Mini Convertible (2009-)
Encyclopedia
The Mk II Mini Convertible was unveiled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center, usually in January. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...

 and the 2009 Geneva International Motor Show as a 2009 model-year vehicle (first available for sale on 28 March 2009).

The model features a device, marketed as the "Openometer", which records the number of minutes the vehicle has operated with its roof retracted. Available variants and corresponding powertrain selections are the same as in the other Mk II Mini models, including the diesel engine in some markets.

Design

New safety requirements resulted in the overall length increasing by 60 mm (2.4 in), the front end raised and the indicators being repositioned inside the headlight housings. The headlights themselves are now fixed to the front quarter panels rather than being integrated with the bonnet, so that they are not raised up with it when the bonnet opens. The car features a restyled grille
Grille
A grille or grill is an opening of several slits side by side in a wall or metal sheet or other barrier, usually to let air or water enter and/or leave but keep larger objects including people and animals in or out.-Spelling:In the United States, "grille" is used to differentiate the automotive...

 and larger rear light clusters. The Cooper S retains the bonnet scoop
Hood scoop
A bonnet/hood scoop is an upraised component on the hood of an automobile that either allows a flow of air to directly enter the engine compartment, or appears to do so. It has only one opening and is closed on all other sides...

 in order to keep an association with the outgoing model — although the relocation of the intercooler
Intercooler
An intercooler , or charge air cooler, is an air-to-air or air-to-liquid heat exchange device used on turbocharged and supercharged internal combustion engines to improve their volumetric efficiency by increasing intake air charge density through nearly isobaric cooling, which removes...

 to the front of the engine means that the scoop is now purely decorative. In addition, the Cooper S no longer has the battery located under the boot
Trunk (automobile)
The trunk or boot of an automobile or car is the vehicle's main storage, luggage, or cargo compartment. Trunk is used in North American English and Jamaican English; boot is used elsewhere in the English speaking world. Trunk is also primarily used in many non-English speaking regions, such as...

 floor, instead being found in the more conventional location under the bonnet.

Technical specifications

Since 2008 all non-U.S. Mini models (except the standard Mini One) have been equipped with BMW's Efficient Dynamics fuel-saving technology (called "Minimalism Technologies" in Mini literature). This includes a start-stop feature that shuts off the engine when the car is stationary; when the clutch pedal is depressed, the engine is restarted with electricity generated from Brake Energy Regeneration. The Cooper D model attains 74 mpgimp and emits 104 g of carbon dioxide per 100 kilometres. A Mini One D has been available in Europe since 2009, attaining the same fuel efficiency and emissions of greenhouse gases as the Cooper D, which is itself quite comparable to the Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...

 for fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions (potentially better than the Prius at higher rpm). With the widespread use of its Efficient Dynamics feature, Mini is the first automotive brand to have all models in its range classified as mild hybrid
Mild Hybrid
Mild hybrids are essentially conventional fossil-fuel vehicles equipped with a large electric machine allowing the engine to be turned off whenever the car is coasting, braking, or stopped, yet restart quickly...

s (Mini's parent, BMW, is still in the process of implementing Efficient Dynamics across its older models).

All models of the Mk II with optional dynamic stability control (DSC) also include "Hill Assist", a feature which prevents the car from rolling backwards on an incline by holding the brakes for 2 seconds after the driver releases the brake pedal, allowing the driver time to engage the accelerator pedal without the vehicle drifting. Also included with DSC is hydraulic EBA (Emergency Brake Assist) as opposed to the mechanical system on Minis without DSC. DSC is standard on all Minis since September 2008.

External links

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