R57 MINI Cabrio to Debut in Detroit's NAIAS

[Joey D]

New MINI Convertible to debut in Detroit
Now that the very last of the first-gen convertible MINI Coopers has officially rolled down the assembly line, all eyes turn their attention towards the new R57 model. There are some undisguised spy shots floating around, though all but the most die-hard fans would be hard-pressed to spot the differences. The top works the same, featuring the same partly opened 'sunroof' style and the fully opened wind-in-you-hair mode of the last model. Also, the top does not stow away like many modern convertibles, instead sitting atop the rear deck like many of the classics MINIs. Also conspicuously absent is the large external roll-bar of the old model, replaced with a single pop-up unit for '09. It's under the skin where the changes are most apparent, most notably the new 1.6-liter BMW/PSA/Peugeot-Citroen mill. Expect standard Cooper and up-level Cooper S models to make it to the U.S. with the Cooper One and Cooper D added for Europe.

Rumor has it that MINI is set to debut the new '09 'vert at the Detroit Auto Show in January. We expect production to be fully ramped up so that customer deliveries will begin in earnest before summer. And if you don't have your order in yet, expect a very long wait.

...and now today we get more information from Motoring File

2009 R57 MINI Convertible Revealed

Images of the R57 MINI Convertible, scheduled to debut this winter at the Detroit Auto Show, have surfaced thanks to a tipster. While there aren’t many surprises in these photos thanks previous information we’ve reported, there are a couple of new items shown. For one it looks as if MINI is adding a black trip options on the headlights and on the belt-line trim that has been traditionally chrome.

The new two colors exclusive for the R57, Interchange Yellow and Horizon Blue (similar to the much loved Space Blue). Also seen above for the first time is the Hot Chocolate canvass top. Not shown is the “Denim” blue top also making a debut on the R57.

The R57’s top design will be a slightly updated version of the current R52 convertible with a larger glass rear window. Also making it’s debut is a pop-up roll-bar system that will take the place of the current vision robbing set-up. The system will be similar to the one found in the 1 and 3 Series BMWs.

Also seen for the time above (and unique to the convertible) will be an “always open” guage which will measure the percentage of miles driven with the top open. The idea is that it will encourage owners to live the “always open” lifestyle MINI marketing has created for this car. The gauge will be located to the left side of the rev-counter.

The long rumored “black chrome” interior trim that we reported on over a year ago will finally be available on the R57. This addition will be an option much like the chrome-line interior trim on the current range.

Our sources are reporting that the R57 convertible will be available as a factory JCW from day one. It will also be available with the dealer installed JCW engine kit.

As previously reported the R57 will go on-sale in Spring of 2009. We’ve heard an exact time-line of March but that could always slip a week or two. Expect the launch to happen worldwide with the Cooper, Cooper S and JCW models to eventually follow.

We’ll have more on the R57 and details of the trim updates soon.

Pictures:

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I'm not sure what to think, I don't think it looks all that great though. The lines on a convertible MINI are just odd. One thing I do like though is the black trim pieces around the headlamps, I guess so many people did it aftermarket MINI felt that they needed to make money off of it.

The top down gauge, while very gimmicky, is sort of cool. People who buy MINI convertibles typically are the type of people who always drive with the top down as long as it isn't insanely cold (although there are some pictures of these guys that drove around in the Canadian north without the top on) or raining.

I'm surprised they didn't make a folding hard top either, maybe the car was to small? Also I don't know what the weight difference between the two is.

Oh and a JCW Cooper S convertible? Can you say $45,000?

 

[Bram Turismo]

Well, at least it'll recieve the price for worst car photoshop ever...

 

[Jondot]

Hmm... Well, not a lot of surprises here. It looks like... well... it should have been on sale since the standard Mini appeared.

I'm surprised they didn't make a folding hard top either, maybe the car was to small? Also I don't know what the weight difference between the two is.

I'm not. I think it's a case of 'if it aint broke, don't fix it', to be honest, and Mini tend to just upgrade the models as best they can without changing the formula too much. And yeah, I can't see them actually being able to fit it anywhere without changing the shape of the car drastically.

 

[Joey D]

It just seems like the industry standard now is to have a folding hardtop.

 

[Jim Prower]

Where are you going to fit a folding hardtop in a MINI, Joey? It doesn't have a seperate trunk, and it's probably not that good-looking to have a heap of metal sitting on the back.

 

[Joey D]

Meh, I'm no engineer. I figured they would be able to figure it out.

 

[NLxAROSA]

I don't think they would want the extra weight of a folding hardtop.

 

[Jim Prower]

Meh, I'm no engineer. I figured they would be able to figure it out.

Well, basically, they'd have to segment it into roughly...eh...2-foot segments to fit INSIDE the boot, and that's a complex mechanism. Besides, most hatchback convertibles (VW Cabrio, PT 'Vert, etc) use a top that folds against the back edge of the car, not in the trunk/boot. They could've done a Peugeot CC type thing, but...that really doesnt' say "Mini" at all.

 

[YSSMAN]

Didn't the former (or current?) model have issues with its "solidity" as well? I'd hope that they would have addressed the issue without adding too much weight.

(I may be getting confused with other small convertibles out there...)

 

[homeforsummer]

Looks...basically the same as the previous MINI cabrio. But proportionally more bulbous just as the current MINI looks bulbous next to the MINI it replaced. Not a car that appeals to me at all.

That said, the current shape MINI has grown on me for one reason - I've really started liking the Clubman.

 

[YSSMAN]

Odd, so have I. Now that we've got a MINI dealer in town (finally!), we're starting to see more and more. However, its the Clubman that sticks out to me most often, and I have to say that these days, I almost prefer it to the regular model.

 

[homeforsummer]

Same. I've not really been a fan of the current model's shape, but I really liked the previous one. But with the Clubman, the shape works much better. I've been building my perfect MINI on MINI USA's site

Not to go too far off topic though, the cabrio certainly doesn't improve the current model's general look, but the Clubman does.

 

[YSSMAN]

Perhaps they should just make us happy and build a convertible version of the Clubman?

(har har har...)

One problem: I still think the Cooper Convertible is far too expensive for what you get. When the Eos is clearly in the same price range with the 2.0T, yeah, my old VW habbits die hard indeed.

 

[Joey D]

The Clubman isn't bad, it still has 95% of the fun but with more room. The only issue I have with it is the split rear doors. It makes it really hard to see what's behind you in the rear view.

I agree the MINI Cabrio is way overpriced as well when compared to other small drop tops. I'd probably have the Eos as well.

 

[homeforsummer]

The Clubman isn't bad, it still has 95% of the fun but with more room. The only issue I have with it is the split rear doors. It makes it really hard to see what's behind you in the rear view.

Visibility is overrated

I'm yet to take a good peek out the back of a Clubman (even though I've sat in one) but I do expect it's probably pretty awful to see what's behind. I really like the double doors though, they feel pretty damn chunky and it's a bit more interesting than having a normal tailgate.

 

[Joey D]

I test drove a Clubman a couple months back and gave a bit of a write up on it. I liked it to an extent but I don't think I would want one. I also had the pleasure (or would it be displeasure) of driving around a cabrio last Thanksgiving weekend for a couple of day while my car was being repaired. It was snowing an such but I still had to drive with the top down.

I'm still glad I settled on the Cooper hatchback after driving both of those.

 

[homeforsummer]

Nice write up, and interesting to read. I think my problem with the current MINI extends solely down to it's exterior styling (the interior is a big improvement), which isn't as resolved as the original. The cabrio doesn't help this at all, but because the Clubman is elongated it looks less "fat". Trouble is, I haven't actually seen one in the "right" colour yet. The back corners look wrong when they're silver, so it has to be a black roof on the car. I've only seen red, silver and white Clubmans with the black roof so far, and for some reason no British Racing Green ones. Yet a little play around with the "build your own" on the USA site shows how great it looks (to me, anyway):

I'm not saying I'd have the chequered flags on the mirrors and roof... but the colour scheme is probably the best available for the Clubman.

Anyway, I'm meandering off the subject of the cabrio again. The yellow one in the pictures looks like it's on stilts...