A Closer Look at the 2009 MINI Convertible

Sections: R57 (Conv.) Apr 9th, 2008 29 Comments

As previously reported MINI will be launching the new (R56 based) R57 MINI convertible around the spring of 2009. While the top will largely be a carry-over of the existing design, the car will feature one big improvement. Gone will be the stationary roll-hoops and in their place a pop-up roll-bar system as seen on the 1 and 3 series BMW convertibles.

Also unique to the convertible will be an “always open” guage which will measure the percentage of miles driven with the top open. The idea is that it will encourage owners to live the “always open” lifestyle MINI marketing has created for this car.

For more information be sure to click over to our R57 section.

Written By: MF Staff

Jon

No a convertible fan myself but will be very interesting to see this with its top down. Have to say liking the look of it so far better than the R53 convertible.
lavardera

I’m sure some will say “Hey, them roll-hoops are not a bug, they are a feature”.
colin

does anyone know if it will have the same engine as the R56′s or still have the same one as it has had?
Jon

The R57 will be using the same engine as the R56
nuvolari

whatevs
http://www.eastcoastminiclub.co.uk Ayde

As a current MINI convertible owner it looks to me like they have also moved the parking sensors down from the rear bumper into the rubber trim – don’t think anyone has mentioned that yet.
MINItron

The rear glass also seems to be quite a bit wider. That coupled with the pop up roll bar should really improve rearward visibility. Of course the answer to that is to always drive with the top down.
ech

Looks like a the rear window is now plastic instead of glass. Can someone confirm?
indimini

Hey, the roll hoops are not a bug but a feature. ;)

I personally haven’t had major visibility issues w/ my Cabrio. With rearview mirrors properly adjusted, I can see just fine. Also the top is down 90%+ of the time so that helps.

It will be interesting to see how the rear seat headrests in the R56 affect visibility vs. the R52 with the rollbar mounted rests.
Lee L

Yuk, that does look like a plastic rear window. That alone would stop me from buying this car. Not that was seriously considering it or anything. I just hate plastic windows (other than on Jeeps where they are the only thing that works) expecially on a premium car like this.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

The glass has been covered by plastic so the no rollbar configuration isn’t exposed.
http://www.redwoodempiremini.com Rob C

I’m wondering how the pop-up rollbars will affect the ability to track these without adding more rollover protection. It was hard enough to get approval to run with the stationary hoops in our 06′s.
JR

Another Cabrio owner here. I’m not a big fan of the R56, so the R57 doesn’t look like an improvement to me. R52 styling is much better due to the lower hood, and the whine from the supercharger is one of my favorite things. Trading better styling and that awesome whine for pop-up hoops seems a step backwards. Maybe two.
Mowse

Gabe. PLEASE! Do you know the deadline for ordering the current convertible??? I hear rumors of June!
http://www.matthew-obrien.com Matt

I just can’t get over the rear-seat convertible…it would be much better if it were a 2-seat roadster with a small boot… a while back I had read rumors about a ‘speedster’ but never really read anything about it further. Does anyone know if MINI plans on making a speedster/roadster?
C4

I think the MINI lends itself best to be a 4 seater convertible.

If you want a roadster, then a Miata or S2000 are more up your alley.
lavardera

Best? I’m not seeing that. I think a two seater would be a great variation. With all the mini pickup trucks we’ve seen I’m surprised nobody has modded one before.
C4

Sorry, for me true roadsters are RWD.
eager2own

I think MINI would face some tough competition as a 2-seater — including the MX5, and to a lesser extent the Solstice and variations thereof. When I was shopping for a 4-seater covnertible in the price range, there was nothing. Test drove the ‘Stang — not even in the same league. (Didn’t even bother testing the Beetle or PT). Now for a little more there will be the 1-series cabrio . . . but 4-seaters is still a much better market for the MINI than 2-seaters.
GregW

Since release of R53 room in the rear seats has been complained about by press and public alike. Compare this with a Mazda RX8 or any of the little european manufacturers and MINI is quite roomy. Have a look at the new BMW 1 series convertible – I think the MINI has more room! The pop-up roll bars are straight from the 1 series and BMw models.
asmujica

Yawn…… Give me a convertible hardtop ala Peugeot 207cc, Peugot 307cc, Focus CC, Miata MX5, Renault Megane CC or FOrd Ka Convertible. It has been done in a small car, at a reasonable price, just get rid of the darn back seats and make it interesting.

The peugeuot 207cc even shares an engine with the mini, for shame!!
alpinamike

First look at the antenna bump, its got some shark fin to it! This is possible the transtion of a more BMW type antenna module to host the containment of the BMW type SAT NAV,FM/AM, SAT Radio, and maybe the wireless remote top control module.

Also the PDC look like they went into the cheap and easy to reach part of the rear bumper/ trim, which I understand, As being a current MCC owner and know it very well, I can determine why they did this one, the location previous makes it a good target to get bumped and broken( over $200+ a pop) and the fact they have to be factory painted by a robot to match the paint, this does not include the clip ring that snaps and hold them into place. From the pic I can not determine if that are made by a different manufacture, but my guess is they are more X3 or X5 like. I wonder if this will change the vertical range of the PDC, being lower on the bumper. Also the ride hight for the cooper looks higher but it might not be due to the inherit design of the front clip.

Also from what it looks from the simple picture the top is manufactured by the same company, and i think the rear glass has increased on the bottom side and the sides in general , one to improve the vision, and because of the current BMW pop up roll bars when the tilt sensor is activated.

Everything else looks the same the current 56 morphed into an R52.
eager2own

Why would I want to give up the back seat for a retractable hardtop? For an even higher cost premium? Even more extra weight over the coupe?
On a car I drive with the top down 95% of the time anyways?

I am glad that MINI (and the 1-series) are not following the trend of retractable hardtops — in fact, I wish the 335 ‘vert was available for less as a soft top (I guess now it kinda is as teh 135). I think giving up room for a hardtop could not be any more contrary to the MINI philosophy of maximizing utility in a small package. If I wanted a hardtop, I’d save weight and money and buy an R56.
http://byzet.com Ron Michael

The popups are nice, but what are the costs in terms of price, weight, functionality, and space? The cabrio is already too expensive and heavy, and is annoyingly flimsy (even with lots of M7 braces).

As a current cabrio owner, the most important thing I am interested in about the new models is the rigidity of the frame and the weight. And, admittingly, all the new gadgets – keyless access, better nav with traffic, cheaper bluetooth and better ipod access, etc. But I’m not sure all of those things would sell me on the new cabrio considering all of the “bad” things it’ll inherit from the R56 – particulary the now obvious torque steer and the poor feel of the electric steering. I think the odds are that when I trade my MINI in it’ll be for a 135i convertible.
lavardera

poor feel of the steering? wha?
cellularcoffee

I think he was comparing the default settings between the R53 and R56. IMO, they are both good cars with different personality for different people.
Frank
Anyone know about any other improvements for the R57? I love my car, but like all owners want to see some things fixed. My gripes as a current cabrio owner are ( some are just Mini in general ):
- the rear window is USELESS regardless of size for 4 months for me due to sand/ salt/ dirt sticking to it in the Winter. Have they changed the airflow around the car at all?
- does the new R56 have a normal manually variable speed control for the wipers? I hate auto sensors for this, and the manual one in my cabrio is useless, not allowing me to adjust the intermittent level.
- does the normal or premium stereo have speed adjustable volume control? I couldn’t believe my 2006 with the premium sound system didn’t have this, especially for the price.
- most importantly I’m disappointed in the gas mileage. My car is no lightweight ( even though it still has rattles ), and getting only 23mpg in winter, 25 in summer pisses me off for such a small car. Looking on fueleconomy.gov I would never get the R56 S model, and would be hard pressed to get an automatic again. I don’t understand why all models don’t avg 32mpg or better. If they can’t do it with the new engine they should have redesigned it more, or have a hybrid option. Remove the back seats and put the battery pack back there, or just make a more efficient engine. And the new engine requires Premium on all models??? Oh well, guess I’ll be waiting for the R70+ models.
C4

Frank, start driving the speed limit and you’ll see 28+ MPG easily on the city. I know I do in my ’05 R53 S hardtop. I am getting 367 miles to the tank driving the speed limit (Lots of police speed traps popping up around here lately). Incredible but true. And this is with the 6-speed manual.

My R55 Clubman S with almost 1200 miles is delivering a consistent 29 MPG (Automatic 6-speed transmission) and this is with the Sport Button turned on at all times.

Maybe the convertible is not as fuel efficient because the car is heavier than the coupe hardtops and even the Clubman.
eager2own

Frank, Fuel consumption will be different due to the new engine — the R56s are already seeing an improvement there over the R53. I agree with some of your other gripes — but don’t think you’ll see a difference with the R57.

By the way, the H/K supposedly does have speed sensitive adjustment — you just can’t adjust the sensitivity as claimed in the manual (and as can be done in the BMW H/K) and have to live with the default . . . which I find to be extremely low in sensitivity. There’s plenty of discussion of this on NAM if you want to search there.

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