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.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
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.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
