2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible
High gas prices meant strong sales for Mini in 2008--the company sold 54,000 cars in 2008, which is a 29% increase over 2007. Mini is looking to capitalize on that success by re-introducing a convertible version of its Cooper.
2009 Mini Cooper Convertible
Both the base Cooper and the S version will be available with the drop-top, which Mini says opens in 15 seconds and can be used at speeds up to 20 miles per hour. Like the hardtop versions, the base convertible with receive the 118-horsepower 1.6-liter 4-cylinder and the S version will have the 172-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder. New features include an “Openometer,” which tracks the amount of time that the top is down while driving, and a pop-up rollbar that activates when an impeding rollover is detected. The Mini convertible goes on sale March 28th, and the base version will start at $24,550 while S models start at $27,450.
The Examiner’s Take
The redesigned convertible version of the Cooper doesn’t break a lot of new ground, but it doesn’t need to. It’s simply another choice in a solid lineup, and it should sell well, particularly if gas prices spike again. Coopers already boast a high fun-to-drive factor, and adding some fun-in-the-sun factor can’t hurt.
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