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2012 MINI Roadster
BMW London
The driving fun sewn into the fabric of every MINI can now be enjoyed with the roof up or down in the brand’s first convertible model designed strictly for two people. The MINI Roadster is the sixth model in the MINI product lineup, and will give the small car segment in Canada another innovative shot in the arm. Following hot on the heels of the MINI Coupé, the Roadster will launch in Canada on February 25th, 2012, just in time for the spring selling season. Final Canadian specifications and pricing will be provided closer to market launch.
The MINI Roadster is a cutting-edge, typically MINI interpretation of the compact, two-seater sports car concept. It provides a faithful reproduction of the MINI design language within the proportions of a roadster, with a clear focus on two-seat design and the open-air driving experience. Unmistakable design features such as the short overhangs, a powerful over-the-wheel stance and high waistline typical of MINI underline the car’s brand identity.
The MINI Roadster will come to Canada with three familiar, powerful yet efficient engine variants, each of which provide that full-blooded go-kart feeling that we know and love:
MINI COOPER S ROADSTER
Featuring a 4-Cylinder engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology, 181hp and a 0-100km/h time of 7.1s.
MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS ROADSTER
Featuring a 4-Cylinder engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology, 208hp, a 0-100km/h time of 6.6 seconds and standard John Cooper Works aerodynamic kit.
MINI COOPER ROADSTER
Featuring a 4-Cylinder engine with fully variable valve management based on BMWs Valvetronic, 121hp and a 0-100km/h time of 9.4s.
While the dimensions of the MINI Roadster largely mirror those of the Convertible, the Roadster is differentiated in one very important way as it stands 20mm lower than the Convertible and therefore features a lower centre of gravity. Furthermore, the new two-seater cuts a distinctive, sleeker figure with a windscreen frame that is raked by an additional 13 degrees compared to the Convertible. Further differentiating the Roadster from the Convertible is an active spoiler – as featured on the recently launched MINI Coupé – that extends automatically when the speedo crosses 80km/h, and retracts again when the speed drops to below 50 km/h. Despite these differences, the design of the MINI Roadster faithfully reflects the principles of MINI design language.
This holds true whether the roof of the Roadster is open or closed. The standard manually-operated soft-top allows the driver to usher in his next dose of open-top driving pleasure without a second thought. It is opened by turning the release level on the windscreen frame by 130 degrees, and swivelling the soft-top back in a single movement behind the seats, where it locks into place. The process for closing the roof again is triggered by pressing a button positioned between the roll-over bars, which allows the roof to
extend back out of its anchorage points assisted by gas-pressured springs. It can then be pulled forward with the help of the release lever and fixed in place again against the windscreen frame. Of course, the MINI Roadster provides all the premium features that we are accustomed to from the other models. The equipment profiles for the Roadster will be derived from those of the MINI Coupé, and full optional equipment and packaging details will be provided closer to market launch.
MINI Canada has launched the MINI Roadster Closed Room on MINI.ca, providing registrants exclusive content, including an outstanding 360 degree interior image. Please feel free to direct any interested customers to the site, and check it out yourselves at
http://www.mini.ca/en/closedroom/index.html
With the MINI Coupé and Roadster launching in time to have a real impact on 2012, there is no question we all have a lot to be excited about for next year. And the best part is…there is still more to come!
Source: MINI Canada