2009 MINI Convertible Rendering

Sections: R57 (Conv.) Apr 27th, 2007 29 Comments

We’re not entirely sure how this made it out into the wild (and where it came from) but it would appear that a MINI dealer has let slip an early rendering of a 2009 Cooper Convertible. The image appeared on a dealer website just this morning. MF reader and WRR listener Robert Rettagliata managed grabbed the full image you see here.

Based on feedback from other sources we believe this is a MINI based mock-up of what the car will look like to be used internally only.

As we’ve reported previously, the R57 MINI Convertible will be very similar to the current R52 model in it’s top design. Elsewhere the R57 will be an R56 through and through with the only changes being some additional structural bracing.

Update: This is looking more and more interesting. We’re told that images of the final car do not exist yet and that only renderings are available internally. How a dealer would have ended up with one remains a mystery. While the image has obviously been touched my photoshop, it’s consistent in it’s look (lowered stance, wheels larger than normal) to other MINI USA web images.

[ Full Image ]

Written By: MF Staff

Mike

Niiice.
gokartride

Funny…it looks just like an R56 with a drop top!!! Whodathunkit??
Shamus

Nice photo-chop.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Nice photo-chop.

Every photo MINI releases has hours of photo processing involved – this one included.
korby

Wow!!!!
lavardera

what ever happened to exposed lug nuts..
Nathaniel Salzman

What’s with the MF watermark? Looking for a little breaking-news, internet exclusive, street cred are we?
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

WhatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s with the MF watermark? Looking for a little breaking-news, internet exclusive, street cred are we?

Anytime we post things like this inevitably someone just pastes the image into forums without moving to their own server. And then we get the multitude of car weblogs who take the picture with no mention of where they got the original story from. This is to combat those practices.
Roger

Its on the Braman Mini (out of West Palm Beach, FL) website: http://bramanmini.com/Specials-New.aspx
mike

yeah, it is on the Braman site… listed as a 2007! DOH!

anyone know if anything will be done about the blind spots with the cabrio? my wife loves her MCc but won’t get another one because of how difficult it is to see out of it.
Roger

Anyone know if anything will be done about the blind spots with the cabrio?

Problem is reduced with the top down ;)
Nathaniel Salzman

Cool. Just hadn’t noticed it on other images before. I don’t blame you a bit.
Billy

It’s a photo chop! No doubt in my mind that’s a fake. The spats (Black plastic arch extensions) are of the wrong design (R52 shape) They are too rounded. All of the bonet shut lines and gaps are too small, anyone that has seen an R56 in the flesh will know that the gap between bonnet and spat when shut is actually pretty large incomparrison to door shuts etc. This is a constant problem at plant Oxford that without complete re-tooling of the pressed steel plant in Swindon will not be resolved. As I said – it’s a fake! Take a look at the gap between the bonnet and spat on this picture – this is how big the gap is on every ’56 and ’55 that rolls out of Oxford – the ’57 shall be NO different at the front. http://paultan.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/new_mini_1.jpg
Billy

Sorry the last link doesn’t work – my fault

http://www.paultan.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/new_mini_1.jpg
cct1

ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a photo chop! No doubt in my mind thatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a fake. The spats (Black plastic arch extensions) are of the wrong design (R52 shape) They are too rounded. All of the bonet shut lines and gaps are too small, anyone that has seen an R56 in the flesh will know that the gap between bonnet and spat when shut is actually pretty large incomparrison to door shuts etc. This is a constant problem at plant Oxford that without complete re-tooling of the pressed steel plant in Swindon will not be resolved. As I said – itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a fake! Take a look at the gap between the bonnet and spat on this picture – this is how big the gap is on every Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ56 and Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ55 that rolls out of Oxford – the Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ57 shall be NO different at the front.

You beat me to it. Its not even that good of a photochop…The lack of panel gaps, and the fact the car looks dropped two inches are dead giveaways.
VMMVMMM

That’s actually the first thing I noticed with this picture, that the wheel arches are two different designs front to back. The front has a flat surface to the arch, while the back is rounded like on my current 05 MINI.

Fun to see the rendering, though, wherever it came from.
gmini

prestige MINI’s (eh hem) banner ad sports the hardtop mommy.
OH Steve

Something looks fishy with the drivers side rear chrome headrest, at least in relation to the passenger side. Maybe the rear seat was pushed forward.
MauiMac

I think it looks SICK! I can’t wait to see a photo of a REAL MCSc…
bluzeke

. . . the wipers are wrong too and there’s no gutter for them.
http://deleted gmini

NOT A PHOTO. but a mighty enticing rendering.
Porco Rosso

It’s also missing the tell-tale gaps in the beltline chrome…seen only on convertibles to enable the “easy load” boot access.
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Hunter

Where’s the fuel filler door?
Billy

WhereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s the fuel filler door?

Oh my god, I’m ebarrassed that I missed that myself!
http://www.OutMotoring.com Aaron Cornaby

…the chrome roll bars are not in perspective….any designers out there want to take a look?
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