SNAP! Mini convertible caught without disguise
You might not have known from looking at it, but even after the second-generation new MINI came out, the convertible version carried on from the previous incarnation. But the BMW subsidiary has been hard at work on its replacement, set to join the standard hatchback and the upcoming Clubman wagon in the lineup ahead of the crossover version.
Opting for a soft top instead of a folding metal roof, the new MINI cabrio's is fully automatic and features an intriguing half-fold mechanism that allows the driver to open just the top instead of the entire roof to expose just the front two seats to the open air, targa-style. Reports also suggest that the fixed chrome roll-over hoops behind the rear seat headrests on the outgoing model will be ditched in favor of deployable emergency units.
The rear-angle spy shot, meanwhile, shows that with the roof up or halfway open, rearward visibility will be severely compromised, with enormous C-pillars creating large blind spots. Guess that means drivers will just have to keep the top down altogether. Oh well.
[Source: Auto Express]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David Hallen 12:16AM (7/26/2007)
Rear visibility in the 1rst gen Cooper Convert was just about no-existant because of the way the roof folded just as a baby buggy does. The 2nd gen top doesn't look much different.
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Steve C. 6:04PM (7/25/2007)
Fugly. Sorry, with top up, not an attractive vehicle.
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JBob 7:55PM (7/25/2007)
and the current mini actually has a folding soft top already if i understand correctly what you're saying.
and i can definitely say that it already has the capability to open up part-way.
still an awesome car though!
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k 8:27PM (7/25/2007)
excellent use of duct tape there on the tail lights
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liquid 10:03PM (7/25/2007)
lol. Duct tape is new.
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Garrett 2:13PM (7/26/2007)
Umm .. the Mini convertible has worked exactly the same way since 2005. Nothing new here on the top.
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