Introducing the new Mini Roadster, the car maker’s first two-seater convertible. The new compact Mini is likely to be a big hit with drivers looking for a sporty and fun ride. With a large choice of specifications available, including petrol and diesel versions, the Mini Roadster has broad appeal which will make it popular with a range of drivers.

The 2-seat drop-top Mini features a 3 box design, offering a prominent 240 litre boot, which will also offer a through hatch so long objects can be transported, offering an element of practicality not often seen in sporty convertibles. The soft top roof is described as semi-automatic which is thought to offer a motorised element to enable ease of use, and a step up from the manual versions of convertible roofs seen elsewhere in the Mini range.

In terms of safety, the 2-seater Mini Roadster features a reinforced windscreen and steel rollover bars to protect the passengers should the car be involved in an accident. The sporty car also has a specially designed rear spoiler which automatically appears when the car hits over 50mph to aid stability.

The base model boasts 120bhp and a 1.6 litre petrol engine, also a 1.6 litre turbo petrol engine is offered, and the John Cooper Works model, plus a Mini Cooper S D model which offers a 2.0 litre turbo diesel engine with 141bhp and yet offers superb fuel economy of 62.8 miles to the gallon.

Prices for the Mini Roadster start at £18,015 with the first 2-seaters being made available for sale in the UK in 2012.