on the drop-top MINI range can be found at http://www.mini.co.uk/
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