Production of the Cooper S Convertible is now underway at BMW's Plant Oxford together with the MINI One and MINI Cooper Convertibles which were launched in June. One in four MINI bodyshells coming off the lines is a convertible. Six hundred MINIS of all types come off the production lines daily.

Plant Oxford with 4,500 employees is currently working at maximum capacity operating seven days a week on a three-shift system. 180,000 MINIs are expected to be built at Plant Oxford this year and these will be sold in 73 countries worldwide.

Trevor Houghton-Berry, General Manager MINI confirmed that the current range was about halfway through its lifecycle and the next generation will continue to be built at Oxford. It is expected that the production capacity of Plant Oxford will be increased to coincide with the new models in about three years time.

Houghton-Berry said, "Additional model types will be part of the second generation and these could include a two-seater cabriolet, a retro style Countryman estate and I would love to build a MINI Moke replacement but we must produce future models which are viable and have some substance."

"I’d prefer to include a sports utility model in the range rather than an MPV but are not writing any future design of model off if it is financially sound to produce it" he said.

Houghton-Berry confirmed that the next generation of MINIs would use a range of new petrol engines designed by BMW with the components manufactured by PSA and the engines then assembled at BMW’s engine plant at Hams Hall in Birmingham. No decision had been made on whether the next generation MINI range would still continue to use the Toyota sourced diesel engines.

As well as launching the 170bhp Cooper S Convertible to the British media on Wednesday, MINI also revealed other refreshed specification changes to models in the range. These changes include new front and rear bumper designs, new style front and rear light clusters and detailed interior changes.

The Mini convertible will be on display in Sydney, at the Australian International Motor Show, in October. The convertible will be on sale in Australia possibly late this year, but more likely in January 2005. Expect an announcement next week about the availability of the updated Mini models for the Australian market.