One of the episodes of Tokyo automotive industry exhibition, taking place in late October 2015, became the official debut of a compact premium-class cabriolet Mini Convertible (Cabrio) of the next, third generation with intrafactory label «F57».
Mini Cabrio is a real dude with bright, athletic and taut appearance, devoid of angular and sharp shapes. Expressive high cheek-bones “muzzle” with pop-eyed stare and trapezoidal “mouth” grille, lean profile with a large outline of the wheel arches and accurate feed with beautiful lanterns. There is a line of convertible S-version, which can be recognized by increasingly aggressive bumpers, dual branch pipes of the exhaust system and 16-inch wheels.
The third generation Mini Cabrio refers to European «B» class with its overall dimensions: length – 3821, height – 1415 mm, width – 1727 mm. Wheelbase of the cabriolet fits into 2495 mm and its ground clearance does not exceed 115 mm. Depending on modification the weight of novelty may vary from 1230 to 1295 kg.
The interior decoration of the third generation Mini Convertible meets interesting, cheerful design. Cabrio’s interior looks really stylish: three-spoke steering wheel with control elements, large speedometer and tachometer with the tide of “family” in the middle console with a large circle of color display in the top, multimedia installations, and three “washers” of microclimate in the lower part.
Interior of the British cabriolet is four-seated, but if the front luxury seats have a pronounced support on each side and a large range of settings, its rear seats will most likely be suitable only for children.
With a raised top the luggage compartment of Mini Convertible can accommodate 215 liters of luggage, but its folded soft top takes from this figure about 55 liters of the luggage space. The car is equipped with a convertible soft-top that is transformed in only 15 seconds at the maximum speed of 30 km / h.
The basic version under the name of Cooper has a three-cylinder 1.5-liter gasoline engine under its hood with turbo technology and direct fuel supply generating 136 horsepower at 4400 rpm / min and 220 Nm of peak thrust at 1250 rev / min. The “top” modification of Cooper S is staffed with 2.0-liter petrol “turbo four” with direct injection, disposing 192 hp at 5000-6000 rev/minute and 280 Nm of torque at 1250-4600 rev / min.
Cooper D diesel version is equipped with a three-cylinder turbo engine of 1.5 liters, producing 116 “horses” at 4000 rpm / min and 270 Nm of thrust in the range of 1750 to 2250 rev / min.
Mini Cabrio will be available with a 6-speed “mechanics” or automatic transmission for customers to choose. Standard equipment set includes air bags in front and from each side, ABS with EBD, ESP, rear parking sensors, branded “music”, 15-inch wheels, electric windows and other equipment.
Sales of convertible “Mini” of the 2016 model year in the European market will commence before the end of 2015. In Germany, the minimum value will be around 23,950 euros for the standard modification of Mini Cabrio Cooper.