In the midnight hour she cried, "More, more, more".
If there is one song to soundtrack our time with the new MINI Cooper S Convertible, it is Billy Idol's 'Rebel Yell'. Hear us out.
But first, we have a confession to make - having driven the MINI Cooper S Clubman earlier this year, we can unabashedly say that we absolutely adore MINI's turbocharged 2.0-litre engine.
Stepping out of the Cooper Convertible into the Cooper S Convertible, it's easy to think you had stepped into the same car. Admittedly, this is for the most part true - both models share the same body, the same interior, even the same options list (by and large).
The important difference, then, is what's under the bonnet.
Up close and Personal
The MINI Cooper S Convertible is yet another iteration in MINI's third generation lineup, and bears many of the familiar design characteristics. At 3,850mm long, the Cooper S Convertible is 29mm longer than the Cooper Convertible, and slightly heavier at 1,370kg. However, these are small, imperceptible differences - it is still a compact soft-top that is recognisably MINI.
There are some details that help to tell the Cooper S variant apart. It comes standard with the MINI Yours Union Jack woven soft-top with integrated sun roof, one of the hallmark MINI design touches.
If there is one song to soundtrack our time with the new MINI Cooper S Convertible, it is Billy Idol's 'Rebel Yell'. Hear us out.
But first, we have a confession to make - having driven the MINI Cooper S Clubman earlier this year, we can unabashedly say that we absolutely adore MINI's turbocharged 2.0-litre engine.
Stepping out of the Cooper Convertible into the Cooper S Convertible, it's easy to think you had stepped into the same car. Admittedly, this is for the most part true - both models share the same body, the same interior, even the same options list (by and large).
The important difference, then, is what's under the bonnet.
Up close and Personal
The MINI Cooper S Convertible is yet another iteration in MINI's third generation lineup, and bears many of the familiar design characteristics. At 3,850mm long, the Cooper S Convertible is 29mm longer than the Cooper Convertible, and slightly heavier at 1,370kg. However, these are small, imperceptible differences - it is still a compact soft-top that is recognisably MINI.
There are some details that help to tell the Cooper S variant apart. It comes standard with the MINI Yours Union Jack woven soft-top with integrated sun roof, one of the hallmark MINI design touches.
There is also an air inlet on the bonnet that speaks to its more potent character. If you look closely, the front grille features a honeycomb pattern, and there are twin exhaust tailpipes at the rear as well.
The interior is high on quality. The leather seats are particularly comfortable, doing a good job of hugging your body as you swing around corners. The 8.8-inch LCD screen displays a variety of information, from navigation to media to a 'Driving Excitement' screen, which shows your current horsepower and torque output.
Rear leg room is dismal, as is the boot space. That said, the latter has an Easy Load function that lifts the bottom section of the soft-top frame slightly, expanding the loading entrance to fit a light round of groceries if you really need to.
Roof operation is smooth and fairly seamless, and you'll have to hold your finger on the switch throughout the 18 seconds it takes to operate.
The interior is high on quality. The leather seats are particularly comfortable, doing a good job of hugging your body as you swing around corners. The 8.8-inch LCD screen displays a variety of information, from navigation to media to a 'Driving Excitement' screen, which shows your current horsepower and torque output.
Rear leg room is dismal, as is the boot space. That said, the latter has an Easy Load function that lifts the bottom section of the soft-top frame slightly, expanding the loading entrance to fit a light round of groceries if you really need to.
Roof operation is smooth and fairly seamless, and you'll have to hold your finger on the switch throughout the 18 seconds it takes to operate.
The Drive
Oh, that lovely powerplant. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit produces 192bhp and 280Nm of torque, which can be briefly overboosted to 300Nm. The important number here, though, is 1,250rpm - that's where MINI says you can begin to get maximum torque from, which translates to an incredibly wide torque curve. It also means there is barely a hint of turbo lag, and the engine is incredibly responsive to your throttle input. Mated to the engine is a six-speed automatic transmission that shifts smoothly.
The engine has a riotously intoxicating mid-range, especially in second and third gear. Keeping it between 2,500rpm to 5,000rpm, it pulls incredibly hard, all the while making a wonderful, soulful noise as you accelerate and climb up the rev range. Let off the gas, brake, and downshift, and the exhaust barks and pops.
With the fitted dynamic dampers, the ride is very firm and solid, meaning you feel connected to the tarmac. Even so, it's not brutally harsh, and does a decent job of soaking up small bumps on the road as you cruise down the highway.
Handling is the best in 'Sport' mode, where the dynamic dampers firm up and the steering becomes heavier and more direct. Around corners, the car feels extremely stable and offers lots of traction. While not as eager as it's hardtop sibling, the Cooper S Convertible is still agile and nimble, with ample power and excitement to keep you chugging away and eating up tarmac.
The only complain here is that the brakes can be slightly better. They don't bite immediately, which can be slightly worrying considering how torquey the car is and how willing it is to rocket off into the night.
Oh, that lovely powerplant. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit produces 192bhp and 280Nm of torque, which can be briefly overboosted to 300Nm. The important number here, though, is 1,250rpm - that's where MINI says you can begin to get maximum torque from, which translates to an incredibly wide torque curve. It also means there is barely a hint of turbo lag, and the engine is incredibly responsive to your throttle input. Mated to the engine is a six-speed automatic transmission that shifts smoothly.
The engine has a riotously intoxicating mid-range, especially in second and third gear. Keeping it between 2,500rpm to 5,000rpm, it pulls incredibly hard, all the while making a wonderful, soulful noise as you accelerate and climb up the rev range. Let off the gas, brake, and downshift, and the exhaust barks and pops.
With the fitted dynamic dampers, the ride is very firm and solid, meaning you feel connected to the tarmac. Even so, it's not brutally harsh, and does a decent job of soaking up small bumps on the road as you cruise down the highway.
Handling is the best in 'Sport' mode, where the dynamic dampers firm up and the steering becomes heavier and more direct. Around corners, the car feels extremely stable and offers lots of traction. While not as eager as it's hardtop sibling, the Cooper S Convertible is still agile and nimble, with ample power and excitement to keep you chugging away and eating up tarmac.
The only complain here is that the brakes can be slightly better. They don't bite immediately, which can be slightly worrying considering how torquey the car is and how willing it is to rocket off into the night.
Conclusion
Is this the MINI Convertible to have, then? To be very honest, for our money, we'd probably have the Cooper Convertible. It offers you all of the open-top goodness you want at a significantly cheaper price ($156,300 as of 21 June 2016). The smaller 1.5-litre engine means it's cheaper to run as well.
It's difficult to justify the Cooper S Convertible's $178,000 pricetag. The additional $22,000 is a lot of money to pay for a more powerful toy (and a toy is what the MINI Convertible really is) that will eat through your petrol money more quickly. And if it is all-out MINI performance you want, an extra $13,000 will net you the bonkers MINI John Cooper Works, which packs an extra 36bhp over the Cooper S.
The Cooper S Convertible is a lovely car with an intoxicating and soulful engine, and we absolutely adore it. It makes us giggle in giddy exuberance every time we put our foot down, and we want nothing more than to drive it through the night, with the top down to soak in that sonorous engine noise.
Therein lies the problem - the Cooper S Convertible is a lovely and comfortable car best savoured when driven hard. It's incredibly easy to love, but it's hard to make a case for buying it. And that is an absolute pity, because it really is a wonderful, soulful and joy-inducing little bugger, ready to unleash its rebel yell.
More, more, more!
Is this the MINI Convertible to have, then? To be very honest, for our money, we'd probably have the Cooper Convertible. It offers you all of the open-top goodness you want at a significantly cheaper price ($156,300 as of 21 June 2016). The smaller 1.5-litre engine means it's cheaper to run as well.
It's difficult to justify the Cooper S Convertible's $178,000 pricetag. The additional $22,000 is a lot of money to pay for a more powerful toy (and a toy is what the MINI Convertible really is) that will eat through your petrol money more quickly. And if it is all-out MINI performance you want, an extra $13,000 will net you the bonkers MINI John Cooper Works, which packs an extra 36bhp over the Cooper S.
The Cooper S Convertible is a lovely car with an intoxicating and soulful engine, and we absolutely adore it. It makes us giggle in giddy exuberance every time we put our foot down, and we want nothing more than to drive it through the night, with the top down to soak in that sonorous engine noise.
Therein lies the problem - the Cooper S Convertible is a lovely and comfortable car best savoured when driven hard. It's incredibly easy to love, but it's hard to make a case for buying it. And that is an absolute pity, because it really is a wonderful, soulful and joy-inducing little bugger, ready to unleash its rebel yell.
More, more, more!
