MINI Pulls Back Curtain on New Roadster

HARTFORD, CONN. (01/16/2012)(readMedia)-- It may be January, but MINI was already thinking about summer when it debuted its all-new MINI Roadster at the Detroit Auto Show last week. Sporting a folding fabric roof and a variety of powerful engine options, the new convertible will arrive at MINI dealerships this spring.

As the first MINI convertible ever to feature just two seats, the MINI Roadster condenses the brand's fun-to-drive dynamics and style into an even more compact form. Based on the MINI Coupe that reached dealerships in the fall of 2011, the Roadster features a stiff chassis thanks to extra bracing in the back of the car. Meanwhile, a steeply sloped windshield and an electrically operated rear spoiler help improve aerodynamics.

"MINI was able to maintain its signature handling in the Roadster by addressing issues that can often make a convertible more tentative during turns," said Tim Parker, general manager of New Country MINI, a Hartford, Connecticut MINI dealer. "It has a taut chassis that ensures lively steering and aerodynamic features that make sure the car is not at the mercy of the wind when the top is down."

Unlike the four-seat MINI Convertible, which has an automatic power-folding top, the new Roadster features a manual top that lowers the car's center of gravity and allows for more spontaneous opening and closing. The roof is easily folded and stored after the turn of a handle, and it can be just as easily returned to position should bad weather move in. While customers will be able to buy a Roadster in many colors, the roof is only available in black.

Like the Coupe, the MINI Roadster will be available in three trims that provide varying levels of power and speed. The standard model comes with a 121-horsepower engine displacing 1.6 liters, while Cooper S models will get a turbocharged version of the same unit producing 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Of course, the range-topper is the MINI John Cooper Works Roadster, which comes with a 208-horsepower engine and other power enhancements, turning the car into a MINI giant-killer.

The MINI Roadster will be the sixth MINI in a lineup that is fresh off a strong sales year. MINI's 2011 U.S. sales were up 26 percent compared with 2010, with 57,511 models finding new homes. Leading the sales charge was the original MINI Cooper Hardtop, which sold 28,067 units, while the new MINI Countryman came in second, moving 16,683 units in its first full year of sales.

"MINI had an incredible sales year because of popular new options like the Countryman and Coupe and the continued popularity of proven favorites like the Cooper Hardtop," Parker noted. "More and more Connecticut drivers are gravitating to the brand because they see MINI as a fun alternative to the status quo. The Roadster will reinforce that idea for convertible buyers."

About New Country MINI:

Connecticut MINI drivers flock to New Country MINI, a premier Connecticut MINI dealer, for one reason: They work to make sure their customers are happy even after the sale. New Country MINI sells used and new MINIs like the 2011 MINI Countryman and MINI Cooper, and they keep them running like new at their Hartford MINI service center. Part of the New Country Motor Car Group, New Country MINI is located at 1 Weston Park Rd in Hartford, Connecticut. Find them online at www.newcountrymini.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NewCountryMINI, or call them at 877-383-5983.