Premier: 2025 MINI Cooper Convertible – MINI’s Last New Combustion Powered Car

DimON · October 8

Today, MINI is releasing its last “new” petrol-powered model ever: the F67 MINI Cooper Convertible. However, in the case of the F67, “new” might be a loose term. Much like the F66 Cooper, the new Cooper Convertible takes MINI’s existing convertible formula and updates it with new styling, technology, and numerous mechanical changes meant to improve the overall driving experience.

Design: New Yet Very Familiar

The F67 MINI Cooper Convertible may look brand new to the casual observer, but as you likely know (especially if you’ve been following MotoringFile), it’s actually based on the previous-generation convertible. Why? MINI is making a huge investment in electrifying its product lineup with the J01 MINI Cooper, J05 MINI Aceman, U25 Countryman SE, and even the forthcoming J03 electric MINI Convertible.

This significant investment led to a decision: completely drop the ICE-powered family of Coopers, spend billions creating a new one, or thoroughly rework the current generation by adding performance, technology, and a fresh design inside and out. Ultimately, there was only one choice, and the F66 is the answer.

One of the first things you’ll notice is that MINI’s unique three-stage convertible top has been retained in this new generation. This top allows the F67 to open partially, creating a sunroof effect, or fully, for the complete open-top experience. It can retract in just 18 seconds at speeds under 18 mph (30 km/h), just like before.

Another standout feature is the rear lights. As we exclusively reported over a year ago (and to the delight of some MINI fans), the new F67 Convertible will not adopt the triangular light design seen on other models. While the LED layout inside the lighting enclosure mimics the new triangular lights, the F57 (and subsequently the F67) rear design couldn’t accommodate the new shape seen on the F65 and F66. Thus, MINI worked within the existing shape to integrate the new LED layout. Despite this, the lights will offer different LED signatures, in line with the rest of the new MINI range.

F67_vs_F57_203.jpg?resize=798%2C532&ssl= — The previous generation F57 Convertible next to the new F67 Convertible.

The F67 Convertible will come in a dozen paint finishes, including the exclusive and elegant Copper Grey. This is a brand-new color exclusive to the F67, featuring a sunburst effect deep within a cool grey tone.

We are very proud to offer our customers a true convertible in the current MINI family. Our new MINI Cooper Convertible offers unmistakable, hallmark driving fun, coupled with boundless freedom and great emotions: Always Open. Iconic design combined with modern technology and connectivity make this vehicle an unrivaled experience for our customers.
Stefan Richmann, Head of the MINI brand

Massive Interior Redesign

While the interior design is new for the convertible, it’s not new for the brand. The interior is carried over entirely from the recently released MINI Cooper hardtop and features a radical rethink of materials and the digital experience.

Like the F66 hardtop, the new convertible looks like a completely new vehicle, adopting the design language, materials, and technology that originated in the J01 electric MINI Cooper. At the heart of this is a circular OLED screen that controls the majority of the car’s functionality. The experience is identical to that found in other new MINI models, except for the “Always Open Timer,” which calculates how much time the top is down.

The 9.5” (240 mm) wide circular OLED screen, though unusual compared to rectangular designs, feels natural thanks to MINI’s clever organization of information. The “Charismatic Simplicity” design language focuses on minimalism with a touch of MINI character, and the OLED display seamlessly blends static and dynamic elements with an intuitive hierarchy.

One criticism, however, is that the system can occasionally be slow or buggy. While this is being addressed through over-the-air software updates, there are still some lingering issues to fix.

Another headline-grabbing change is that this new MINI is completely leather-free. Due to the environmental impact of leather production, MINI has made the bold decision to eliminate leather, starting with the all-electric J01 MINI Cooper. Instead, the F67 uses “Vescin,” a material that stays cooler in summer, is made from recycled materials, and can be 100% recycled.

In our time with Vescin (has MINI calls), we’ve found it to be a step above the standard leather MINI had previously offered but not quite at the level of the optional Lounge Leather that we’ve seen on some MINIs for a decade. But on the plus it stays cooler in the summer, it’s made of recycled materials and itself can be 100% recycled.

The MINI Cooper Manual Is Eliminated

As production of the F56 ended, over 50% of JCW hardtops sold in the U.S. were equipped with a manual transmission. However, the economic realities of European legislation have forced MINI to adopt a single transmission across the F66 lineup. The familiar 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) has undergone small refinements.

Replacing the manual transmission is all about the costs of meeting European emissions standards. While North America doesn’t have the same regulations, the investment required couldn’t be justified by the expected sales. Even with a 50% take rate on the JCW, the sales volumes weren’t enough to cover the costs of maintaining the manual option.

Adding to the shift in design, MINI’s new dash-mounted gear selector replaces the center console-mounted gear lever with a small toggle on the dashboard. This logical design frees up space and simplifies gear selection, while paddle shifters allow manual control of the DCT.

Performance Upgrades for the F67 MINI Cooper Convertible

The base MINI Cooper C Convertible will offer both three- and four-cylinder engines, depending on the market. For North America, South Korea, and a few other regions, the 4-cylinder B48 engine will be used. In Europe and elsewhere, the B38 3-cylinder engine will be offered.

This results in two distinct versions of the MINI Cooper C. The UK and EU 3-cylinder version will produce 115 kW (154 hp), while the U.S. 4-cylinder version will deliver 120 kW (161 hp). The U.S. version also gains 14 lb-ft of torque, bringing it to 174 lb-ft. Unfortunately, neither version will have a manual transmission, as MINI has fully transitioned to DCT for this generation.

Model	F56 Cooper	F56 Cooper S	F66 Cooper C (B38)	F66 Cooper C (B48)	F66 Cooper S
Power	134 hp	189 hp	156 hp	161 hp	204 hp
Torque	162 lb-ft/1480 rpm	206 lb-ft/1350 rpm	170 lb-ft/1,480 rpm	184 lb-ft/1,480 rpm	221 lb-ft
Transmission	Manual/DCT	Manual/DCT	7 speed DCT	7 speed DCT	7 speed DCT
Curb Weight*	2,769 lbs	2,842 lbs	2943 lbs	3,014 lbs	3,014 lbs

*Includes standard equipment, a 90% full tank and a driver weight of 75 kg

The more powerful F66 Cooper S will feature a global engine with a 7.4% horsepower increase, going from 189 to 204 hp, and a significant torque boost to 221 lb-ft. This allows the F66 Cooper S to reach 62 mph in 6.6 seconds (60 mph in 6.3 seconds), with figures likely being conservative.

We’ll have more on the new convertible’s specifications and how it compares with its predecessor soon.

MINI Convertible Launch Timing

Production of the F67 MINI Convertible will begin in November with the Cooper C and Cooper S models. European showrooms will see deliveries in December, while North American deliveries are expected to start in January.

We expect the JCW Convertible to commence production in March of 2025 with deliveries beginning later that month and late April in North America.