The MINI Cooper Cabrio, the car long awaited by MINI enthusiasts, is here at last. Now those who love driving an open car will no longer have to miss out on the fun of the open-air experience at the wheel of a MINI. In July of this year the MINI product range will be complemented by the attractive MINI Cabrio.

The MINI Cabrio is a fully-fledged four-seater and instantly recognisable as a genuine MINI, regardless of whether the roof is up or down.

For the design features and proportions so characteristic of the MINI have been consistently carried over to the MINI Cabrio. The steeply raked windscreen and the optimum seating position enjoyed by the driver ensure an unforgettable open-air experience when driving with the roof down. So the new model version leaves no doubt that motoring pleasure is an outstanding factor on all four seats of this uniquely popular cult car.

The 1.6-litre engine under the bonnet delivering 85 kW/115 bhp at 6,000 rpm, does true justice to that go-kart feeling so typical of MINI. Maximum torque of 150 Nm or 111 lb-ft is achieved at 4,500 rpm. The MINI Cooper Cabrio, which features a smooth-shifting five-speed gearbox, accelerates from 0 100 km/h in just 9.8 seconds and has a top speed of 193 km/h or 120 mph. Acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h is achieved in fourth gear in a mere 11.6 seconds. In spite of this remarkable performance, the attractive MINI Cabrio has a very modest fuel consumption of just 7.3 litres premium/100 km in the EU cycle, the equivalent of 38.7 mpg Imp.

The MINI Cooper Cabrio is the result of a cleverly devised overall concept comprising a high degree of functionality and optimum utilisation of space. It is not long before the driver experiences the enjoyment of open-air driving, as the roof folds back fully automatically in a mere 15 seconds. At the push of a button, you first open the integrated sliding roof, then the entire soft roof. With the soft roof folding to the rear, the roof pillars are automatically retracted and the rear side windows move down at the same time. The intelligent Z-folding mechanism allows the complete roof to fold up in compact arrangement behind the rear seats, with no need for a tonneau cover.

The sliding roof integrated in the soft top can be opened infinitely up to 40 cm or 15¾´´ while driving, up to a speed of 120 km/h or 75 mph. Clearly, a feature quite unprecedented in the Cabrio market.

The MINI Cabrio has a drop-down boot lid which is held in position when open by two steel cables on a spring-mounted retractor system. This allows use of the rear lid with its exterior hinges as a practical loading platform able to hold a weight of up to 80 kg or 176 lb.

The MINI Cabrio is able to carry a maximum of 400 kg or 882 lb, and the luggage compartment accommodates 165 litres with the roof closed. And even with the roof down, driving in the open air, luggage compartment capacity remains a substantial 120 litres.

Those who wish to get even more out of this agile little car can make use of the generous Easy Load through-loading system designed for even the most bulky of loads. With the roof closed, all you do is turn two levers in the luggage compartment to fold up the bottom section of the folding top and attach it in position. Then, with the rear lid open, you have very convenient access to the luggage compartment through a large opening able to accommodate even bulky objects. And in conjunction with the rear seat backrests folding forward and fastened securely in position, luggage compartment capacity can be increased to no less than 605 litres.