Mini's soft-top targets iconic MX-5 31 | 10 | 2011

THIS IS THE SOFT-TOP convertible Mini believes will finally knock the iconic Mazda MX-5 from its pedestal. This definitive production version of the new compact two-seat Mini Roadster — which will be officially unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in January — is a sister car to the recently introduced Mini Coupé.

Due to enter Scottish showrooms across the country next Spring, the car will be built at Mini’s Oxford plant. Prices will start at £18,015 for the base Cooper model.

Just 3mm shorter, 47mm narrower and 25mm lower than Mini’s existing open-top Cabriolet, the Roadster is 3728mm long, 1638mm wide and 1390mm tall.

But whereas the existing Cabrio — on which much of the Roadster is based — is a four-seater, the newcomer is a strict two-seater. As in the Coupé, the space behind the seats is dedicated to extending luggage capacity.

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An ingenious manual fabric roof — the multi-layered structure can be lowered from the driver’s seat, folding back behind the seats into a space ahead of a rear liftback — reduces weight in the car.

Three different levels of tuning from Mini’s familiar 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine will be available at launch: 121bhp in the Cooper, plus turbocharged 181bhp in the Cooper S and 208bhp in the range-topping John Cooper Works models.

For the more economical amongst you, there will also be a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel unit with 141bhp in the Cooper SD.

Mini say the manual version will cover the 0-62mph sprint in 8.1sec, reach a 131mph top speed, and return a combined 62.8mpg and CO2 of just 118g/km.

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Jim McGill