Enhanced Convenience

Held last autumnWorld Premiere at Tokyo Motor ShowThe latest generation MINI Convertible, which had its world premiere, has finally debuted in Japan. Based on the third generation "MINI Hatchback" released in the Japanese market in April 2014, it retains the adorable MINI style while being finished as an open-top car with a traditional soft top.

The characteristic electric soft top is newly developed and opens or closes in just 18 seconds. Furthermore, it can be opened or closed while driving at speeds up to 30 km/h. The "sunroof function," which allows only the top part above the front seats to be opened, has also been inherited.

The "rollover protection system," which deploys in the event of a vehicle rollover to protect rear seat occupants, has been designed to blend seamlessly into the interior, resulting in a simpler open-top style.

The exterior basically inherits the style of the hatchback, but the rear section has a dedicated design with a trunk lid. A welcome new feature in the new model is the ability to lift the rear end of the soft top for improved access. Furthermore, the trunk capacity has been increased by 40 liters compared to the previous model, securing 160 liters when open and 215 liters when closed.

John Cooper Works Also Appears

The interior is exactly like the current MINI Hatchback. It incorporates the latest generation MINI features, including advanced safety equipment. All models come standard with LED headlights, fully automatic air conditioning with open mode, chrome parts, and park distance control, offering a comprehensive set of features. The rear seat space has also been improved, with approximately 30mm more width and 40mm more legroom compared to the previous model.

The powertrain options include a 1.5L inline 3-cylinder turbo with 136 ps / 220 Nm and a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder turbo with 192 ps / 280 Nm. The 1.5-liter engine is used in the "MINI Cooper Convertible," and the 2.0-liter engine is in the "MINI Cooper S Convertible." Both are paired exclusively with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

A high-performance "John Cooper Works" model is also available, featuring a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine producing 231 ps and 320 Nm of torque, along with exclusive interior and exterior design, electronic differential lock control, and sports suspension as standard. This model also comes exclusively with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The announcement of the MINI Convertible also included the adoption of the new "MINI Yours Design Programme." This is a new optional program that enhances the MINI with meticulously selected materials and refined, detail-oriented items for a more premium finish. Package options are available, and it's also possible to select and install individual items from the program's menu.

This allows for the installation of special items such as a soft top woven with the Union Jack pattern.

The program's menu includes a wide range of options such as leather seats, wood paneling, sports steering wheels, and alloy wheels. The company plans to roll out this program to other MINI models in the future.

The new MINI Convertible will be available in three models: the sporty "Cooper," the "Cooper S" with enhanced sportiness and luxury equipment, and the high-performance "John Cooper Works" with total tuning. Prices range from 3.42 million yen to 4.83 million yen. All models are right-hand drive. Deliveries are scheduled to begin at the end of March, with the "John Cooper Works" model starting at the end of May.