More Rumours Concerning the MINI 2004Update & Convertible

Following on from our “MINI Range Due for Summer Shake-Up” report MINI2 has picked some more rumours and inside information from the grape vine that could further fuel speculation among present and future MINI owners alike.

Our sources tell usthat while none of this is ’set in stone’, the following information is as good as you can expect at this stage in development.

The last thing we want to do is lead MINI2 readers astray, so we’ll do our best not to. We still consider the 2004 upgrades to be less of a ‘facelift’ and more of a ‘nip-n-tuck’ and
quality enhancement procedure, but only time will tell how successful it will be.

Feeling (Indi) Blue

This little piece of news broke on the MINI2 forums and is well founded. It looks like come mid 2004, my favourite (and maybe yours?) Indi Blue is due to be replaced by a new hue of metallic blue. Insiders report this is to be a slightly more ‘funky hot hatch’ shade of blue than the current ‘dull saloon car’ Indi. Our latest reports also reinforce previous speculation that two new shades of MINI will hit the market for the Convertible, and as expected it looks like there will be an orange (metallic) and a light blue (non metallic) colour, the blue colour has been confirmed by MINI. Further shuffling of the colour deck could take place, with a new ‘exclusive’ colour for the Cooper S model coming in as the previously exclusive Electric Blue becomes available across the range in certain markets.

Inside information

For the interior, more details have been surfacing regarding possible updates. Further to the reported factory arm rest option, more supportive seats, and larger rear cup
holder, it seems that a change rumoured to be in the pipeline way back in August 2001 could actually be about to happen (so you certainly should have heard it here first folks)!

It looks like the clock could be losing it’s aloof position up on high, and be joining the trip meter on the speedo’s LCD display. It’s uncertain as to what might take it’s place,
but additional interior lighting is a favourite tip, especially when the current main light console will have to be relocated or removed for the soft top MINI anyway. Due to extra storage being introduced below the toggle switch panel bank (already a popular after market addition), we also hear that a new, much neater integrated option for additional gauges will be introduced. This will move the speedo (rev counter in Australia) onto the steering column, and a set of ‘chrono style’ gauges will take pride of place in the centre of the dash. It also is rumoured a remote garage door opener could be introduced for the North American markets.

US late to be “converted”, wraps off in March

Back in July 2001 MINI2 reported the US market wouldget the Cooper S before the UK & Europe, and it happened. Now it seems favour has swung back across the Altantic
and the MINI Convertible will apparently be released to selected markets before it will reach US shores, probably in the UK first. Adding this together with other reports, it would suggest that the One and Cooper Convertible models will appear in the Spring or early Summer of 2004 with the new Getrag 5 speed gearbox and many other improvements which will then be introduced across the MINI range later in Summer ‘04, when the Cooper S Convertible will also hit the streets. All indications point
to the MINI Convertible being unveiled to the public at the Geneva Motorshow in March 2004. The convertible MINI will feature many (but not all) of the changes that will come in across the range later in ‘04, so this is an event well worth looking out for!