Anyone know.... I am guessing 2017 with a 2016 launch?

can anyone confirm?

 

I read that there were no plans of that, and the Roadster/Coupe would just become a sports car with a retractable hard top and may be related by motors, but will be a dedicated vehicle not like current models that share most parts.

 

If it stays after its 7 year life cycle, that is when you will see a change, but the middle (3-4 years in) might have some difference, like a 2010 vs 2011 hardtop.

 

Guessing never....
The change occurred with a chassis change...hense the new name..r56 to f56....
It is likely the remaking "r" chassis cars from the prior generation will continue to they are flat out REPLACED with redesigns....
Kinds what happened with the r52 cabrio staying in production as a gen1 for a full 2 years after the gen2 hardtop were introduced.....

 

While I love watching the mechanical "poetry in motion" that is a retractable hardtop, if the new version of the Roadster/Coupe gets one it will probably kill that car for me.

One of the best things about the current Roadster is the gigantic trunk/boot for a sports car, which makes it an ideal roadtrip vehicle for two. We regularly put a large and a small suitcase, plus a laptop bag and some drinks/snacks in mine, like when we drove to MITO in 2012, and like we'll be doing for the Dragon this year. I've had large Volvo hardtop convertibles as rental cars in the past which wouldn't hold that much stuff with the top down, so something MINI-sized would be very unlikely to carry over the trunk size we have. If I was going to be stuck within an overnight bag range of home the car would be no good to me.

 

+1

If the roadster goes hard top (which I don't mind in principle) they would have to still keep the large trunk space or it will go from an every day car to a luxury toy and there goes the grocery chopping and long trips, out the trunk. That is one very important reason we picked up the roadster. One of the few that could stay a practical car while enjoying the fun of a roadster all year long!

 

Has anyone ever heard talk of offering a bolt on hardtop?
My Z3 had one and it was great in the dead of winter, also kept the top in better shape ,no road salt. I wouldn't expect it, just curious.

Steve

 

Nope have not heard anything of that. But the roadster would cease to exist.
That would be sad if it went to retractable hard top. Who knows, maybe since they'd be making a dedicated sports car it would be nicer though. Although I like it being just like the others. Maybe nothing like the roadster we know and love, but perhaps still a nice sporty little car.

 

Hard top option for the winter would be nice but it probably be too costly for these cars.

Also about a new look I'm a little on the fence with that train of though. On one hand I don't mind the idea of a sportier looking roadster. But on the other hand if it gets to look a lot more like your typical roadster than I feel it will have lost its uniqueness to the point were we may have entertained other cars easily. I think my wife and I really enjoy the MINI look, call it cute if you have to, but it makes it a fun looking car and I don't think we would have gotten the attention we have gotten and personally have brought such a smile on our faces if it looked more like a typical roadster, similar to the Z4 or the Miata. I like the Z4 very much btw but it just does't feel the same, too grown-up, too serious

 

I agree, the cool thing about the roadster is that it's a mini! It's what keeps the whole mini line unique, clubman ,countryman, paceman,coupe, they're all Mini Cooper based and retain the same feel. If they stray from that, the roadster might as well be an Audi tt! And from a practical viewpoint, why would they retool a factory to produce a totally different product that is a low volume seller?
Just my $.02, and if they do change the whole platform, at least we already orders ours!

Steve