MINI Convertible Spy Photos

[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