New MINI Cooper Convertible adds a breath of fresh air to the iconic city car

• New exterior and interior
• Petrol-only for now
• Priced from €31,200 (£26,200)

The new MINI Cooper Convertible has been unveiled and – as the name suggests – the British brand has lopped the roof off its iconic hatchback. It follows the outgoing MINI Convertible, picking up a completely redesigned interior and few subtle styling tweaks, although its underlying platform remains the same.

While the MINI brand is currently undergoing something of an electric revolution, with all-new electric Cooper, Countryman and Aceman models hitting showrooms this year, the Cooper Convertible will only be offered with a petrol engine for now. UK pricing is yet to be announced, but it will be offered in European markets from €31,200 (£26,200) when it goes on sale next year.

What do I need to know about the new MINI Cooper Convertible?

The new MINI Cooper Convertible is essentially a heavy facelift of the outgoing car, although the changes are sufficient enough for MINI to describe it as a ‘new’ model. That’s unlike the new electric MINI Cooper, which is based on an entirely new platform.

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That’s a point worth making, as the new MINI Cooper Convertible is petrol-only for now – there’s no word on whether a soft-top electric model will be offered in the future. Buyers have three engines to choose from, and they’re all 2.0-litre four-cylinder units. The first, found in the Cooper Convertible C, puts out 161bhp, which is slightly more than the three-cylinder engine found in the old car.

Stepping up to the Cooper Convertible S gets you a punchier 201bhp engine, with a nippy 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds, while top of the range sits the Cooper Convertible JCW. There’s little technical information about this model yet, but it’s likely to inherit the same powertrain as the upcoming Cooper JCW hatchback.

What about that folding roof? MINI claims it can be fully retracted in 18 seconds at speeds of up to 19mph, tucking away neatly behind the rear two seats. If you fancy some wind in your hair but don’t want to be fully exposed to the elements, the Cooper Convertible offers a ‘sunroof’ mode, where the soft-top retracts by just 40cm. The roof itself can be had in grey or black fabric, with an optional Union Jack graphic for those feeling particularly patriotic.

That’s not the only Union Jack you’ll spot on the Cooper Convertible. Those LED tail-lights can be configured to display three different patterns, including the iconic UK flag. Interestingly, they’re the same lights as the old MINI Convertible – the new model has missed out on the latest rear-end styling found on the Cooper hatchback, presumably so the folding roof mechanism could be carried over.

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The front bumper is new, however, with a hexagonal grille design and a pair of classic round headlights. Twelve paint colours will be offered, and the three trim levels – Classic, Favoured and JCW – will each provide a slightly different exterior trim package.

The Cooper Convertible’s cabin isn’t any different from the regular Cooper, meaning you get a circular 9.5-inch infotainment screen in the centre of a fabric-trimmed dashboard. MINI’s ‘Experience Modes’ can be found here, too, allowing drivers to adjust their car’s interior ambience, including the LED projectors that beam patterns onto the top of the dashboard.

How much will the new MINI Cooper Convertible cost?

We’re still waiting for UK pricing for the Cooper Convertible, but we know that European-spec models will start from €31,200, which equates to around £26,200. That would make the MINI Cooper Convertible around £3,000 more expensive than the hatchback, but it would still be one of the most affordable convertibles on the market.

Why not read our list of the top 10 convertibles you can buy today…