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The MINI Cooper Cabrio, the car long awaited
by MINI enthusiasts, is here at last. Now those who love driving
an open car will no longer have to miss out on the fun of the
open-air experience at the wheel of a MINI. In July of this year
the MINI product range will be complemented by the attractive MINI
Cabrio.
The MINI Cabrio is a fully-fledged four-seater and instantly
recognisable as a genuine MINI, regardless of whether the roof is
up or down.
For the design features and proportions so characteristic of the
MINI have been consistently carried over to the MINI Cabrio. The
steeply raked windscreen and the optimum seating position enjoyed
by the driver ensure an unforgettable open-air experience when
driving with the roof down. So the new model version leaves no
doubt that motoring pleasure is an outstanding factor on all four
seats of this uniquely popular cult car.
The 1.6-litre engine under the bonnet delivering 85 kW/115 bhp at
6,000 rpm, does true justice to that go-kart feeling so typical of
MINI. Maximum torque of 150 Nm or 111 lb-ft is achieved at 4,500
rpm. The MINI Cooper Cabrio, which features a smooth-shifting
five-speed gearbox, accelerates from 0–100 km/h in just 9.8
seconds and has a top speed of 193 km/h or 120 mph. Acceleration
from 80 to 120 km/h is achieved in fourth gear in a mere 11.6
seconds. In spite of this remarkable performance, the attractive
MINI Cabrio has a very modest fuel consumption of just 7.3 litres
premium/100 km in the EU cycle, the equivalent of 38.7 mpg Imp.
The MINI Cooper Cabrio is the result of a cleverly devised overall
concept comprising a high degree of functionality and optimum
utilisation of space. It is not long before the driver experiences
the enjoyment of open-air driving, as the roof folds back fully
automatically in a mere 15 seconds. At the push of a button, you
first open the integrated sliding roof, then the entire soft roof.
With the soft roof folding to the rear, the roof pillars are
automatically retracted and the rear side windows move down at the
same time. The intelligent Z-folding mechanism allows the complete
roof to fold up in compact arrangement behind the rear seats, with
no need for a tonneau cover.
The sliding roof integrated in the soft top can be opened
infinitely up to 40 cm or 15¾´´ while driving, up to a speed of
120 km/h or 75 mph. Clearly, a feature quite unprecedented in the
Cabrio market.
The MINI Cabrio has a drop-down boot lid which is held in position
when open by two steel cables on a spring-mounted retractor
system. This allows use of the rear lid with its exterior hinges
as a practical loading platform able to hold a weight of up to 80
kg or 176 lb.
The MINI Cabrio is able to carry a maximum of 400 kg or 882 lb,
and the luggage compartment accommodates 165 litres with the roof
closed. And even with the roof down, driving in the open air,
luggage compartment capacity remains a substantial 120 litres.
Those who wish to get even more out of this agile little car can
make use of the generous Easy Load through-loading system designed
for even the most bulky of loads. With the roof closed, all you do
is turn two levers in the luggage compartment to fold up the
bottom section of the folding top and attach it in position. Then,
with the rear lid open, you have very convenient access to the
luggage compartment through a large opening able to accommodate
even bulky objects. And in conjunction with the rear seat
backrests folding forward and fastened securely in position,
luggage compartment capacity can be increased to no less than 605
litres.
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