2012 Mini Roadster revealed (photos)

The two-seater 2012 Mini Roadster sports a manually opening soft-top roof and a go-kart feel. The new Mini Roadster runs on the latest 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a top speed of 147 mph (for the John Cooper Works Roadster).

Suzanne Ashe

Nov. 2, 2011 4:26 p.m. PT

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The 2012 Mini Roadster offers an open-air driving experience and a sporty design with short overhangs, powerful over-the-wheel stance, and a high waistline.

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Paint shades for the Mini Roadster are available in two nonmetallic and six metallic colors, for the exterior. Mini Yours offers options in color and materials for upholstery, exterior mirrors, trim elements, and sport stripes.

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In keeping with British roadster tradition, the roof only comes in black. Sport stripes are available in three colors for the hood, trunk lid, and rear apron.

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The 2012 Mini Roadster looks good from the rear with vertically stacked rear lights positioned on the outer extremes of the rear end.

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The safety equipment on the 2012 Mini Roadster includes front airbags and head-thorax airbags integrated into the outer sides of the seat backrests, three-point inertia-reel seat belts including belt force limiters and belt tensioners, as well as a tire pressure monitor system.

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The soft-top Mini Roadster offers a little something different behind the diver and passenger seat--stainless-steel rollover bars.

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An active rear spoiler on the Mini Roadster extends automatically at 50 mph. When the car’s speed drops back below 37 mph, a four-part control mechanism returns the spoiler to its rest position.

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The light-alloy wheels fitted as standard on the Mini Roadster come in 16- or 17-inch options, depending on the model variant. A selection of other light-alloy wheels are available in the same sizes.

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The absence of a rear seat in the Mini Roadster allows for 8.5 cubic-feet of luggage space. Plus, the high-opening tailgate and low trunk sill make it that much easier to load luggage.