What's all this about?

Back in 2001, when BMW began printing money... sorry, started selling the three-door MINI to an unsuspecting world, no one could have predicted the multitude of variants that would follow on. But the first alternative MINI out of the hutch after the hatch was the Convertible, launched in 2005.

Riiiight... has this lovely little anecdote got a point, at all?

Well, despite the proliferation of Clubmans, Countrymans (Countrymen?) and various other shapes of MINI, the Convertible has soldiered on ever since. And this is the all-new, third-generation model, itself based on the third-gen three-door hatchback's underpinnings and architecture.

So what's new?

The front and rear styling is obviously identical to the hatchback's, with the changes all coming above the tops of the doors. While the fabric roof, with its very thick C-pillars (or possibly B-pillars, given the Convertible's frameless windows), looks identical in profile to the outgoing car's, there are some useful updates here - chief of which is the fact the roof is now fully automatic (no manual operation required as before) and can be raised/lowered in just 18 seconds at speeds of up to 19mph.

Very nice. Anything else to add on the exterior?

Bigger in all dimensions, the Convertible has a 25 per cent larger boot (215 litres hood up, 160 litres hood down), supposedly has more interior space (it remains a strict four-seater and the rear legroom in the pictures looks, er... very cosy) and there's a new colour, Caribbean Aqua metallic (seen in the pics). Returning to the Convertible's USP for a moment, opt for MINI Yours and you can have a Union Jack woven into the hood's fabric, it can be partially opened in a 'sliding roof' function that mimics a sunroof and when it is fully stowed it sits all folded up on the back of the MINI and makes the car look like a pram in profile.

Harsh. What about that pic of the weird roof-lift for boot access?

That's the Easy Load system, which allows easier access to the luggage compartment when the roof is in place. A lot of BMW open-tops, including those with folding metal roofs, have similar set-ups.

You mentioned the cabin earlier - what is there to report on that score?

The same classy design as seen in the hatchback (both three- and five-door variants) and the Clubman estate is carried over for the Convertible, while the full gamut of comfort upgrades, driver assist systems, ways of personalising the cabin and MINI Connected infotainment software is drafted into service. Occupants are sheltered in the highly unlikely event of a rollover by hidden protection, which pops up instantly when required.

How about motive power for the Convertible?

It has a limited engine selection compared to other MINIs, using just three units: two petrol and one diesel. Starting with the smaller capacity motors, they're both 1.5-litre turbocharged triples in the Cooper (petrol) and Cooper D (diesel). Power stands at either 136- or 116hp respectively, although the Cooper D wins the torque battle: it has 270Nm regularly and 300Nm on a time-limited overboost, while the Cooper musters 220Nm, with 230Nm on overboost. The Cooper tops out at 130mph and does 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds as a six-speed manual (129mph and 8.7 seconds with the optional six-speed Steptronic auto), while the Cooper D does 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds and 122mph regardless of transmission.

And is there a hotter version?

Yes, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor in the Cooper S churns out 192hp and 280Nm (300Nm on overboost), leading to a 0-62mph time of 7.2 seconds and a top speed of 144mph; it too has a six-speed Steptronic option, which is odd as the Clubman Cooper S gets a shiny new eight-speed automatic gearbox. However, the Convertible Steptronic trims the 0-62mph time to 7.1 seconds at the expense of a touch of top speed, the auto having a 142mph maximum.

What are economy and emissions like?

Heavier than its hatchback siblings, the eco-champ of the new Convertible range is the manual Cooper D (74.3mpg and 100g/km CO₂ emissions), while at the other end of the scale sits the manual Cooper S (47.1mpg and 139g/km CO₂). For the Cooper and Cooper D models, the automatics are slightly less green than the manual models; for the Cooper S, that relationship is reversed.

Has MINI done anything else to the Convertible chassis?

There's extra bracing, as is befitting of an open-top, in order to preserve as much of the dynamic character of the MINI as possible - and also to protect occupants in the event of a crash. Other than that, it features some of the tech highlights we've seen from the marque, such as an Electronic Differential Lock Control, Dynamic Damper Control, sports suspension, alloy wheels ranging from 15- to 18 inches in diameter and more.

Any word on prices yet?

Yes, UK prices start from £18,475 for a Cooper manual, rising to £24,055 for a Cooper S Steptronic. The Convertible is slated for a launch in spring 2016.

Does the Always Open Timer, or Openometer, make it through the cut?

Well-remembered. Who knows? MINI doesn't say whether the new car has a function to measure how often you drive with the roof down. But, given those cheesy go-kart graphics that flash up on the Mk3 MINI's display screen, we wouldn't put it past the company to slip an Openometer Mk2 into the mix...