Topless Mini's - Mini One Cabriolet and Mini Cooper Cabriolet

Mini One Cabriolet and Mini Cooper Cabriolet

Nearly three years since its launch the MINI adventure shows no sign of slowing down. This summer sees the introduction of two new models – the MINI One Cabriolet and MINI Cooper Cabriolet. Both models will be built at Plant Oxford in the UK alongside the four models already in production; MINI One, MINI One D, MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S. The MINI One Cabriolet and MINI Cooper Cabriolet will make their world debuts at the Geneva Motor Show on 2 March, 2004. Pricing will be confirmed closer to launch.

The MINI Cabriolet family will be completed later in the year with the introduction of the MINI Cooper S Cabriolet. Again, pricing and full details will be confirmed closer to launch.

Just like the rest of the MINI family, the MINI Cabriolet has four seats and is blessed with striking good looks, gutsy personality and go-kart style handling. With an optional equipment list longer than any other car in its class, four airbags and parking distance control fitted as standard, the MINI Cabriolet may appear small but it thinks big.

No fiddling on this roof Both the MINI One Cabriolet and MINI Cooper Cabriolet have fully automatic roofs as standard. The roof operates in two stages. Press the button once and the roof slides back 40 cm creating an ‘open sunroof’. Press the button again and the roof retracts fully, neatly folding down into a compact arrangement behind the rear seats. No messy catches or tricky tonneau covers are involved – only 15 seconds and the press of a button stand between the driver and the joys of open-air motoring.

Spaced out Reminiscent of the classic Mini, the MINI Cabriolet has a new drop down boot which doubles as a handy loading platform. Two steel cables on a spring mounted retractor system act as boot hinges holding a weight of up to 80 kg. The boot capacity with the roof up is 165 litres – with the roof down it is 120 litres.

However, MINI Cabriolet owners with bulky items to carry need not despair. By turning two levers in the boot, the rear fastening of the roof can be released allowing the rear section to be raised. This creates a wide aperture through which larger items can be loaded. In fact, by using this ‘easy load’ facility and putting the rear seats down, the MINI Cabriolet instantly offers 605 litres of storage space.

Look at my MINI! Two new paint colours have been reserved exclusively for the MINI One Cabriolet and MINI Cooper Cabriolet – Hot Orange and Cool Blue. There is a choice of three roof colours for the MINI Cooper Cabriolet, black, blue and green, whilst the MINI One Cabriolet roof is only offered in black. The finishing exterior touch on the MINI Cooper Cabriolet is body coloured wing mirrors which come as standard.

The interior has also been given a splash of colour. Body coloured dashboards will be an option from launch in addition to the existing choice of silver, anthracite, aluminium and wood.

In addition to the existing wide range of upholstery choices, a new dark blue ‘Gravity’ leather will be offered on both the MINI One Cabriolet and MINI Cooper Cabriolet. The wheel selection also increases with the introduction of a new 17-inch five star bullet alloy wheel that will be reserved exclusively for MINI Cabriolet models.

Under the bonnet The MINI One Cabriolet and MINI Cooper Cabriolet are powered by the same flexible engine as their hatchback counterparts. In MINI One Cabriolet guise, the 1.6 litre engine produces 90 bhp and a top speed of 109 mph.

0-62 mph is reached in 11.8 seconds. The MINI Cooper Cabriolet has an output of 115 bhp and a top speed of 120 mph. 0-62 mph is reached in 9.8 seconds.

2004-02-10 Please quote Autoindex.org if You use this news article!