The Mini Roadster hasn’t enjoyed the sales success BMW envisioned when it launched it in 2011, and neither has its hardtop sibling, the Mini Coupe . In fact, BMW is said to discontinue the two models because of poor sales.
Before that happens, the folks from XCar took a Mini Roadster John Cooper Works for a spin and found it to be “brilliant fun to drive”. Lower and longer than the Mini Hatch Mk2 it’s based on, the Roadster has slightly sharper handling characteristics – also due to its lower center of gravity.
Powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine delivering 208 hp (211PS), the JCW variant sprints from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 147 mph.
All in all, while the Roadster is a competent, fun to drive car, the reviewer doubts that sports car enthusiasts will prefer it over a hot hatch. It’s a conclusion sales figures don’t seem to contradict.
By Dan Mihalascu
