MINI fans might have had to wait over a year for the convertible to receive the same redesign given to the standard Cooper, but they didn't have to wait long for a John Cooper Works edition. Introduced a couple months after the new Cooper Convertible, the JCW is the fastest factory MINI ragtop ever made.

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The performance-minded convertible is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder power unit complete with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection. Maximum output is 208 horsepower all the way from 1,850 to 5,600 rpm, with peak torque of 192 pound-feet increasing briefly in the Overboost mode to 207 lb-ft. Top speed is an impressive 146 mph.

Accelerating zero to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, the Works convertible is, like its hardtop sibling, built to the customer's specifications at the MINI Plant in Oxford and sold worldwide through the MINI dealer network.

Parallel to the launch of the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible, new accessories are available for all three 'John Cooper Works' models, including the hardtop Cooper and the Clubman. The range of motorsport-inspired options is being expanded to include exclusive instruments offering the driver even more detailed information on the condition of the car and/or current driving conditions. So depending on his or her preferences, the driver may focus in particular on coolant temperature, the relative torque developed by the engine, and/or the car's lateral acceleration (g-force) through corners.

The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible first went on sale in early 2009. It currently carries a retail price of $34,950, which includes the $650 delivery. Fuel consumption in the U.S. EPA test cycle is low for a sporty car, with preliminary mpg ratings of 26/34/29, (city/highway/combined).