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"The 2012 Detroit Auto Show is, somewhat ironically, playing host to the debut of the Mini Cooper Roadster, the brand&amp;#039;s first 2-passenger drop-top, a car that is essentially a new Mini Coupe sporting a retractable soft top. While a Midwestern winter might not be the ideal setting for a chirpy convertible, we&amp;#039;ll forgive Mini its strange timing. There is a lot to like in this hunkered down convertible, so long as hauling more than one passenger isn&amp;#039;t a priority.        2012 Mini Roadster    A Roadster for Every Performance Budget   Like the recently introduced Coupe, the Mini Roadster foregoes a rear seat and has a lower, sleeker roofline. In the case of the Roadster, the roof is a manually operated soft-top that can be lowered &amp;quot;quickly and easily,&amp;quot; according to Mini. Our guess is that a power-operated top would have simply added too much extra cost and unwanted curb weight.           There are three performance levels, starting with the 121-bhp 1.6-liter inline-4 cylinder engine in the base model. One step up is the Mini Cooper Roadster S, which features a 181-bhp turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-4 that, when fitted to the Mini Coupe, is good for a 6.5 second sprint from 0 to 60 mph. These two models are available with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed Steptronic automatic transmission.   The most rapid of the Roadster range is the Mini John Cooper Works model. With its turbocharged 1.6-liter serving up 208 bhp, this is the enthusiast&amp;#039;s choice and comes only with the 6-speed manual gearbox. In case you&amp;#039;re really cooking it though the corners, a retractable rear spoiler automatically rises at 50 mph and offers some precious extra aero grip.        2012 Mini Roadster    The Mini Roadster comes equipped with Dynamic Stability Control (which includes ABS, EBD, Cornering Brake Control, Brake Assist and Hill-Start Assist). There is also a reinforced windshield and twin stainless steel rollover bars, in case things go seriously wrong.        2012 Mini Roadster    While there is no word on exact pricing, we do know the 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe ranges from $22,000 to $30,000 depending on trim level. The Roadster will carry a slight premium when it arrives later this year\u2014just in time for some warmer weather.        2012 Mini Roadster   "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/detroit-auto-show/news/a17866/2012-mini-roadster/>