[Paul]

Car & Driver recently published some convertible spy shots:

Spied: 2009 Mini Cooper Cabrio - Car News - Car and Driver August 2007

[MartinSSZ]

The R56 shape certainly seems to suit the convertible conversion

[MiniOneSam]

Quote: Originally Posted by MartinSSZ (original)

The R56 shape certainly seems to suit the convertible conversion

I disagree personally The fog lights are very vulgar and, although it has started to win me over, I still am not a major fan of the newer shape (no offence to any R56 owners) and I don't think the cabrio version will woo me over either unfortunately

So are they bringing the new cabrio out '09?? Or is there one in the works that will be coming out sooner?

[dalboyne]

I believe it will be launched in 2008 (maybe 2009 for the USA?)

Hope we don't have to wear a daft hat like that driver!!

Ian

[Paul]

Late 2008 for Europe so far as I understand, very similar to hatch and Clubman really.

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

Late 2008 for Europe so far as I understand, very similar to hatch and Clubman really.

Yes - autumn is always the best time of the year for a convertible

[MiniOneSam]

Quote: Originally Posted by dalboyne (original)

Yes - autumn is always the best time of the year for a convertible

Judging by this years suumer, it won't make a blind bit of difference

[dalboyne]

Looking again at the pictures, it appears that bulky roll-bar of the current model may be carried over to the new model? I hope not - somewhere else there was speculation that they would be replaced by some pop-up device in case of a roll-over? Or does the car need this feature to ensure structural rigidity when the roof is down?

Ian

[thebigyin]

The rear roll bar was something that we speculated about when the first set of spy shots of the new cabrio came out - the one with the top up where you could see that the rear roll bar was like a flattened "M".
In the new pictures it is enclosed ina black "sock" or "t-shirt" but it is obvious what the shape is.
I propose that the roll bar is just the top section of the black thing behind the rear seats and that it does NOT have head restraints built into it. I suggest that the head restraints are on the rear seats themselves and therefore there is more rearward visibility because there are no restraints permanently blocking the view.
IMO a much cleaner solution.

[minicabrio]

The rear end looks a little plain without the hinges etc in those images....

I hope thats just a big wad of camouflage hiding everything!

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by thebigyin (original)

The rear roll bar was something that we speculated about when the first set of spy shots of the new cabrio came out - the one with the top up where you could see that the rear roll bar was like a flattened "M".
In the new pictures it is enclosed ina black "sock" or "t-shirt" but it is obvious what the shape is.
I propose that the roll bar is just the top section of the black thing behind the rear seats and that it does NOT have head restraints built into it. I suggest that the head restraints are on the rear seats themselves and therefore there is more rearward visibility because there are no restraints permanently blocking the view.
IMO a much cleaner solution.

I just hope you are right, BigYin. We have already abandoned any plans to buy a Clubman until they sort out the daft door farce (missus will stick with her Scenic for the moment), so I just hope they don't do something equally dumb to compromise the new Cabrio!

[coopersooper]

Everybody in the plant is sooo looking forward to getting rid of the R52. so much hard work and a logistical nightmare! long live the R55

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by coopersooper (original)

Everybody in the plant is sooo looking forward to getting rid of the R52. so much hard work and a logistical nightmare! long live the R55

I can understand that, and sympathise! I was quite surprised at the extra work the Cabrio needed in production. It amazed me that MINI took the decision to soldier on with the old model for about 2 years, and instead focus efforts on the new Clubman. I would have changed my Cabrio by now if the new model was available, but have decided to hang on and see what happens with the new version. But the longer MINI make me wait, the bigger the risk that some other car might take my fancy......

['wiz']

dalboyne,
Im with you..I had high hopes for the clubman,2 kids to throw in and out of the back seat.
But those doors!

The new cabrio looks very plain,as Jon said please let it have more bits

[Jordan210]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio (original)

The rear end looks a little plain without the hinges etc in those images....

I hope thats just a big wad of camouflage hiding everything!

You can just see the out line of the hinges


Looks quite cool still looks like the R52 cabby on a R56 body

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by wizgleeson (original)

dalboyne,
Im with you..I had high hopes for the clubman,2 kids to throw in and out of the back seat.
But those doors!

The new cabrio looks very plain,as Jon said please let it have more bits

Absolutely - as I said on another thread, the Clubman is now OFF the agenda for us, at last until we can get a version that has an even number of doors......

Ian

[85NIXMIN]

I hope it looks better when it finally comes out coz those pics are making me love it too much... haha...
So like the old shape in the MINI's...dunno the R56 hasn't really grown on me much... maybe it will take some more time... there's some features I like about it but mostly stuff I don't like about it...

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

Late 2008 for Europe so far as I understand, very similar to hatch and Clubman really.

Just a thought, Paul - I have a feeling that was the original speculed timeline for the Cabrio too - and then we got deliveries in early July - I was well chuffed, and hope maybe they can pull the same trick again (perhaps if Clubman sales are slower than expected, maybe they'd have to bring on the soft-top )

Ian

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by dalboyne (original)

Just a thought, Paul - I have a feeling that was the original speculed timeline for the Cabrio too - and then we got deliveries in early July - I was well chuffed, and hope maybe they can pull the same trick again (perhaps if Clubman sales are slower than expected, maybe they'd have to bring on the soft-top )

Ian

Hi Ian,

To be honest I can't see the release being brought forward by much at all. The success of the CooperD means MINI can barely build them quick enough, and if the UK government cuts the rate of VAT on the low emission vehicles to 5% as rumoured, that will only spark more demand.

I can't see Clubman sales being slow to be honest either. As much as people may ridicule it, it's the stylish alternative to the hum-drum euroboxes in the posh-hatch market, and it's sure to sell well.

Jon

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio (original)

Hi Ian,

To be honest I can't see the release being brought forward by much at all. The success of the CooperD means MINI can barely build them quick enough, and if the UK government cuts the rate of VAT on the low emission vehicles to 5% as rumoured, that will only spark more demand.

I can't see Clubman sales being slow to be honest either. As much as people may ridicule it, it's the stylish alternative to the hum-drum euroboxes in the posh-hatch market, and it's sure to sell well.

Jon

Makes sense, Jon, so it was just wishful thinking on my part!

As it happens, I now know some other people getting interested in buying cabrios - and I'm suggesting that they ought to wait for the new model - better engine, better roof (fingers crossed!), so maybe the sales of the current model will dry up by the spring? After all, from what I've seen somewhere, it's a real dog's breakfast at Plant Oxford making 3 models on the production line - especially the old model cabrio....

Am I wrong - should I be advising my friends to rush out and buy a current-model cabrio?

Ian