#MINIRoadster

Bid adieu to three MINI models as they’re not long for this world.

After a long list of successful new product launches, MINI is admitting a rare defeat on two of its current models.

MINI has some big changes scheduled for its lineup, and the current Coupe and Roadster aren’t a part of the picture.

British automaker Mini has announced that it has sold its 500,000th vehicle in America, and is celebrating by taking its cars on a trek across the west coast of America and snapping photographs at noticeable landmarks along the way. 

MINI has announced its changes to its 2013 model year lineup, most noticeably with Bluetooth coming standard on every model, which was originally a $500 option.

Not only does it feel good to recycle, it looks good too, thanks to the launch of MINI‘s Carmina Campus bags.

Pricing for the 2012 MINI Roadster has finally been announced, with the standard Cooper Roadster starting at $24,350 in the US. Those seeking a little more thrill in their droptop can opt for the Cooper S Roadster which starts at $27,350.

With the launch of its new Roadster model MINI is seeking to rejuvenate the struggling segment says U.S. brand boss Jim McDowell.

MINI is bringing a race inspired convertible into the market with the unveiling of the Roadster at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. This is the first two seater open topped vehicle in the English brand’s history and makes the MINI lineup six vehicles strong after the recent introduction of the Coupe (read our review here).

The 2012 Detroit Auto Show will be home for the world premiere of MINI‘s Roadster, a two-seating, soft-top model looking to innovate the small car segment. The MINI Roadster will become the sixth model in MINI’s line-up and will launch in the North American market with three variants to choose from.

Hot on the heels of MINI’s Coupe release is the announcement of the 2012 MINI Roadster and the various versions it’ll be offered in. The new MINI Roadster will be the company’s first manually-opening drop-top two-seater and will be North American showrooms in mid-2012. Compared to the MINI Cooper Cabriolet, the MINI Roadster will be 0.1-inch shorter, 1.9-inches narrower and 1-inch lower.

Two stripped down models will join the MINI range within two years of the debut of the MINI Countryman crossover, one a Coupe, the other a 2-seat Roadster.

The production MINI Coupe is set to hit dealerships across North America next Summer. According to Mini Vice President Jim McDowell, MINI will use a six-month buffer between models an with the Countryman crossover set to arrive in February of next year, the Coupe should then be available in August of 2011. That would then mean that the Roadster model (essentially a drop-top version of the Coupe), would hit dealers in February of 2012 – just in time for spring.

Several patent drawings obtained by Autoblog show what the news outlet claims are the production designs for the upcoming MINI Coupe and Roadster. Both vehicles look remarkably similar to their concept counterparts, even down to the helmet roof for the Coupe.

With the launch of the all-new MINI Countryman at the Geneva Auto Show last week we had an opportunity to sit down with the VP of MINI USA, Jim McDowell and find out more about the brand’s first crossover and what the future holds for the rest of the product range.