More MINI Cabrio Details

Sections: Uncategorized Jan 16th, 2004 13 Comments

p> MCS Cabrio

With the release date of the MINI cabrio fast approaching details of the car are starting to trickle in. While there are fairly important things that we simply don't know yet (like it's name) we have a good picture what the car will be like in full production trim. And to add to the list I just received some further information regarding some different aspects of the car. While this comes directly from someone within MINI please take it all with a grain of salt as none of it is truly confirmed.

The chassis was stiffened in the initial development of the MINI to accommodate different variations like a convertible. This does two things; keep the incredible rigidity of the MINI intact and allows engineers to lop off the roof without having to add a huge amount of chassis reinforcements which generally also add weight. So while weight will be added and the chassis will be altered slightly it would seem that it won't be the usual chop job/reengineering of the chassis done by many automakers.
Marketing (at least in the US) will very much focus on top down motoring (yes that's a bit vague).
The top is design to be similar to the “California” top that BMW produced for the 318ti in the late 90's. You can see a prototype of this feature in this photo (first shown in Autoexpress and Bridger.us/MINI almost a year ago. Update: This has now been confirmed!
In the US, dealers will get their first demo cars sometime around mid August with sales beginning around mid September. We may see several cars in the US sometime around mid July for various activities.

Written By: MF Staff

njpaguy

It's nice that BMW has planned this so thoroughly. Unfortunately, introducing a drop top in Aug/Sept doesn't make too much sense.

Maybe next time, try April/May (that way we'll have a few months to actually drive it with the top DOWN!)
Mike

“The chassis was stiffened in the initial development of the MINI to accommodate different variations like a convertible MINI.”

Is this really a good thing? Doesn't it imply that the non-cabrio MINI has unnecessary chassis stiffening, and thus unnecessary weight?
Monkey_Punch

Mike

I would think that its awesome to know that our Mini's stiffness is so hard that even if we chopped the top of it off it would still be rigid.

BTW….What would we do without you Gabe,.. your site always has the 411… MiniUSA should pay you a salary…

Thanks for all the hard work.

Daniel
http://bridger.us Gabe

I wouldn't be against that! They know where to reach me :-)
GJR

I agree with Daniel. The stiffer the better!
http://revorg.org/mini.html Scott

I guess I'd have to see the cabrio live in hopes that the look would grow on me. The photos don't get me too excited.
Jason

Unfortunately, introducing a drop top in Aug/Sept doesn't make too much sense.

I think they're accounting for the 6 month waiting list this one's bound to have.
Claus Gattinger

Now we know where the 1200 kilos are coming from. Anyway, fine for the convertible that it won't be any heavier (hopefully).
http://www.mini2.com Paul Mullett

Hi Gabe/all,

The Convertible will be/is stiffened up, it's not a simple roof chop job. Stiff as the MINI may be, they didn't find it stiff enough for that.

I've also been told by some very good sources that the roof could “in theory” stop half way, but it's not going to be nice, and not advisable. Certianly not something that “should” be done while driving it!

I saw the roof go up and down on the Blackeye Purple S Convertible I snapped, and at half way it's not a pretty site!

I guess we'll have to wait and see. Not long now!

Paul :)
http://bridger.us Gabe

I got the impression that the car was stiffened and some weight was added but it's not the usual chop job done by most automakers. So yes – I'm sure the chassis was modified in some way but my source seemed pretty proud of the engineering work done in this area and the car shouldn't be too much heavier.

“I've also been told by some very good sources that the roof could “in theory” stop half way, but it's not going to be nice, and not advisable.” So now i'm really interested in seeing this roof in action. The source that I talked to had said that when the top goes back (not down) it slides back on the structure of the top itself. In other words it's a different operation that when the top goes down. Did they do this on the cabrio you saw Paul? I wonder if this is one of the reasons I was told that MINIUSA would focus their marketing on “top down motoring” when it comes to the cabrio :)

Anyway good to have you around these parts every so often Paul – always interesting to hear your thoughts on some of this :)
http://www.mini2.com Paul Mullett

I only saw them fully close and open it, and when they did that it did the usual “up in the air” roof folding thing most soft tops do, so it could well be there's another option for the slide back. The people who told me the other stuff are from Oxford. Or at least, work in that area. ;)

We should get some official news next month, and I'll be at Geneva on the 2nd March all going to plan. Can't wait.

I've spoken to some people who've spent time in the Convertibles and based on their tales I'm really looking forward to it.
Gilbert Cabral

Yah.. Gabe you make my eyes so big to look to this,I make a mistake,I should waited now I got Cooper S with sun roof I even surf the web about the mini convertables year 70's it is more pricy on it.About the stiffness,you know that the Enlish and German engineers have a hard time talking and they watch its other where the consumer loves it co'z they really fix the problem as satisfaction of costumer, and remember in Europe cars run faster than US.

good job Gabe.
HB

Hello All, I'm looking to purchase my first Mini, 2005 cabrio S, what would be the safety record regarding this car. Thxs,HB

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