2008 MINI Cooper S Convertible

Alongside the first ever Cooper Convertible, MINI also launched the Cooper S Convertible. A high-performance variant of the drop-top MINI, the "S" serves up 170 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 162 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. The 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is assisted by a supercharger and advanced intercooler technology.

The MINI Cooper S Convertible sprints from zero to 60 mph in 7 seconds and accelerates from 50 to 75 mph in fourth gear in 6.6 seconds. Top speed is 134 mph and average fuel consumption is 32.1 mpg.

MINI developed an extra-stiff chassis for the convertible, which provides sharp handling and good crash protection. In "S" guise, this becomes even more apparent coupled with the car's extra-firm suspension setup.

The car's canvas roof takes just 15 seconds to open or close, and comes with a unique sunroof that provides a semi-open-air experience when dropping the whole roof is just too much. Not all convertibles offer a heated rear window, but that comes standard on the Cooper.

The Cooper S Convertible comes standard with four airbags. A sophisticated computer system takes into account occupant position, seat-belt use, and crash severity when determining how to deploy the airbags. Special side airbags are attached to the seat and deploy upward to protect the head.

Anti-lock ABS brakes are standard, as are Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBFD) and Cornering Brake Control (CBC). Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is optional.

The MINI Cooper S Convertible comes standard with 16-inch 'Seven-Fin' Spoke design light alloy wheels mounted with 195/55 R16 run-flat tires. There is also a 16-inch' V Spoke wheels with all-season tires that can be selected. Optional sport wheels and tires for the Mini Cooper S Convertible include a set of sporty 17-inch 'Five-Spoke Bullet' or 17-inch 'Web-Spoke' light-alloy wheels with 205/45 R17 run-flat tires.