From the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA.org):
BMW wanted to build on its popular MINI vehicle by offering a convertible model. The challenge was to integrate a fully automatic soft top and sunroof in an 11-foot dimension. All components also needed to be carefully designed in line with the MINI design language.
To address space concerns, the top stows efficiently behind the rear seats still leaving space in the trunk, which is accessed by a rear fold-down door. The rollover bar behind the back seats engenders feelings of safety and aesthetically complements the MINI brand. Operation of the convertible top is as easy and intuitive as all the car’s other features.
[ MINI Convertible Wins a Silver ] IDSA
This win is number two for MINI this year and the latest in a series of design awards.
You can read our week long review below:
<p>I love the overall design, but I still can’t get to the point that the rear hatch doesn’t just look hideous to me…</p>
<p>It’s IDSA.org, not .com</p>
<p>Kudos to MINI on a job well done. I love my cabrio! I don’t know if I can explain it, but somehow the cabrio (top up) looks “tougher” than the hardtop. Non-MINI owners have made the same comment to me too.</p>
<p>The convertible is an amazing design. To take a fully powered top, and stow it in such a tiny compartment, without losing any of the body shape of the hard top mini is an amazing feat of engineering.</p>
<p>The rear hatch looks ‘hideous’ to you? Are you sure you aren’t just over-dramatizing your feelings on this?</p>
<p>The top is amazing and the fact that you don’t have to unlatch from the header is great. </p>
<p>The lack of rear visability kept me from getting one but I love the rear hatch on the convertibles . I wish the hardtop had the same design as it would have been more in keeping with the original MINI design. It would be less useful but cool.</p>
<p>I agree that a tailgate on the MINI hardtops would be pretty cool. Have the rear door in two sections, one that folded up and one down. I can just imagine driving up somewhere scenic, opening up the back and sitting on the tailgate enjoying the view. Then at big meets, there could be MINI tailgating parties – Ha! </p>
<p>Or if you got really creative, you could do a sort of two-in-one rear door that could either break in half and fold two ways, or stay together and open like it does now.</p>
<p>tailgate on a hardtop?… <em>shiver</em></p>
<p>I’m not surprised it won an award! But then, I love my Cabrio. Does it how its downsides? Sure, the visibility out the back is horrible, and virtually nonexistent…Still, I wouldn’t trade having the ability to “open motor” on a nice day!
Heck, if money were no object, I’d have a hardtop too..</p>
<p>My only complaint (and it’s a small one at that) is the creeeeeking noises when driving some of the back roads in PA (PA is known for adding more pot holes and bumps to roads on a daily basis). Not having a unibody construction with the hard top really makes a difference. Granted, that’s where the a** kicking HK comes into play.</p>
<p>On the otherhand, I really love the sunroof option on the ‘vert. It’s great for those gloomy days where you’re not sure what to do with the top. Put the sunroof back, drop the 4 windows and feel the fresh air. I do wish I could drive faster than 70mph without having the roof sound like it’s going to rip off.</p>
<p>Two of the biggest complements I get from non-MINI owners is 1) the chrome guages & HB Dash look great and 2) it has a sunroof? no-way!</p>