Mini has taken the wraps – or rather the roof – off its latest model, the Roadster. Based on the most recent addition to the Mini stable, the Coupé, the Roadster is a two-seater complete with a retractable and “robust all-season” fabric roof. This will be the sixth model in the MINI line-up, joining the hatch, cabriolet, Clubman, Countryman and Coupé.
The 2-seat drop-top Mini features a 3 box design, offering a 240-litre boot, which will also offer a through hatch so long objects can be transported, offering an element of practicality not often seen in sporty convertibles. The soft top roof is described as semi-automatic, which is thought to offer a motorised element to enable ease of use, and a step up from the manual versions of convertible roofs seen elsewhere in the Mini range.
In terms of safety, the 2-seater Mini Roadster features a reinforced windscreen and steel rollover bars to protect the passengers should the car be involved in an accident. The sporty car also has a specially designed rear spoiler which automatically appears when the car hits over 80 km/h to aid stability.
Expected to be launched early next year, the Roadster will be available in three petrol variants. In the base Mini Cooper Roadster the 1.6-litre petrol will produce 90 kW, and a turbocharged version in the Mini Cooper S Roadster will produce 135 kW. The range-topping Mini John Cooper Works Roadster will be powered by a 155 kW version of the same engine.
