R57 MINI Convertible Spotted with Top Down

Sections: R57 (Conv.) Sep 25th, 2008 16 Comments

The 2009 MINI convertible has been spotted again, this time with the top down. And as we have been reporting, the new car will not have the rollbar that was so prominently featured on the R52. The photo above comes courtesy of Auto Express but don’t expect anything new within their article. For instance they claim the R57 was delayed due to the R52 selling so well. That in fact is not the case. The roll-out for the various MINI models has been set in stone for as long as 4 years now and is closely following the timeline that BMW has used for it’s various models for decades. So while we’d recommend taking a look at the pics, read the full article at your own peril.

+ Sun-seeking MINI out in the open / Auto Express

And if you want the ful run-down on the R57, check out MotoringFile’s R57 section with a multitude of articles about the car.

+ R57 Convertible Section / MotoringFile

Written By: Gabe

16 Comments

Sean Sep 25th, 2008 Link

I thought the big hinges on the hatch were going to disappear. Are they keeping them after all?

Chad Sep 25th, 2008 Link

The tape just makes the car look MORE conspicuous. What are they hiding? Replacing the chrome trim with gold?

gokartride Sep 25th, 2008 Link

I don’t know why they bother w/ the tape…it’s just an R56 in cabrio form. They even hoisted the headrests to obfiscate???

lilcoopr Sep 25th, 2008 Link

Hmm, I kinda miss the look of those chrome roll bars, but it’s worth it if it will help with visibility.

Gabe Sep 25th, 2008 Link

I thought the big hinges on the hatch were going to disappear. Are they keeping them after all?

I’ve been assured by sources that the hinges are just camo.

Craig Sep 25th, 2008 Link

It looks like they slapped some tape on there because it is traditional to have some camouflage on pre-production cars. Even if it doesn’t really hide anything.

It looks like they just taped on R52 hinge covers since they appear slightly crooked.

I also really like the hot chocolate hood. It should look fantastic with BRG.

GSKChicago Sep 25th, 2008 Link

The color almost looks like a cream color. Not sure I dig the color.

Eric Sep 25th, 2008 Link

My o5 Vert has a limited opening between the boot and the back seat when the rear seats are folded down. I wonder if this is improved or made worse with the fact that the rollbars now popup. Will the mechanism for this feature reduce the storage capacity of the new Vert?

eager2own Sep 25th, 2008 Link

Are we sure it’s a MINI — the front badge is covered up. I do like the brown top option — otherwise, this seems to be the natural result of turning the R56 into a cabrio … no surprises.

Not convinced visibility will be that much better. It’s the headrests and the folded top that affect my visibility on the R52 — not so much the roll bars. . . and I do prefer the rollercoaster look of my roll bars.

rdelar01 Sep 25th, 2008 Link

Visibility be da&%ed…I love my roll bars! I’d still need a test drive to see if I’ll trade in my 05′ Cool Blue MCC next year.

greg Sep 25th, 2008 Link

Love my (fake) chrome roll bars too!!

rkw Sep 25th, 2008 Link

When you don’t have rear passengers, you can remove the rear headrests and this should give it a more open feeling. With the rear headrests on, I don’t think it will be a big change in rear visibility from the R52.

My o5 Vert has a limited opening between the boot and the back seat when the rear seats are folded down. I wonder if this is improved or made worse with the fact that the rollbars now popup.

The R57’s popup rollbar was probably adapted from the 1-series convertible. In the 1-series convertible, there is a solid panel and NO pass-thru opening from the trunk.

beken Sep 25th, 2008 Link

I drove a 2008 MC Convertible as a courtesy car last week when I had my MINI in for service. It didn’t take long to get used to the rollbars and backseat headrests. Visibility was not an issue once you got to driving it for awhile. I do like how the roof worked and hope it hasn’t changed with the new model.

The rollbars did add a sense of style to the car. I would like to see what the new car looks like with the pop-up rollbar…um..popped up.

GregW Sep 25th, 2008 Link

A good thing about the old version was that you could drop the seats down to create more room for carrying stuff. Without this option, there will be hardly any room to carry anything, and you will have to drop the roof down to put anything of size into the rear seats.

Robert Sep 26th, 2008 Link

I guess I’ll be keeping mt 05 Cool Blue MCSc for several more years. Bring back the rollbars and give me my huge boot back!

alpinamike Sep 28th, 2008 Link

As gabe and others can see the rear seat design is taking the rear bench seat head rest and all fom the hartop and planting them into the rag to. The pop up roll over are the bump covered up right behind it. As you can see the headrest are adjustable and the person put them all the way up driving the new ‘vert. The top is the new design and color.. kind of like the Diesal Brand MINI cooper convertible. The PDC will be an easy fix now they will not have to be factory painted and are not in the line of damage.

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