Spied: 2016 MINI Cooper S Convertible Opens Up For Summer

Discussion in 'Future MINIs' started by Nathan, May 13, 2015.

  1. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

    Mar 30, 2009
    25,144
    10,052
    113
    Writer
    Short North
    Ratings:
    +10,069 / 0 / -0
    [​IMG]

    MINI's third-generation Convertible has been spotted for the first time with its top folded back into position giving us a revealing look at the upcoming model.

    Previously the car was thought to have been heading to the Geneva Motor Show for its world premiere, but that didn't happen. Nevertheless, it will join MINI's lineup before the end of this year.

    [​IMG]

    As with its predecessors, the Convertible is based on the body and mechanicals of the three-door Hatch adding a conventional retractable canvas top that eats up some boot space while offering seating for four passengers.

    The powertrain lineup will largely mirror that of the 3- and 5-door hatchbacks with 1.5-liter three-cylinder and 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline units alongside a 1.5-liter diesel for certain regions, topped out by the John Cooper Works edition featuring a 228hp (231PS) 2.0L turbo four.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Angib

    Angib New Member

    Nov 25, 2009
    824
    425
    0
    (Old) England
    Ratings:
    +425 / 0 / -0
  3. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    You would think all the BMW tech they have access to they would have figure out a cover for the roof when it down and decrease the blind area. :confused::(:frown2::frown2::frown2:
     
  4. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    3,532
    2,896
    113
    Professional Facilitator and Alignment Consultant
    Holly Springs, NC
    Ratings:
    +2,896 / 0 / -0
    It's not a tech problem, it's a space problem.
    They've already moved the back seat forward about 1.5" vs. the hardtop, and have already engineered a tri-fold softtop (which was pretty unique when it came out in 2005), just to be able to fit a convertible roof back there at all. There's not a practical way to make it shorter front to back when folded, and there's not a practical way to eliminate more back seat legroom. So it stays like it is, similar to the Beetle.

    As for the blind spot... there's a beefy mechanism hidden inside that blind spot, to make the tri-fold roof work. It's already a pretty sophisticated Rube-Goldberg piece of engineering.

    Now they probably COULD make the rear window a bit larger, which would reduce the blind spot some....
     
  5. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 29, 2009
    12,725
    7,687
    113
    Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
    Columbus, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +7,947 / 1 / -0
    When it's down, it becomes a rear spoiler.....
    When it's up, the rear spoiler disappears.....
    It's one design that does two things...:Thumbsup:
    Engineering inaction...:D


    in·ac·tion
    inˈakSH(ə)n/
    noun
    lack of action where some is expected or appropriate.
    "future generations will condemn us for inaction"
    synonyms: inactivity, nonintervention; More
     
  6. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    3,532
    2,896
    113
    Professional Facilitator and Alignment Consultant
    Holly Springs, NC
    Ratings:
    +2,896 / 0 / -0
    Actually, I would love to get my car in a wind tunnel. With roof up, roof down, and no roof.

    But, not likely to happen.
     
  7. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    They just need to make the rear longer like they did the front.... :rolleyes:
     
  8. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

    Mar 30, 2009
    25,144
    10,052
    113
    Writer
    Short North
    Ratings:
    +10,069 / 0 / -0
  9. Tall Mini

    Tall Mini Member

    Sep 30, 2009
    78
    9
    8
    Ratings:
    +9 / 0 / -0
    It might just be that the driver is really short but the belt-line looks really high. Might just be the rake of the windshield makes it look like it but it looks almost to be near the top of the shoulder
     

Share This Page