Happy 50th birthday, MINI.
The first Mini went on sale in August 1959 and will have its birthday celebrated at a massive gathering in the UK at Silverstone called 'MINI United' from 22 to 24 May. We can expect a special edition MINI later in the year, but for now the best way to celebrate is behind the wheel of the new MINI convertible.
I tested the latest Cooper, Cooper 'S' and John Cooper Works versions on the road and racetrack recently; I never stopped grinning.
So what's new? The soft top's exterior, just like the standard car, is slightly larger than the first BMW MINI but is 10kgs lighter.
The front of the car is a little taller and this offers better pedestrian protection in an impact. The roll over hoops that were once prominent are now disguised and integrated, while at the rear the boot no longer has its hinges exposed. The boot now opens fully and has 5 litres more space. There is also an optional bespoke bike rack that is very neat and practical.
The fabric roof can be opened and closed fully while the car is moving at up to 30km/h. It takes 15 seconds and is a great feature and will save many a driver from getting soaked or the driver finding themselves in unfamiliar surroundings. For sun worshipers there is a toy on the options list that literally times how long the car has been in use with the roof down - I kid you not.
Inside the car is roomier, especially in the back. The cabin is pure MINI, with plenty of options to help you spend your way out of the recession. The shell has been stiffened by 10% and you will only really notice this in the higher performance models where big wheels and stiff suspension will constantly alert you to any imperfections in the road surface.
Under the bonnet the engines have been tweaked to give more power and less CO2, thanks to a new auto 'Stop/Start' system. Only petrol cars are available from launch and all feature a 1.6 litre with various power outputs up to 211bhp in the JCW. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard with automatic optional.
There are significant improvements to aid driver safety. The driving aid ASC is improved upon and replaced with DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) plus you'll find a host of other TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms!). There's 'Hill Hold': basically on an incline, when the foot brake is pressed for more then three seconds, the car will allow you to move off again - without instantly rolling back. 'Active Rollover Protection', where the car will deploy rollover hoops should they be needed, is new, too. While you are less likely - believe it or not - to roll in a convertible than a tin topped car, it is a reassuring feature.
The Cooper (€28,700) is a perfect machine as it blends comfort with style perfectly. The Cooper 'S' (€35,000) is stiffer and makes a beautiful noise, but it is more sports focused and harder riding. As for the JCW, well, it may be stiff on the road, but I love it to bits and having been shown the racing line at the beautiful Pau Arnos circuit by the gifted professional racing driver Amanda Whitaker, I fell in love with the car. It is simply beyond brilliant!
The new convertible is a real blast - if our own economics guru George Lee got behind the wheel even he would forget the world's troubles!
Michael Sheridan
