Mini prices Roadster from $45,500

MINI has revealed the entry-level Cooper S variant of its forthcoming soft-top Roadster will kick off from $45,500 ahead of its local release at the end of February.

As expected, this gives it a premium of $2500 over its two-door Coupe sibling that is due to hit Australian Mini showrooms at the same time.

However, the longer and lower Roadster will be $3300 cheaper than the Cooper S version of the Mini Cabriolet, which is based on the hatchback. Likely rivals for the diminutive British soft-top include parent company BMW’s 1 Series convertible (from $53,200), the venerable Mazda MX-5 (from $44,265) and the recently-released Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet (from $36,990).

The Cooper S is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine producing 135kW at 5500rpm and 240Nm of torque from 1600 rpm, stepping up to 260Nm when using the overboost function.

The sprint to 100km/h is dispatched in a respectable 7.0 seconds (compared with 6.9 seconds for the Coupe) on its way to a claimed top speed of 227km.h.

Official fuel consumption is listed as 6.4 litres per 100km corresponding with CO2 emissions of 149 grams per kilometre.

Mini has also revealed pricing for the more powerful John Cooper Works versions of both Coupe and Roadster bodystyles, which will start at $52,600 and $55,100 respectively.

The JCW gets a tweaked version of the turbocharged engine from the Cooper S, tuned to produce 155kW of power at 6000rpm and 260Nm of torque from 1850 to 5600 rpm (280Nm with the overboost engaged).

Mini claims a 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.5 seconds and fuel consumption of 7.3L/100km.

Pricing for both Roadster variants is for the six-speed manual version, with the six-speed automatic likely to add the same $2350 premium as found on the Mini Cooper S hatchback.

The Roadster shares the Coupe’s automatic rear spoiler that deploys at speeds above 80km/h, retracts once the car dips below 60km/h and can be operated manually via a dashboard switch.

Up to 240 litres of luggage space is available in the boot with the roof up – just 40 litres fewer than the Coupe version. There is also storage space behind the front seats in the absence of a second row.

In what the brand claims to be a tip of the cap to simple British convertibles of yesteryear, the folding black soft top on the Roadster is opened and closed manually via a roof latch.

The Roadster will share its list of standard features – including 17” alloys, a sport button, parking sensors, Xenon headlights, sports leather steering wheel, sports seats, climate control and Bluetooth connectivity – with the Coupe.

Safety features include four airbags, stability control, electronic brake force distribution and a crash sensor.

JCW versions pick up extra features including a body kit, firmer sports suspension, side stripes and a high-end Harmon Kardon sound system.

Mini Coupe andRoadster pricing (before on-roads):
Cooper S Coupe	$42,990
Cooper S Roadster	$45,500
John Cooper Works Coupe	$52,600
John cooper WorksRoadster	$55,100
*Six-speedautomatic expected to add $2350