What Car? Q&A - When's the new Mini Convertible coming?

Q: As a regular subscriber to What Car? magazine I've been keeping an eye on your ‘Worth Waiting For….’ lists expecting to see a replacement for the existing Mini Convertible.

With the ‘hatch’ version having recently been updated, I'm a little hesitant in making any enquiries at dealerships about the convertible if a new version is on the horizon. Are there any plans for a new convertible and if so when it is likely to be available?
Rob Bates

A: We get quite a lot of questions about the Mini Convertible, Rob.

The reason it's not yet in the Worth Waiting For column is because it's still some way off, even if the new hatch has already been launched.

In fact, the Clubman estate version of the Mini arriving later this year goes on sale well ahead of the Convertible.

You won't even see the Convertible at showrooms in 2008. As it was only launched in 2004, the current drop-top version of the Mini is anticipated to see it through all the way to 2009.