This is the new Mini JCW Convertible

Under the hood, the JCW Convertible is the same as the hardtop: 228 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is a significant increase over the Cooper S’s 181-hp output.

Mini are describing the new John Cooper Works Convertible as a “unique vehicle concept in the small auto segment combining authentic racing feel with intense open-air enjoyment”.

The sport styling continues in the cabin as the model has been equipped with Dinamica/fabric sport seats, a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel, and a JCW shifter. The engine is mated to either a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic.

Kerb weight rises by 130kg (add a further 10kg for the auto) compared to the JCW hatch, and the 0-100km/h sprint is 0.3 seconds slower for the manual at 6.6 seconds, and 0.4 seconds slower for the auto convertible at 6.5 seconds.

Finally, the John Cooper Works Convertible wouldn’t be complete without its fully automatic textile roof, which includes a heated rear window and a high-quality liner to keep the elements out.

Top speed, meanwhile, is put at 242km/h in manual guise and 240km/h with the automatic.

Now an all-new 2016 version is out-as is a new John Cooper Works, which is badged a 2017-and the good news is that prices haven’t strayed far from the outgoing models’. The 2016 MINI John Cooper Works Convertible also comes with the premium features included in the latest MINI generation.

Mini had let its Cooper convertible overripe in the sun, with that car’s older design continuing unchanged for two years after the third-generation hardtop models arrived for 2014. BMW has revealed the brand-spanking new Mini John Convertible Works Convertible, which will be with us from April 2016.

Power from the 2.0-litre turbo engine is up 39 horsepower to 231hp which results in a 0 to 60 time of 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 149mph. If the Union Jack isn’t your style, you can opt for a plain black convertible roof. A head-up display, sports instruments for the oil and charge-air pressure and a stopwatch function are available as options.

Buyers will also be offered an optional 8.8-inch Professional grade navigation system, with MINI’s new Touch Controller setup that presents a touch-sensitive surface.