NEW 2009 MINI Convertible | Reviews | Full Specs

by admin on April 28, 2009

There aren’t many cars out there is this day and age which can successfully pull off the topless look. Luckily for MINI, they don’t fall into that category. The new MINI Cooper Convertible launched at the Detroit Auto Show, made a big splash in the automotive world on March 28th. The New MINI Cooper Convertible promises to promote greener, more fuel efficient driving, whilst still holding on to a fast and responsive driving experience of late.

So why has this new MINI Cooper Convertible caused quite a stir? Allow automotive gossip to give you the answers..

New MINI Convertible | Reviews | Specs

The Car:

The much anticipated MINI Cooper Convertible is a whole 10 kg lighter than its previous counterparts, which makes it more responsive and improves the driving experiences. Although it has undergone a massive weight loss, MINI is keen to highlight that the new convertible is much more stronger than ever before as it has greater crash protection.
In a change form previous MINI’s, the convertible will have adjustable rear headrests, for grater travelling comfort.

The Roof:

The trademark roof of the new MINI Convertible, can be fully retracted and closed in 15 seconds. Another little trick which the MINI Convertible has under its sleeve, is that the roof can be partially retracted to 40 cm. This allows the MINI to create a sunroof effect. Pretty nifty!!

A rather peculiar new feature on the new MINI Convertible is the ‘Openometer’. This new optional feature which can be added to the car, which measures how long the roof has been down whilst driving.

The Boot:

Great news if you like to put junk in your trunk, the new MINI Convertible design means there is more boot space to play with. With the top down, the boot has 123 litre capacity, and with the roof closed it increases to 170. Giving the MINI Convertible an extra 5 litres up from the older versions.

And if that’s not impressive then, with the rear seats folded down, boot capacity increases to a staggering 600 litres. Very deceiving for a hatchback of that size.

2009 New MINI Convertible Pictures

The Engine:

MINI promises that this convertible version will be much more fuel efficient that its predecessors. Powered by a 1.6lt engine, the MINI Convertible is available in both turbo and non-turbo variants.

Non-Turbo: Produces 118 bhp, its capable of reaching 0-62 in 9.8 seconds, and averages 49.7mpg with co2 emissions of 137g/km.
Turbo: Produces 173 bhp and reaches 0-62 in an impressive 7.4 seconds. The turbo version is capable of 44.1mpg with co2 emissions of 153g/km.

As Standard:

MINI has always been noted for it pricey optional extras, but times have changed and so too has MINI. So expect car dealers to allow the following to come as standard with the new MINI Convertible:

6 speed manual gearbox
Brake Energy-Regeneration and Gearshift Indicators
Air Conditioning
Cooled Glovebox
Bike Rack
Anti –lock brakes and Stability Control
Electronic Breakforce Distribution
Cornering Brake Control

Available from £15,995 at all MINI Dealers – Don’t Miss OUT!

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It’s Official | Vauxhall’s 2009 Astra EcoFLEX a Winner

by admin on April 28, 2009

Being a true pioneer in the car industry is a mixed bag.

When a car maker puts themselves out there with a new model or innovation, green or otherwise, anything less than perfection off the block and the hammer falls. Kudos received from any genuinely trailblazing ideas get tempered quickly by the harsh reality of consumer review mags and newspapers which invariably pick to pieces other details… (’great mileage!’, ‘low emissions!’, ‘efficient design!’ – plain interior?? - 2 stars, of 5).

astra It’s Official | Vauxhalls 2009 Astra EcoFLEX a Winner

Sound familiar? It’s rare when an innovative car such as the 2009 Vauxhall Astra EcoFLEX gets the accolades it deserves for having its priorities in order.

That’s exactly what has happened with the new Astra. This month, London’s Telegraph newspaper review team put Vauxhall’s newest EcoFLEX offering under the microscope. They looked it over; kicked the tires, played with the dials, drove it on busy city streets and let it loose on the motorway - and it is quite apparent they liked what they saw.

A few direct quotes from the telegraph.co.uk review:

“…the driving ergonomics are brilliant, with a low-slung, chunky gearlever providing short, neat changes between the six ratios and a small, responsive steering wheel. The chassis has been lowered and feels firmly planted through corners, with the nose swift to change direction.”

fireshot-capture-48-vauxhall-astra-ecoflex-review-telegraph-www_telegraph_co_uk_motoring_carreviews_5049279_vauxhall-astra-ecoflex-review_html-300x252 It’s Official | Vauxhalls 2009 Astra EcoFLEX a Winner

“…the engine is a sweet thing. I was expecting a lot of noise and diesel vibration to be transmitted into the cabin, on the assumption that much of the insulation would be taken out to save weight, but it positively purred at idle. On the go, a squeeze of the throttle releases a strong spurt of acceleration and it’s so much fun you don’t notice how quickly the power delivery dips as the revs continue to rise.”

“…the figures speak for themselves: carbon emissions of 119g/km put the car into tax band B (VED costs £35 a year) and it has an EU Urban fuel consumption rating of 50.4mpg. In return you get a maximum 108bhp and 191lb ft of torque, which doesn’t sound like much, but I was astounded at how much fun the Astra was to drive.”

“…it’s entertaining around town and, all the while, you’re getting about 50 miles to the gallon. This is clever engineering, so toes and fingers should be crossed that the future of Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port factory is secure. The company is producing some very good cars at the moment - the Insignia (Car of the Year), the terrific Corsa and the sweet-looking Agila, for instance - and the Astra EcoFLEX is another to add to the list.”

eco It’s Official | Vauxhalls 2009 Astra EcoFLEX a Winner

They even liked the interior.

“…interior came as a pleasant surprise”

With the interior passed, you know you’re on to a good thing.

It’s official - the 2009 Astra EcoFLEX is a winner. Check out the full review on the Telegraph.co.uk 2009 Astra EcoFLEX Review and Vauxhall.co.uk virtual showroom for the full line of Vauxhall’s EcoFLEX cars.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk Motoring page | Vauxhall.co.uk

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