MINI CONVERTIBLE

The Mini Convertible is back in its latest generation and we drove it in Jaisalmer to find out how fun it really is

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Convertibles have never been the rage in India, our weather conditions prompts most buyers to choose light coloured cars, so an open-roof experience is quite niche in our market, and an automaker bringing a convertible to our shores even rarer.

But it's not like they are absent, there are a few options, with the most recent one being the MG Cyberster, an all-out electric sportscar, but if one wants something conventional and a lot more fun, the Mini Convertible is the answer.

The F67 Mini Convertible is based on the fourth-gen 3-door hatch, that was launched here last year, and more or less, both are nearly identical, with the same exact wheelbase, that measures 2,495mm. The rest of the dimensions match as well, save for the length, that is 3mm more, owing to different bumpers. So it is small, compact, pointing to the Cooper Convertible being aimed at a ‘fun vibe’.

The design is identical between the Convertible and the 3-door, the front houses the large grille element, with an 'S' badge flanked by the iconic circular LED headlamps. These headlamps get a unique LED signature, and the circular LEDs also serve as the turn indicator. Over to the sides, everything below the shoulder line is the same as well, save for the alloys.

The fabric roof is as flush as the hardtop, and the only difference is the placement of the antennae that is on the front instead of the rear. The only roof colour option for India is black, and it does not get the Union Jack pattern as other markets, while there are four exterior colour options, and each of them fit perfectly with the ethos.