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.

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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