The part manual, part electrically operated fabric roof for the new Mini Roadster will appeal because of its classic British two seater open top sports design with the usual Mini go-kart handling.
Prices range from £18,020 up to £24,860 plus of course there is the usual array of extra cost option packs and goodies available so that customers can personalise the model of their choice.
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But Roadster drivers are traditionally hardy people and enjoy taking the rough with the smooth. The interior is of impeccable quality as usual, too many fiddly switches for us older people with less nimble fingers, but it is a classy piece of soft top motoring.
Unfortunately Mini didn't have any of the best-selling Cooper versions of the Roadster, price £18,020, at the press launch this week, only the £20,905 Cooper S and the £21,639 Cooper SD diesel versions.
But those prices are only the start because option packs, although not compulsory are expected, so both my test Roadster models had over £6,000 worth of extras, some being must-haves for better resale demand.
Mini Roadster engines and performance
There are four engine options all with stop/start. Three are 1.6-litre petrol units plus there is a 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit on offer. The specification options mirror that of the hard-top two seater Coupe introduced last year with the 121bhp Cooper version, the turbo181bhp Cooper S, the turbocharged 208bhp John Cooper Works and the 141bhp Cooper SD turbodiesel.
Cooper versions are expected to take 48 per cent of sales, Cooper S 33 per cent, SD diesel 15 per cent and the JCW 4 per cent.
There is a £1,085 six speed automatic transmission option available on all versions except the JCW model. Ninety-five per cent of UK Roadster sales will be to retail buyers against the overall 70 per cent retail sales across the Mini range. At this stage it is not possible to say what the male to female sales split will be or indeed the age group of UK buyers.
The all important fuel consumption and CO2 figures range from 38.7mpg for the JCW version up to 62.8mpg for the SD diesel with the best selling naturally aspirated Cooper 1.6-litre petrol model being the cleanest petrol unit emitting 133g/km of CO2 so VED road tax is £120 and BIK company car tax 17 per cent.
The Cooper S is only marginally behind these figures with 47.1mpg, 139g/km, road tax still at £120 and BIK is 18 per cent. The SD diesel offers 62.8mpg, CO2 at 118g/km, VED road is £0 in the First Year rate then £30 per annum while BIK company car tax with the 3 per cent diesel loading is 17 per cent. The JCW with 169g/km sees a First Year VED rate of £275 and BIK tax at 24 per cent.
For those with a need for speed the Cooper has a top speed of 124mph with zero to 62mph taking 9.2 seconds. The Cooper S is 141mph and 7.0 seconds, the JCW is 147mph and 6.5 seconds and the SD turbodiesel 132mph and 8.1 seconds. Insurance ratings are 19 to 37E.
Mini Roadster fabric roof
Still on the subject of speed the fabric roof can be raised or lowered in just 8.0 seconds, a good feature bearing in mind UK weather and this can be done at speeds up to 20mph. Good news is that the canvas roof folds right down into the rear body of the car so it gives a nice clean body line and reasonably good rear visibility.
Not like the pram-type folding roof of the Mini Convertible which sits proud of the body, looks terrible and blots out rear vision.
With the rain pelting down and the canvas roof up it was just like old roadster times, bygone days of Triumphs and MGs but with today's powerful heaters, demisters and aircon enjoyment reigned, as opposed to rained. When the rain stopped down went the roof.
A quick manual un-doing of the centre manual catch and push the button to get the roof down and stowed in quick time. Repeat the process and the roof was raised almost without the April showers dampening our driving experience. The roof does require a firm grip to lock it back into place though.
Mini Roadster interior and specifications
When it comes to optimising occupant protection the Mini Roadster is fitted with a pair of roll-over bars behind the seats, a safety feature yes - but they do restrict rear visibility. Whether the roof is open or closed, the driver and passenger have a 240-litre load compartment at their disposal and just enough room behind the seats for a carrier bag each. The wide through-loading facility into the passenger compartment provides an additional dose of practicality.
The Roadster of course retains the premium image BMW has carefully crafted for it with a high-quality range of standard equipment. This includes air conditioning for all versions, electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, Park Distance Control, height-adjustable seats and an audio system with MP3-compatible CD player and AUX IN connection.
Levels of comfort and individuality can be further enhanced by specifying options such as xenon Adaptive Headlights, black headlight housing, Comfort Access and the Always Open Timer. The Roadster also offers in-car use of innovative the Mini Connected infotainment and communications features and with Wi-Fi and iPhone specific applications and functions.
It's a pretty package the new Mini Roadster, the car looks better balanced with the seemingly longer canvas roof than the bubble hard-top Coupe. They both look sportier than other Mini versions because of the extra 13 degrees of swept back angle for the front A pillars.
Inside its Mini through and through. Roomy for two adults in the front with enough arm space - just, and enough legroom to slide the front seats right back for us long legged drivers and the headroom with the hood up was good even for six-footers.
Driving the Mini Roadster
As for performance, classic Mini, go-kart in the handling department, the steering seems even sharper and when manufacturers take roofs off hatchbacks there can be rigidity implications. The Mini Roadster doesn't suffer from the body tremors to a great extent; certainly the shell appears very stiff with its new strengthening cross-beam behind the seats.
Push the car through tight corners and there was some wheel/suspension shake through the steering wheel. As always the smaller the wheels the better the ride comfort will be and the same applies to the new Roadster. Driving the Cooper S with the all important must-have Chili Pack, the Roadster gets 17-inch wheels instead of the standard 16-inch ones.
The ride is sportingly firm anyway but the added wheel size just compromises the suspension's ability to soak up ripples and bumps in the tarmac at higher speeds and increases the road noise intrusion.
The swift 1.6-litre, 181bhp turbocharged Cooper S is always a delight of an engine to drive. Plenty of power, response and good on fuel, officially 47.1mpg for the Combined Cycle.
On my spirited test drive over winding A and B Cotswold roads without any motorway cruising, the figure was 37.7mpg. Given the performance with zero to 62mph taking 7.0 seconds and that was pretty acceptable. The top speed of 141mph was never an issue.
UK customers will opt for the non turbocharged version of this engine with the Cooper version, just because of its lower price and to be honest with our road conditions and high fuel taxes we can live with a bit less speed and a bit more mpg.
The Cooper SD Roadster with its 2.0-litre, 141bhp turbodiesel unit will be an option for business owners rather than company car drivers. Can you see any company car driver getting their fleet manager to sanction a two seater Mini Roadster as a company car?
For the record top speed of this version is 132mph, zero to 62mpg takes 8.1 seconds, officially it will do 62.8mpg and on test it returned 48.9mpg.
Just as with other Mini models in the ever increasing range there is a Roadster version to suit soft-top enthusiasts and as the UK is the second largest market in Europe for convertibles of all makes, so the Mini Roadster's sales success is assured.
Mini Cooper S Roadster Milestones
Price: £20,905 but options can add over £6,000 to that price
Engine/transmission: 1.6-litre, four cylinder turbocharger with stop/start, 181bhp, 177lb ft of torque from 1,600rpm, 6-speed manual gearbox
Performance: 141mph, 0-62mph 7.0 seconds, 47.1mpg (37.7mpg on test), CO2 139g/km, VED road tax £120, BIK company car tax 18%
Insurance group: 32E
Dimensions/capacities: L 3,734mm, W 1,892mm, H 1,390mm, boot space 240-litres, two seats
For: Classic British two seater roadster design, impeccable ultra-modern interior of high quality, go-kart handling, brisk performance, relatively affordable to run
Against: Firm ride and unsettled at times, fiddly switches, pricey when options are added