30 years of Mini Convertibles! Mini Cooper S Convertible (2023) Review
Mini convertible
Time flies when you’re having fun, especially when you have the roof down and feel the wind in your hair. The compact convertible celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The very first official Mini Convertible made its long-awaited debut at the 1992 NEC Motor Show. In 1993, drivers could actually drive it out of the showroom. At the time, you could choose from two colors – Nightfire Red or Caribbean Blue. All cars were equipped with a 1.3-liter engine, a luxurious walnut dashboard and Cobra sport seats.
15 seconds
Some 7 years later, in late September 2000, the first new Mini was presented at the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris. In 2004, the Mini Cabriolet entered the market. It had a pair of fixed chrome roll bars that the roof could fit behind. Meanwhile, there is an electronically collapsible roof, capable of fully collapsing and closing in just 15 seconds. Handy when the Dutch weather shows its usual vagaries.
Kart feeling
Mini is known for its sporty handling, and the Convertible is no exception. The Mini’s low center of gravity and agility make for a delightful driving experience, especially on twisty roads. The grip sometimes seems infinite in the Cooper S Convertible we put to the test. The Cabrio’s potent 178-horsepower two-liter turbo engine and rigid chassis ensure that you can enjoy sharp turns endlessly. And without losing driving comfort. Sure, a few hefty speed bumps will require you to apply the brakes briefly, but thanks to the quality of Dutch roads, you’ll never suffer from back pain.
More goodies
You don’t buy a Mini for its practicality. Style and appearance, that’s what it’s all about. The design of the Mini Cooper has continued to sharpen over the years. So is that of the Cabriolet. The model continued to be dressed up with chrome framed headlights, a hexagonal radiator grille, larger alloy wheels, a more spacious interior, a cooled glove box, a rearview camera and parking sensors, and an all-new infotainment system, among others. The John Cooper Works package included on our test car provides an extra sharp edge. Just look at that diffuser. More and more color options have also been added to the range in recent years. The test car was finished in the striking Zesty Yellow color. Pops nice, right?
Fully electric
Since 2023, Mini has also allowed you to enjoy an open driving experience in almost complete silence – and without any harmful emissions. In fact, there is now an all-electric Mini Convertible: the Mini Electric Cabrio. The brand waves goodbye to the current generation of the Mini Electric with this convertible version . In fact, a completely new generation Mini is coming to market next year: watch this video. What is it like to drive a noiseless car without a roof? You can see that in the video below: