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2005 Mini Cooper Convertible Preview

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Khatir Soltani

2005 Mini Cooper Convertible - 'Open' Exposed by British Paparazzi

How can Mini possibly make its Cooper and Cooper S more desirable? The big, and hardly unexpected, news is that a new convertible will add to the Mini hysteria sometime late this year when it gets unveiled somewhere on the auto show circuit, probably Paris in the fall.

Auto Express, an English tabloid style car magazine, was able to shoot these photos of a topless Mini somewhere in London, but there is no word as to whether it's an OEM pre-production model or if someone had it commissioned individually, by the Bespoke Car Group for instance.

Either way the photos give a good indication as to what we can expect. With top folded the Mini will most likely sport a traditional convertible bundle on its back, as it will be next to impossible to incorporate 4-seats, the official objective according to company sources, and still have room to hide its roof under a hard tonneau.

Expected to be called the Open when it becomes available in 2004, the Mini convertible will apparently get new interior door panel, seat and dash trim to match its body color.

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
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