The 2012 MINI Roadster. Image: BMW Group
We’re not fans of the MINI Coupe’s backward-baseball-cap styling, which we frankly just find goofy. The car may be a blast to drive (but we wouldn’t know, since MINIs in the press fleet are rarer than ethics in politicians), but sooner or later you have to park it. Getting out, eyes averted, while nearby pedestrians point, snicker and laugh out loud is something we just can’t get used to.
The 2012 MINI Roadster. Image: BMW Group
The new MINI Roadster, on the other hand, escaped its beating with an ugly stick. If fact, we’d go so far as to call it the best-looking car in MINI’s current lineup, even with the top in place. The proportions (small though they may be) seem just about right, and we’ll bet that the Roadster will carry on MINI’s tradition of building front-drivers with surprisingly capable handling.
The 2012 MINI Roadster. Image: BMW Group
As with most MINIs, the new Roadster comes in mild, medium and spicy flavor, with prices to match. On the entry-level side is the base MINI Cooper Roadster, which gives you a 121-horsepower engine and a 0 – 60 time of just under nine seconds, for a price that starts at $25,050.
The 2012 MINI Roadster. Image: BMW Group
Moving up the line, the MINI Cooper Roadster S gives you a stiffer suspension and more horsepower, courtesy of MINI’s TwinPower Turbo design. For a price of $28,050, before adding options, you get 181 horsepower and a 0 – 60 time of 6.7 seconds. Top speed increases from 124 mph in the base Roadster to 141 mph in the Roadster S.
The 2012 MINI Roadster. Image: BMW Group
If spicy is your preference, you’ll need the MINI John Cooper Works Roadster, which gives you 211 horsepower from the same 1.6-liter four found in the other cars. You also get bigger brakes, improved aerodynamics and standard Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC), which is optional in the other cars. The increased horsepower nets you a 0 – 60 time of 6.3 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 147 miles per hour. You’ll pay for the improvements, though, since the base John Cooper Works roadster starts at $35,200.
The 2012 MINI Roadster. Image: BMW Group
The MINI Roadster will often be cross-shopped against the Mazda MX-5 Miata, which yields performance similar to the Roadster S. Opt for an MX-5 in Grand Touring trim, and the price (before options) is a comparable $29,000. On the other hand, a John Cooper Works Roadster starts at $35,200, and will easily top $43,000 with options added in. A loaded Mazda MX-5 Miata, with the power retractable hard top, stickers at a more reasonable $32,640, which leaves you over $10,000 for a Cosworth supercharger, suspension work and stickier tires.
