WHAT does this Mini John Cooper Works Convertible share with a Ford Mustang? Certainly not size, or location of driven wheels, but surprisingly other aspects including four-cylinder count, turbocharging and – at the core of this comparison – price and positioning.

For the money this JCW Convertible ($54,990 plus on-road costs) and a Mustang Ecoboost Convertible ($53,990) are the only options for enthusiast drivers who want al fresco seating.

The most powerful Mini soft-top ever can cover 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds – about the same as the Ford, and around a second faster than the $40K duo of Fiat 500C Abarth and Mazda MX-5, the $50K BMW 220i Convertible and $55K Audi A3 1.8T Cabriolet.

Where the three-door JCW Hatch faces many rivals, the Mini JCW Convertible does not. Can it double down as a driving drop-top sweet spot?

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