"It's better than the sedan version," remarked a journalist on the way to the Minneapolis Airport having spent a day driving the new Mini convertibles.

"How so?"

"Well, it does everything the Mini sedan does and the top comes off as well."

Point taken.

When Bayerische Motoren-Werke (a.k.a. BMW) took on the resurrection of that extremely British icon, the Mini, doubts abounded. But BMW got it right as rain. Spang on. Nail on the head. And they keep scoring full points with every new move, such as offering a four-passenger topless Mini. And all done with a slightly off-center sense of humor that's particularly appropriate to open-air motoring. For instance, there's the matter of choosing "MINI-apolis" for the press introduction of the convertible. And including with each car a contract that elicits a promise from new owners to drive in top-down mode 90% of the time. (The Mini Cooper convertible motto: "Always Open.")

In the contract reasons acceptable for top up operation are listed (requiring the owner's initials.) One such: "After hair plug surgery." Another: "When within earshot of an outdoor banjo and/or kazoo concert."

But there will likely be MINI-mum infractions of the top-down contract anyway. What may be the cleverest top ever converts from open to closed in some 15 seconds, a small part of most red-light stops. And all brought about by one finger pressing one button - no need to fiddle with fingernail-unfriendly latches or twisting a handle. The button does it all whether opening or closing.

The top, on the way to full open, can be stopped at a sunroof-cum-landau position. This can be accomplished (even at highway speeds) because the first 15-¾ inches of the soft, unlined top is board-rigid. The rigid section slides back and allows the front-seat passengers to look upward at any passing Alps, tall buildings, traffic lights or down-smiling occupants of looming SUVs.

The rigid section also serves as a firm cover when the top Z-folds itself like so much ribbon candy behind the twin roll bars at the back of the passenger compartment. (A neat little fashion statement, those roll bars, as well as functional.)

The top, whether up or down, looks right with much the same Toastmaster profile when up as the perky sedan has. (The convertible top is actually a little lower than the sedan.) With the top down this Mini looks as inviting as a bubbling hot tub; you just want to get in it and open the senses to pleasure.

All this verbiage about a top? (Oh yes, it also features a real-glass rear window, heated.) And more about that top: the remote locking device not only controls the doors, trunk and fuel door but can open the roof from some 49 feet away. Can't you see it? You're strolling nonchalantly towards your car, whistling "Strawberry Fields Forever," and the car is contract-compliable just as you pull the door open. As if the smarty-pants machine didn't get enough attention. (Won't close remotely though.)

And still more: the top comes in black, blue and green to mix and match with 10 body colors, including two exclusive to the convertible: Hot Orange and Cool Blue. School colors here we come.

Tops, after all, are what differentiates a convertible from a sedan.

You'll probably have to park a sedan nearby to notice, but the convertibles have a redesigned front bumper, headlights and grille. New taillights, too. All in evolutionary range of the brilliant original design.

(CONTINUED...)