The MINI Roadster is the convertible many of us have been waiting for. Sleek and sporty with a classic manually operated top, this is as back to basics (and light) as a factory option top MINI has ever gotten. But how exactly does the top differ from what the R57 convertible offers? Let’s take a look. The Roadster’s top goes down with a flick of a wrist rather than a push of a button. The top, an all season soft-top made of the same material as the Convertible’s, then folds neatly into the space behind the front seats. When closed, the roof – which shares the simple style of classic British roadsters – “cascades” downwards, broadening as it heads towards the body and underlining to fine effect the typically MINI, powerful over-the-wheel stance. When opened, the roof folds down flat behind the seats, keeping the car’s elegantly sweeping lines intact. And since the outer skin of the roof faces upwards, there is no need for any additional cover. The manual opening and closing mechanism of the soft-top roof allows the driver to drop the top in seconds. And the roof can be closed again equally quickly to protect from any unexpected weather. The roof is opened by turning the release lever on the windscreen frame though 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-pressure springs. It can then be pulled forward with the help of the release lever and fixed in place again against the windscreen frame. So what does this mean for the driving experience? Like the Coupe, the Roadster has more weight upfront giving the Roadster more lift-off oversteer and a very playful personality. In addition, the use of a comparatively lightweight, manually operated soft-top roof lowers the car’s centre of gravity further than any other MINI currently produced. Back to basics and nothing you don’t need. The new Roadster is the convertible we at MF have been waiting for since the new MINI was introduced. We can’t wait to get behind the wheel. MotoringFile
I like that. No problem being manual in a two seater and if tucks away cleanly. My old TR Spitfire required you to dismantle the top to store it and that was a PITA. They later came out with a folding one, but I never had that version. I hope they come up with a tonneau cover. Jim
It looks like we're going to have to remove the (optional) 'wind protection insert' from between the rollbars before the hood can be pushed down to the locked position: That pushing-down looks to be a very un-ergonomic action for us inflexible old farts, plus I'm not sure we won't have to use the left hand to push the unlock button and then switch to the right hand to lift the hood up. Hopefully Mini will at least have designed the gas struts so that as "the roof extends back out of its anchorage points", it pops up high enough to be grabbed over the 'wind protection insert' so that only has to be removed and replaced when lowering the roof.
Dang, Jim, my first car was a '62 TR Spit. I bought if from Lt. Buck my division officer. When I took it down to Key West for 9 months of advanced electronics instead of raising and lowering the top all the time for those afternoon showers, I just drilled holes in the floor boards. No PITA from then on. I did have the tonneau but rarely used it. The rear axel being what it was, autocross was a real challenge on those 180 and 360 handbrake turns.
I used the tonneau a lot. I liked driving around with only the driver's side open. If it rained, just zip it up, wait till it stopped, wipe it off and motor on.
Wow that looks very nice closed! Just like a Z4. Can't wait to see one in person This looks to be definite alternative for my wifes 09 MCS.
Also very good for driving in cold weather as it cut the draught (sorry, draft) in the passenger seat space and also channelled all the output of the heater past the driver. Given the Roadster's design, it should be possible to have a tonneau that can stay in place even with the hood up - though it would be hard to make it shed water like the old tonneaus did. My Midget tonneau when left done up both sides would keep the interior dry in heavy rain. Hhmmm. Andrew's Tonneau Shop - a branch may be opening on an internet near you soon....
Yep, mine shed water too and that would be a must in my mind. The two roll bars would give added support to keep it from sagging and collecting water. I am sure they would be able to pop the side snaps if they deployed. Let me know when the shop opens. Jim