Even before the third-generation Mini Cooper Hardtop was unveiled in late 2013, spy photographers had already captured pictures of the drop-top variant wearing light camouflage. Now, with the 2016 Mini Cooper Convertible getting closer to its unspecified on-sale date, our photographers have once again caught up with the cute convertible->ke144 only this time Mini’s engineers are testing the car with the soft top fully retracted.

It’s no surprise that the styling of the new Cooper Convertible won’t differ too much from the two-door Cooper it is based on, but there is one key area where the 2016 Cooper Convertible will vary from the current convertible. From what there is to see in these images, the more rounded tailgate and added rear overhang should help improve the Convertible’s cargo capacity. One of the images even shows the current convertible right alongside the 2016 model, giving a better comparison of the two cars’ rumps.

Speaking of the rear end, this car is definitely the Cooper S Convertible as evident from the center-mounted exhaust outlets. This means that the 189-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder will add even more fun to the top-down driving experience.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Mini Cooper Convertible.

Why it matters

With the new Mini Cooper Hardtop having hit the streets last year, these images show that the 2016 Mini Cooper Convertible isn’t too far behind. With the top down and the camouflage minimal, the new soft-top Mini Cooper is nearing production-ready status, and it is very likely to be on sale by the end of this year.

2016 Mini Cooper Convertible - spy shots

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