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The pictures have been released and the galleries are up so now lets now take a step back and take in some of the changes that are evident in these new photos. While the vast majority of these new design details have been disucussed on Bridger.us/MINI for over a year now, a couple are fairly new.
First Autoweek is suggesting prices in the US should be from $4000-5000 higher than the standard Cooper for the cabrio. I actually wouldn't be surprised if we see the price premium closer to the $4000 mark but that's just an educated guess considering what BMW and MINI have done in the past.
We should see demo cars at US dealerships by late August with cars going on sale by late September. Also for those waiting for the MCS version of the Cabrio according to Autoweek you may have to wait as much as nine months after the introduction of the Cooper. Update: I actually wouldn't be surprised if the MCS is released around the same time as the Cooper – but I haven't heard anything yet to confirm that. For what it's worth MINI2 is also reporting that the US will get the Cooper and the Cooper S Cabrio at roughly the same time.
Also we'll see two new exclusive colors for the Cabrio join the MINI range – Hot Orange and Cool Blue (as pictured above).
Outside:
Contary to other MINI websites we always believed that there would be a surprise in store regarding the actual drop-top – we were proved right. The roof folds back a full 40cm to create a targa effect. This was first seen over a year ago in photos leaked to AutoExpress.
The front and rear fascia updates have been some of the worst kept secrets around. The first shots of the revised front was seen on a photo posted at North American Motoring.com and then quickly reproduced here and finally at MINI2. Then MINI2 brought us further shots of both the front and rear of the car with a bit more detail.
As we had seen in those photos the front grille is now a bit simplified and has one less slat. Gone are the contour lines following the tops and sides as well.
The roof was developed and is manufacturered by Oasys, a joint venture between Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina and German roofing specialist Webasto. Webasto actually supplies the entire system.
The official photos marks the first time we've seen actual photos of headlights as well. MINI2 had brought us CAD drawings of the units before but seeing them on the car makes a much better impression.
Around back we finally get close up shots of the rear bumper area that MINI2 leaked in late December. Otherwise all the other cabrio details had been seen in the countless spy shots we've seen over the past year.
The R91 wheels on the cabrio pictured were first seen at Bridger.us/mini this past November (along with two other varieties we haven't seen official photos of yet). They looked good in the previous photos and they look fantastic on the car.
Interestingly rear back-up sensors seen in the photos will be standard throughout the cabrio range to help with rear visibility
Inside:
Color coded interior trim is finally here. This has also been one of the worst kept secrets. In fact this was first revealed as an upcoming feature on Bridger.us/mini over a year ago.
MINI2 had leaked photos of most of the interior including a cad drawing of the optional middle dials so there aren't many surprises there. However this marks the first time that we've seen the much expected storage bin under the toggle switches and under the emergency brake. I was informed of these changes this past summer but was unfortunately sworn to secrecy by the source. Nonetheless as a MINI owner as frustrated as the next about the lack of interior storage I'm happy to finally see these additions come to a reality.
The heating cooling controls are also revised for 2005. The front window defroster has moved to the auto climate control switch while the the center display has been tweaked as well. Further down the stack we see that the toggle switches have been slightly revised mainly around the base. The layout of the switches has not changed.
Also worth mentioning… the glove box finally becomes lockable!
Finally as shown on MINI2 the dash trim goes from a five piece unit to a 3 piece unit – hopefully eliminating squeaks and rattles some owners have experienced.
Expect timely updates as we learn more about the Cabrio and the entire 2005 model range from MINI. In the meantime check out our gallery of Cabrio photos here.
<p>Since I drove the MCS JCW couple of weeks ago I know now, that only the MCS Cabrio can be the real thing.
Unfortunately more than one year to wait for it.
How can I survive that long time?</p>
<p>Gabe, your page is really excellent. Unbelievable that there is news every single day on “just” a small car!</p>
<p>btw what I really don't like is this plastic stuff around the roll-bars.</p>
<p>I'm wondering about the phrase regarding the new colors “being introduced to the MINI lineup.” Does this mean they will be available on the Cooper and the S, in addition to the Cabrio? What about interior color coding for the Cooper and S?</p>
<p>Love the mirrors in body color…RB</p>
<p>Could go for the speedo with tach and the cluster of guages in the center. But also like the original design.</p>
<p>Don't find that new grill that great and hope the MCS keeps it's racy look. The new grill seems, to me, to be sort of a stuck on after thought, which I'm sure it wasn't.</p>
<p>RB</p>
<p>One of the last cars my father owned was a 1958 Hillman Minx convertible. On this car, like the Mini Open I guess, you could retract the soft roof over the heads of the driver and front passenger, while leaving the rear portion up, vaguely like a Porsche Targa. </p>
<p>What is interesting to me is that he called this configuration a “drophead”- and I just gogled the word and found lots of English “drophead couples”, differentiated from roadsters. </p>
<p>He was raised in England in the 1920's, always a car nut, so I presume he had the usage correct.</p>
<p>So I don't really know if the Mini Open is a drophead, but I sure do know that it is another interesting retro idea incorporated in the car.</p>
<p>I know that convertible should always (or as much as possible) be driven with the top down…but is anyone else concerned with the lack of view space through the rearview mirror with the top up? The roll bar and rear head rests create a very small space in which to view what/who you've just passed…a view that I kinda like. I also have issue with the increased blind spots created with the top up.</p>
<p>Aftermarket manufacturers introduced replacement convertible tops for the Mazda Miata which featured an additional clear panel on the sides, so as to help lessen the blind spot. MINI probably considered this, but didn't want a plastic panel that would yellow and crack and that wouldn't match the glass rear window. Sometimes astetics and functionality don't go together. So, accept the look and get the blind spot with it. OH, or just drive with the top down always!</p>
<p>Jim – these colors will only be available for the Cabrio.</p>
<p>Gabe–Do you know if the dash panels or storage shelves will be able to be retrofitted to 2004 models? It doesn't look like there are significant structural differences, but I figured you would have the inside line.</p>
<p>I don't have any specific knowledge of this yet but I would assume that the dash panels won't be – for the simply reason that there are now less pieces on teh dash.</p>
<p>The storage bins are another story. I would guess (and hope) that they would be able to be retrofitted.</p>
<p>BTW word has it that the chrome trim for the interior (not shown in these photos) will be available for retrofitting.</p>
<p>Does the clock move into the speedo or head unit or where? Will the body colored dash only be avalible in the Cabrio?</p>
<p>I think Mini did a great job on the Cabrio. And Gabe—great job on the site.</p>
<p>I really hope those storage trays are retrofittable. Would be great to keep my cell phone under the handbrake.</p>
<p>Great job Gabe! </p>
<p>But it still looks weird to me…</p>
<p>On the S coming out 9 months later, both dealers I've talked to say they are being told the S and Cooper will be released together, for what it's worth.</p>
<p>I've heard that too. I don't know if Autoweek got that particular part right.</p>
<p>In regards to Mark's statement above “is anyone else concerned with the lack of view space through the rearview mirror with the top up?” Since here is no rear wiper, much of the time you won't be able to see out of it anyhow.</p>
<p>That's true! I never thought of that. And I should know, especially since I use that wiper every day to clean off road grime up here in PA.</p>
<p>Same here in Iowa…</p>
<p>On the vision thing, I drove a Miata before my current S and can tell you…rag tops do not have great fields of vision out the back. You learn to change your driving habits to make up for this, with the most dangerous moments for me were merging onto highways. You get used to it and when the top is down you see great!</p>
<p>Back in 2002, MINI first released the Cooper model in March of that year and then the S followed in the month of July. So I wouldn't be surprised that the MCS convertible will take a bit longer to be introduced to market. Also keep in mind that the MCS convertible will have even higher demand than the regular Cooper convertible.</p>
<p>If both are introduced at the same time in the US it means that the Oxford plant has been seriously beefed up to accomodate the expected high demand for the convertible in addition to the already hefty demand for the hardtop models.</p>
<p>I wonder what changes have transpired at the assembly production line in Oxford.</p>
<p>According to this </p>
<p><a href="http://motoring.iafrica.com/newsbriefs/301737.htm" rel="nofollow ugc">http://motoring.iafrica.com/newsbriefs/301737.htm</a></p>
<p>“The Mini Convertible family will be completed later in the year with the introduction of the Mini Cooper S Convertible. Again, pricing and full details will be confirmed closer to launch.”</p>
<p>So it seems like it will be a delayed launch for the S.</p>