The MINI Roadster

The MINI Roadster’s classical soft-top roof, which can be opened and closed quickly and easily, ensures open-air driving pleasure is there to be lapped up at every opportunity. When it comes to optimising occupant protection the
MINI Roadster is fitted with a pair of roll-over bars behind the seats. And whether the roof is open or closed, the driver and passenger have a 240-litre load compartment at their disposal. The wide through-loading facility into the passenger compartment provides an additional dose of practicality.

Design: classical roadster lines, hallmark MINI design language.

The faithful reproduction of the hallmark MINI design language within the proportions of a roadster gives the open-top two-seater an unmistakable and irresistible charisma. Even with the roof closed the MINI Roadster displays an elegant, sweeping silhouette, with the transition from soft-top to rear end highlighting its characteristic three-box design particularly clearly. Characteristic MINI design features leave little doubt as to the brand identity of the new model.

Engines: impressive power, exemplary efficiency.

The MINI Roadster will be available with a choice of three powerful – yet also highly efficient – petrol engines from launch. The model line-up ranges from the MINI Cooper Roadster (90 kW), MINI Cooper S Roadster
(135 kW), to the sharpest performer of all, the 155 kW
MINI John Cooper Works Roadster.

Chassis: agility and precision ensure unbeatable driving fun.

Teaming up with the powerful engines and customary MINI front-wheel drive, chassis technology of a quality unparalleled in the small car segment and tuned specially for the MINI Roadster imbues the new model with the brand’s hallmark driving fun. Electric Power Steering with speed-sensitive power assistance comes as standard, as does DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), while Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) with Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC) – standard on the MINI John Cooper Works Roadster, optional on
all other models – adds even greater assurance on slippery surfaces and additional sports performance under dynamic cornering.

Optimised weight balance and aerodynamic properties.

A torsionally rigid body (complete with special strengthening elements) and
low centre of gravity enhance both the handling agility and safety of the
MINI Roadster. Meanwhile, front and head-thorax airbags, an extremely rigid windscreen frame and polished stainless steel roll-over bars fixed to the body join forces in the name of occupant protection. The aerodynamic balance of the MINI Roadster is optimised by an active rear spoiler, which extends automatically once the car reaches a speed of 80 km/h.

High-quality standard equipment, broad scope for individualisation.

The MINI Roadster underlines its premium character with a high-quality range of standard equipment, including air conditioning (MINI Cooper S Roadster and MINI John Cooper Works Roadster), electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, Park Distance Control, height-adjustable seats and an audio system with MP3-compatible CD player and AUX IN connection. Levels of comfort and individuality can be further enhanced by specifying attractive options such as xenon Adaptive Headlights, black headlight housing, Comfort Access and the Always Open Timer. And the MINI Roadster also offers in-car use of innovative MINI Connected infotainment and communications functions.

Made in England: MINI Roadster built at MINI Plant Oxford.

The character of the MINI Roadster also owes much to its British roots; it will be produced alongside the MINI, MINI Clubman, MINI Convertible and
MINI Coupé in Great Britain. The arrival of the new model sees the assembly plant on the outskirts of Oxford, the press shop in Swindon and the Hams Hall engine factory gain even further in importance. MINI already ranks as the country’s third-largest carmaker, and the BMW Group is investing around
£500 million in the ongoing expansion and modernisation of its manufacturing facilities in Britain up to 2014. 

•   MINI pushes ahead with the rigorous expansion of its model family. The latest addition to the range is the MINI Roadster, the sixth model in the brand’s current line-up and the first open-top two-seater in its history. Cutting-edge, typically MINI interpretation of the compact, two-seater sports car concept with manually-opening soft-top roof; first premium car of its kind in the small car segment; unique package appealing to demanding target groups with a penchant for elegant sportiness, spontaneous open-top driving fun and irresistible design; inspiring handling fuelled by powerful engines and sophisticated chassis technology; unrivalled scope for individualisation.

•   Faithful reproduction of the MINI design language within the proportions of a roadster; clear focus on two-seat design and open-air driving experience; sporting charisma, with short overhangs, powerful over-the-wheel stance and high waistline typical of MINI; unmistakable design features and hallmark details underline the car’s brand identity.

•   Three-box body structure with a strikingly stepped rear end; elegantly sweeping roadster look thanks to heavily raked A-pillars and a waistline rising up slightly along the length of the body towards the flat rear end; stands more than 20 millimetres lower than the MINI Convertible; manually operated soft-top roof with straightforward mechanism for spontaneous, rapid opening and closing.

•   Full-blooded go-kart feeling and outstanding safety levels thanks to bespoke chassis set-up, low centre of gravity, torsionally rigid body and optimised aerodynamic properties; Electric Power Steering and DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) as standard, DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) with EDLC (Electronic Differential Lock Control) optional (standard in the MINI John Cooper Works Roadster); roll-over bars in polished stainless steel; active rear spoiler extends automatically at 80 km/h; MINI John Cooper Works Roadster with standard John Cooper Works aerodynamic kit.

•   Focused two-seater concept with stowage area behind the driver and passenger seats, through-loading system and 240-litre luggage area; wide-opening tailgate for comfortable loading; optional: wind protection insert between the roll-over bars.

•   Latest-generation four-cylinder engines; most powerful petrol units in the MINI line-up; MINI TwinPower Turbo technology; MINI John Cooper Works Roadster with 155 kW, MINI Cooper S Roadster with 135 kW and MINI Cooper Roadster with 90 kW.

•   Bespoke colour and materials concept for upholstery, exterior mirrors, trim elements and Colour Lines; exclusive MINI Yours options and Sport Stripes in contrasting colour provide further individualisation; high-quality standard equipment including speed-sensitive steering assistance, electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, Park Distance Control, air conditioning (MINI Cooper S Roadster and MINI John Cooper Works Roadster) and audio system with MP3-compatible CD player and AUX IN connection; options include black headlight housing, xenon Adaptive Headlights, Comfort Access, automatic climate control and the Always Open Timer; wide range of entertainment and communications options: Harman Kardon hi-fi loudspeaker system, MINI navigation system, MINI Connected features including Driving Excitement app, web radio, Google services, RSS news feeds, Mission Control, and in-car use of Facebook and Twitter.

•   Engine variants:
MINI John Cooper Works Roadster: Four-cylinder petrol engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo technology and numerous technological details carried over directly from motor sport.
Displacement: 1,598 cc,
output: 155 kW at 6,000 rpm,
max. torque: 260 Nm at 1,850 – 5,600 rpm
(280 Nm with Overboost at 2,000 – 5,100 rpm).
Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 6.5 seconds,
top speed: 237 km/h.
Average fuel consumption according to EU:
7.3 litres/100 kilometres,
CO2 emissions: 169 g/km.

MINI Cooper S Roadster: Four-cylinder petrol engine with
MINI TwinPower Turbo technology.
Displacement: 1,598 cc,
output: 135 kW at 5,500 rpm,
max. torque: 240 Nm at 1,600 – 5,000 rpm
(260 Nm with Overboost at 1,730 – 4,500 rpm).
Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 7.0 seconds,
top speed: 227 km/h.
Average fuel consumption according to EU: 6.0 litres/100 kilometres ,
CO2 emissions: 139 g/km.

MINI Cooper Roadster: Four-cylinder petrol engine with fully variable valve management based on the BMW Group’s VALVETRONIC technology.
Displacement: 1,598 cc,
output: 90 kW at 6,000 rpm,
max. torque: 160 Nm at 4,250 rpm.
Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 9.2 seconds,
top speed: 199 km/h.
Average fuel consumption according to EU: 5.7 litres/100 kilometres,
CO2 emissions: 133 g/km.

•   Exterior dimensions:
Length: 3,734 millimetres (MINI Cooper Roadster: 3,728 millimetres,
MINI John Cooper Works Roadster: 3,758 millimetres)
Width: 1,683 millimetres
Height: 1,390 millimetres (MINI Cooper Roadster: 1,384 millimetres,
MINI John Cooper Works Roadster: 1,391 millimetres)
Wheelbase: 2,467 millimetres

The MINI Roadster is not only the sole premium model of its kind in the small car segment, it also ranks as the only open-top two-seater in the brand’s history. The faithful reproduction of the hallmark MINI design language within the proportions of a roadster gives the first open-top two-seater in the history of MINI an unmistakable and irresistible charisma. Even with the roof closed the MINI Roadster displays an elegant, sweeping silhouette, with the transition from soft-top to rear end highlighting its characteristic three-box design particularly clearly. Unlike the MINI, MINI Clubman and MINI Convertible, the MINI Roadster is divided into three distinct segments: engine compartment, passenger compartment and boot.

With an exterior length of 3,734 millimetres (MINI Cooper Roadster: 3,728 millimetres, MINI John Cooper Works Roadster: 3,758 millimetres), wheelbase of 2,467 millimetres and width of 1,683 millimetres, the dimensions of the MINI Roadster largely mirror those of the MINI Convertible. However, standing just 1,390 tall (MINI Cooper Roadster: 1,384 millimetres, MINI John Cooper Works Roadster: 1,391 millimetres), i.e. more than 20 millimetres lower than its four-seater soft-top stablemate, the new two-seater cuts a distinctive, low-slung and elegantly stretched figure from the side.

Roadster’s individual and unmistakable style follows in the
MINI tradition.

The principles of the MINI design language are faithfully reflected in the body design of the new concept. For example, the athletically taut surfaces, harmonious curves and parallel lines typical of MINI cars are complemented by a sloping windscreen frame raked by an extra 13 degrees over the
MINI Convertible, a short passenger compartment distilled around two seats, and a flat boot lid. The polished stainless steel roll-over bars are another striking feature. The designers went to great lengths with the three-dimensional sculpting of the bars, which are padded at the front and include a mount for the optional wind protection insert. 

The Roadster’s waistline rises up slightly along the length of the body to its tail end, producing an elegant silhouette which gives the MINI Roadster an unmistakable allure – with the roof open or closed. This visual appeal is further emphasised by a wraparound chrome trim strip at the base of the windows and roof. A windscreen frame that is more heavily raked and tapers upwards more sharply than that of the MINI Convertible also gives it a clearly distinguishable and undeniably sporting impression when viewed head-on.

In customary MINI fashion, the powerful over-the-wheel stance of the new Roadster also plays a defining role in its appearance. The car’s brand identity is further emphasised by distinctive design features such as the hexagonal contours of the radiator grille, the black border around the lower part of the body, an array of chrome strips and edging, large circular headlights with integrated direction indicators, vertically stacked rear lights positioned on the outer extremes of the rear end, and the eye-catching side indicator surrounds on the front side panels.

Clean, classic and black: the manually operated soft-top roof.

Another example of the faithful transposition of MINI design into the compact roadster template comes in the form of the robust, all-season durability of the soft-top roof. When closed, the roof – which shares the simple style of classic British roadsters – “cascades” downwards, broadening as it heads towards the body and underlining to fine effect the powerful over-the-wheel stance. When opened, the roof folds down flat behind the seats, keeping the car’s elegantly sweeping lines intact. And since the outer skin of the roof faces upwards, there is no need for any additional cover.

In keeping with British roadster tradition, the roof is black. A range of two non-metallic and six metallic paint shades are available for the exterior of the
MINI Roadster. Sport Stripes – available in Black, Silver and (exclusively for the MINI John Cooper Works Roadster) Red for the bonnet and boot lid – allow owners to add an extra personal touch. The optional Chrome Line Exterior trim adds chrome surrounds for the lower air intake and rear foglamp.

The light-alloy wheels fitted as standard on the MINI Roadster come in 15,
16 or 17-inch formats, depending on the model variant. A selection of other light-alloy wheels are available as an option in the same sizes.

Interior design: bespoke range of options offers the key to individuality.

The interior of the MINI Roadster features – in typical brand style – a large Centre Speedo and a rev counter positioned directly behind the steering wheel. The sports seats fitted as standard in the MINI Cooper S Roadster and MINI John Cooper Works Roadster offer outstanding lateral support through quickly-taken corners. The colours of the interior, meanwhile, also help enhance concentration on the road ahead. Regardless of the combination of upholstery variant, trim elements and Colour Lines chosen by the MINI Roadster owner, the interior colour remains Carbon Black.

The customary MINI variety of seat and upholstery variants includes ultra-exclusive piped sports seats in the colour shade Toffy. Added to which, black sports seats in Punch Leather with beige-coloured perforations are also available.

Trim strips can be ordered in any of six variants, while an extra Chili Red option is also offered for the MINI John Cooper Works Roadster. A choice of five Colour Lines is available; the Polar Beige variant, for example, can also be combined with beige-coloured exterior mirrors. The Chrome Line Interior package can be specified as an option, and includes chrome rings and trim elements for the Centre Speedo, rev counter, air vents, gearshift lever gaiter, the cupholders on the centre console, the door openers, the stereo speakers in the doors, the seat belt outlet and the handbrake lever.

The MINI Yours range, meanwhile, offers an additional selection of extremely exclusive exterior and interior design options, including Soda bonnet stripes in White, MINI Yours Tattoo Funky adornments and a leather-covered instrument panel.