MINI Convertible

On the inside, Mini has made a few changes that significantly improve the ambience of the cabin. The rounded influence can be seen everywhere in the cabin, including the instrument console, centre console, AC vents and inner door handles.

The clearest change on the inside of the Mini Cooper S Convertible is the welcoming addition of the full TFT instrument console, which shows a range of data and also shows navigation maps as and when required. The large rounded centre console houses a rectangular touchscreen infotainment system right in its middle, below which there are conventional controls for the audio system placed in the rounded console itself.

Just below the rounded centre console, there are three rounded displays and controls for the automatic climate control, below which there are toggle-like switches for various functions, including those for starting and stopping the engine.

The car is equipped with sports seats, which are highly supportive, thus adding to its overall fine driving experience. However, the rear seats do have not much room on offer, which might make the taller passengers cramped while seated at the back.

Over the model it has replaced, the new Mini Cooper S Convertible looks cuter and up-to-date while retaining the retro charm of the car in general. The rounded design elements now have a pinch of sharpness to them, which makes the Mini Cooper S Convertible one of the most wonderful looking cars in the modern era.

At the front, the Mini Cooper S Convertible has got those iconic looking circular headlamps, which have got full LED illumination and rounded dual functioning daytime running LEDs, which double up as LED turn indicators. The large grille gets piano black surrounds, which extend down to the front bumper. There are slim and vertically laid air vents placed on the outer corners of the front bumper, while there is a sleek-looking air vent placed on the middle of the bonnet just above the front grille.

On the side, the Mini Cooper S Convertible gets a clean fuss-free design, with a flat looking two-door look and door-mounted rounded rearview mirrors. The wheel arches here get tough-looking black-coloured body cladding, while the shoulder line and door handles are finished in chrome. One does get three-different looking options for the 17-inch alloy wheels, including black, grey and diamond-cut units.

At the back, nothing much has changed over the previous model, as the new Mini Cooper S Convertible has vertically laid and broad looking LED tail lamps, which have rounded edges and get chrome surrounds. The rounded rectangular license plate housing is placed on the middle of the rear hatch and gets a piano black strip over it. There are dual rounded exhaust ports placed just in the middle of the rear bumper in a carved housing.

Over the years, the Mini Cooper S Convertible has made a stature of being one of the best driver’s cars in the market, with a finely tuned steering and suspension combination on offer. There is a certain stiffness, which might not make the car feel plush over bumps and broken roads. However, Mini offers an adaptive suspension system at an additional cost.

The Mini Cooper S Convertible gets the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine under its hood, which is coupled to a 7-speed dual-clutch Steptronic automatic transmission. The maximum power and torque outputs on offer in this convertible car are 192 bhp and 280 Nm respectively, with the car capable of hitting 100 kmph from standstill in 7.1 seconds.

For a car of its price, the Mini Cooper S Convertible is quite basic when it comes to safety. The standard safety equipment list of the convertible hatchback includes dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, reverse parking sensors, electronic stability control, traction control and cornering brake control.

For the price at which it is being offered, the Mini Cooper S Convertible is not exactly a value-for-money option, for a majority of its features are available only as optional extras. However, the snob value it offers as a premium convertible hatchback is second to none.