► New Mini Convertible spied in Germany
► Sticks with pram-style soft-top
► Due to make show debut in 2016
Our spies have caught the new Mini Convertible on test in Germany with its top down – affording our first proper look at its roof mechanism and a glimpse inside the Mini soft-top.
It’s no great shakes; we’ve all known the Mini Convertible is coming after it survived the cull that’s befallen the soon-to-be-exterminated Roadster and Coupe bodystyles. The Cooper S we captured here uses the 189bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo, whereas the Cooper and below stick with the downsized three-cylinder 1.5.
Visible in our spy photos is a pram-style canvas roof that folds down to package on top of the bootlid when the roof is open. It’s not often that our spies photograph prototype cabrios with the roof down, but – in a sign that summer’s surely on the way – they have found one topless in this instance. In one spyshot you can even see engineers testing out the – surely still cramped – rear seats.
When will we see the new Mini Convertible?
Not this year. Mini’s first priority is to replace the Clubman estate and we’ll see that car at the Frankfurt motor show in September 2015, before UK sales start.
We’d wager the Mini Convertible will follow suit, with a launch likely in spring 2016. Sounds to us like a US debut could suit the open-top, sun-seeking Mini. Anyone bet against a debut in Los Angeles or Detroit?
Click here for our long-term test review of the latest three-cylinder Mini Cooper.