Mini Cooper Cabrio Unfolds for Summer

By Motoring Channel Staff - 7/12/2004

Coming to Australia in January 2005, the new Mini Cabrio is the first derivative of the highly-successful hardtop Mini Cooper.

Priced from $35,900 for the 85kW Mini Cooper Cabrio, the Mini Cooper S Cabrio with John Cooper Works Tuning Kit will also available from launch in January.

The Cooper S Cabrio will sell for $44,900 and includes the 1.6-litre 4-cylinder engine from the standard Cooper model, albeit with an intercooler and supercharger, which boost power to 125kW.

Offering 154kW of power and 245Nm of torque, cutting acceleration times well below 7.0 seconds for the 0-100km/h charge, the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit will be available only from MINI Garages for $9,850 (including GST and fitment labour).

Mini Australia expects to deliver around 600 Cabrio models in 2005, subject to availability from the factory.

Both 85kW, 150Nm Mini Cooper Cabrio and 125kW, 220Nm supercharged Mini Cooper S Cabrio models are available at launch, and the major feature appearing on both models is a power-operated roof that folds away in a zippy 15 seconds.

The innovative integrated sunroof, unique to Mini Cabrio models is also standard. This allows the front section of the soft top to slide back up to 400mm while the car travels at speeds of up to 120km/h, making it ideal for catching elusive rays of sunshine while on the run.

The Mini Cabrio roof can be folded from outside via the remote control key fob, and the glass rear window contains a demister. BMW has been creating some of the world's best rag-tops for years, and the Mini Cooper Cabrios aren't about to change this.

Uniquely Mini, the soft top comes in a selection of three colours: black, green or blue to match or contrast with the selection of 12 exterior colours, two of which are exclusive to the Cabrio body style: Hot Orange and Cool Blue.

The Mini Cabrio also benefits from 'Easy Load', a smart system that allows the rear section of the soft top to fold up (with the soft top closed) for easy access to the boot.

The soft-top system has been supplied by OASYS (Open Air Systems), a joint venture between Webasto and Pininfarina and unlike some rivals, the Mini Cabrio does not require any manual disassembly of roof components and does not leave drivers vulnerable to a sudden downpour.

The Mini Cabrio is able to carry a maximum of 400kg, and the luggage compartment accommodates 165-litres with the roof closed. And even with the roof down, luggage compartment capacity remains a substantial 120-litres.

On sale in Europe for five months already, the Mini Cabrio has been a stunning success with more than 13,000 units sold to date.

The Plant Oxford factory is running at full capacity to build both Mini hardtop and Cabrio models, with more than 160,000 sold this year to the end of October, proving how popular born-again retro models can be.

A maximum model mix of 20 percent Mini Cabrio build is envisaged; though at present demand is running at a far higher level, says the BMW-owned company.

Australian specification Mini Cabrio models will be "extremely" well equipped. And like all Mini Cooper models, they can be personalised with a huge range of optional features, in a wide variety of trims and colours, including unique-to-Mini colour-coded dash and door trims that echo the exterior paint scheme.

Safety is addressed via Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS), Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), as well as a strengthened bodyshell that incorporates strong reinforcement tubes inserted into the A pillars and dual roll-over hoops with integrated headrests behind the two rear seats.

Four airbags, two front-mounted and two fitted into the outer edges of the front seats and an intelligent crash sensor provide high-levels of passive safety in the event of an impact.

Electric windows, dual reading lights and ambient lighting in the door handles are all standard. As an added convenience feature, all Australian-spec Mini Cabrios will be fitted with Park Distance Control.

The 85kW Mini Cooper Cabrio comes in 5-speed manual or with the stepless Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) as used previously on Mini hardtop models.

Featuring the feisty 125kW supercharged 1.6-litre 4-cylinder engine, the Cooper S Cabrio is capable of producing 220Nm of torque @ 4000rpm, which is huge for a 1600cc engine, and can reach 100km/h from rest in just 7.4 seconds, only 0.2 seconds more than the hardtop model.

This level of performance from the standard Mini Cooper S Cabrio makes it the fastest accelerating four-seater convertible available in Australia under $100,000.

The Mini Cooper S Cabrio is mated to a 6-speed Getrag gearbox, while a 6-speed automatic transmission with 6-speed manual sequential selection will be available early in 2005. All manual gearboxes in the Mini Cabrio line-up hail from Getrag while the new 6-speed automatic for the Mini Cooper S Cabrio (and hardtop) is sourced from Aisin Warner.

Suspension settings are different depending on model. The Mini Cooper Cabrio runs Standard Suspension setting, while the Mini Cooper S Cabrio has firmer ‘Sport’ settings. Both models have anti-roll bars front and rear.

To combine driving exhilaration with equally outstanding safety, the Mini Cooper S Cabrio is equipped with Automatic Stability Control + Traction (ASC+T). This feature is optionally available on the Mini Cooper Cabrio and both models can be equipped optionally with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC).

The Mini Cooper S Cabrio adds 16-inch light alloy wheels, chrome plated finish atop the rollover bars behind the rear headrests and body-colour front grille. Standard Mini Cooper S Cabrio equipment also includes cruise control, alloy patina dashboard finish, sports seats, multi-function steering wheel and stainless steel pedals and footrest.

As well as all the standard features, the Mini Cabrio comes with an equally wide range of optional equipment including Xenon headlights, a DVD navigation system with a 16:9 colour display, harman/kardon HiFi audio system, automatic air conditioning, a wind deflector, a wide range of light-alloy wheels, a three-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel, a rain sensor, and even an interior mirror complete with anti-dazzle function.

John Cooper Works Tuning Kit

Mini muscles its way deeper into the high-performance market with the unveiling of the new, improved 210hp/154kW John Cooper Works Tuning Kit.

The 2005 Mini Cooper S hardtop with John Cooper Works Tuning Kit zaps its way to 100 km/h in just 6.6 seconds and has a top speed of 230km/h. In-gear elasticity has also improved with the 80-120km/h overtaking rush completed in just 5.4 seconds, the improvement augmented by the revised ratios of the 6-speed manual Getrag gearbox instituted for the 2005 Model Update.

The kit can be optioned for both Mini Cooper S hardtop models and the just-revealed Mini Cooper S Cabrio, with supplies of the kit expected in Australia early in 2005.

In just 18 months since the original kit's introduction, over 7,000 Mini Cooper S drivers worldwide have selected the sportier performance offered by the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit.

Customers will be delighted to know pricing for the more powerful John Cooper Works 154 kW Tuning Kit in Australia will cost $9,850, which includes fitting only at authorised MINI Garages. The MINI Cooper S hardtop thus equipped will cost $48,350.

The modular nature of the Tuning Kit means that the almost 150 Australian John Cooper Works customers who have optioned the original 147kW Tuning Kit since last July will be able to purchase an upgrade kit to bring their cars to 154kW specification.

In addition, owners of the pre-Model Update 120kW MINI Cooper S will be able to specify the 154kW Tuning Kit as well.

Mike Cooper, Managing Director of John Cooper Works commented on the dynamic performance improvements: "While it equates to only a small increase on paper, it feels like a considerably bigger hike. With the improved feel, throttle response and sound quality, we're delighted with the results and can't wait to pass the benefits onto our customers.”

The final stats for the power $9850 upgrade are as follows:

154KW @ 6950rpm
245Nm @ 4500rpm
Top speed: 230km/h
0-100km/h: 6.6 seconds