Driving Sports

Almost without exception soft-top editions have poorer visibility, are louder on the freeway, weigh more and cost a hefty ransom greater than their tin-top variants. Is the open air experience that much better to justify all the heartache? Yes and no. I will admit, I own a Miata and there is something special about zooming through the forest with a top down and bugs collecting in your teeth. However, in general, I look down on convertibles that weren't conceived as a roadster first and foremost.

It's therefore with some trepidation that I'm writing about the newest addition to the topless entourage: the new MINI Convertible. Scheduled to make it's worldwide debut at the 2009 North American Auto Show in Detroit, the car will be available at dealer around March 28, 2008. You'll have your choice of the standard MINI Cooper for $24,550 or the spicy Cooper S for about 3-Grand more.

Unlike other makers (*cough* Chrysler *cough*) that simply add 200-lbs of reinforcement, cut the top off and call it good, it looks like BMW put a lot of thought into taking advantage of the soft-top configuration.

Though it's not a record-breaking speed, the top goes down in 15-seconds. The bonus is that it will also go down while in motion, so long as you keep the speedo below 20mph. The onboard computer will challenge drivers to keep the top open as much as possible, logging the amount of time the car runs in the open air configuration. Probably fun if you live in Los Angeles, and probably just annoying if you live in Seattle. When it is down, additional storage space is made available by folding down the split back seats. This yields a hefty 23.10 cubic feet of room for your next Costco run.

Motor options are similar to the previous hardtop model, with a 118hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder standard, and a available 172-hp turbo "S" model.  Both models have a standard 6-speed manual transmission, with an optional 6-speed automatic. Power steering, stability control and all the standard bells and whistles are, well, standard.

We hope to have one of these tested early in 2009. I'll let you know if this new MINI Cooper Convertible changes my opinion about the genre.