MINI Roadster Debuts | MINI

MINI

2012 Detroit Motor Show

MINI Roadster Debuts

The MINI lineup has been steadily expanding since its debut. The sixth model in the series, the MINI Roadster, has now been announced.

Text & Photo by SHIMASHITA Yasuhisa

A Compact, Sporty Two-Seater

In recent years, compact cars seem to have gained widespread acceptance in the North American market. The European marque that first paved the way here, beyond its brand's original intentions, was MINI, which sold exceptionally well.

Riding this momentum, MINI is expanding its lineup, and its latest offering for Detroit is the MINI Roadster. This marks the sixth distinct model in the MINI brand's range. It's a compact, sporty two-seater open-top, precisely the kind of vehicle tailored for the North American market.

25mm Lower Than the Convertible

The MINI Roadster is a two-seater convertible. Based on the MINI Coupe, which debuted at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, this model features a soft-top roof and integrated fixed roll bars.

While MINI already offers a Convertible, this Roadster, being based on the Coupe, has a lower overall height of 1390mm, 25mm less than the Convertible. The John Cooper Works version even incorporates a retractable rear spoiler, giving it a sportier exterior. Although it seats only two, it boasts a generous 240-liter luggage space, a notable feature.

On display at the venue were the Cooper S and the John Cooper Works models.It's expected to arrive in Japan soon