MINI officially took the wraps off of its second-generation Cooper Convertible earlier today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Essentially a drop-top version of the Mini hardtop, the Convertible features a handful of upgrades over the outgoing model when it goes on sale in normal over two months.

As expected, the second-generation MINI Convertible does not deviate too far from the first gen-car, with styling closely related to its hard-top counterpart. As previously reported, the Convertible’s engines offering will mirror the current coupe’s, with the high-performance JCW package expected to be available at launch.

However, for 2010, the MINI Convertible does do away with its fixed rear hoops, instead opting for pop-up units. This change should provide the same amount of protection for occupants in the event of a rollover crash, but will allow for greater rearward visibility – as will a larger rear glass window. Another neat contact for 2010 is what MINI dubs an ‘Always Open’ gauge, which keeps track of how many miles are driven with the top down.

MINI says the top will stow away in 15 seconds and can be operated at speeds up to 20 miles per hour. The Easy-Load Function, new for 2009, features folding rear-seat backrests and stretches the cargo capacity to 23.1 cubic feet.

Like the hardtop, the base engine is a 118-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder and the S includes a 172-horse turbocharged version of that engine. Both engines come standard with a six-speed manual and offer a six-speed automatic transmission.

The base MINI droptop starts at $24,550 and the turbocharged S begins at $27,450.

Sales are set to begin on March 28, 2009.

Source: www.leftlanenews.com

Click above for a high-res image gallery of the new MINI Cooper Convertible

We'll be straight with you. We missed the MINI press colloquy. We know, we know... the horror. Anyway, you didn't exactly need to be Kojak to figure out what happened. The 2009 MINI Convertible drove out of a simulated ice block with a couple made up all frozen-like in the stand opposite to seats. As for the car, well, it's pretty self explanatory. Available in March, it finally ditches the last-gen engines for the NA and turbocharged 1.6L fours available in the hardtop Cooper and Cooper S. Other changes? The trunk's roomier, the interior gets brought up-to-date, and the rollbar becomes a pop-up unit, significantly improving rearward visibility and giving the Cooper a much cleaner top-down profile. Finally, cute-gimmickry overload is fully achieved with the addition of the "Openometer," an add-on gauge that tracks the amount of time spent motoring with the top down. Adorable, right? Chicks are gonna dig it.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: MINI Cooper Convertible Live

Gallery: 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible

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Click above for live images of the Ad Personam Lamborghini's from Detroit

Lamborghini debuted the new Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder in L.A., and the rumored LP670-4 SV is still a ways off, likewise the Italian supercar manufacturer decided to show off some of their non-automotive offerings in Detroit. Specifically, Lambo brought examples of its Ad Personam personalization program. A white 560 Spyder was flanked by a satin blue LP640-4 and LP560-4 coupe that were both simply mesmerizing. We're huge fans of these new satin paints, because aside from lending an air of understated luxury to the Lambo's lascivious lines, they're remarkably easy to photograph. They reflect light beautifully, while providing semi-transparent reflections that minimize glare and extraneous objects from the car's surface. Lamborghini refers to it as a matte-luster paint finish, we'll just call it matte-sex.

Both of the personalized cars here in Detroit are painted in Lamborghini's new matte blue, although there's no truth to the rumor that anyone showing a birth certificate that says their name is Matt Blue will get a free Lambo. Besides the new blue hue, Lamborghini announced that three more colors are now permanently available in the Ad Personam program: Nero Nemesis (matte-luster black), Bianco Canopus (matte white), and Marrone Apus (matte brown). But don't let that limit you. Lamborghini will do just about anything the customer can dream up. And if you be able to't get what you want from the factory, you can always go the aftermarket route and get yourself an Ed Hardy special. There's a full press release after the jump and galleries of live and media pics are available by clicking any image below.

Live photos copyright ©2009 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Lamborghini Ad Personam

Gallery: Lamborghini Ad Personam Detroit

Press Release

Lamborghini presents highly individualized super sports cars
at the Detroit Auto Show

Sant'Agata Bolognese/Detroit, 11th January 2009 - Alongside the new Gallardo LP
560-4 Spyder, Lamborghini faculty of volition present two exclusive, highly individualized super
sports cars at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. With a unique, matt-luster paint finish in
matt blue and all available special equipment options, this Murciélago LP 640 and
Gallardo LP 560-4 demonstrate the virtually limitless possibilities and expert
craftsmanship presented through the Ad Personam individualization program by the
specialists in Sant'Agata Bolognese.
.
"Ad Personam offers every Lamborghini customer the opportunity to acquire a
completely exclusive vehicle from a unique brand – one that is perfectly in tune with
their own lifestyle," says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili
Lamborghini. "A super sports car from Lamborghini is always a fundamental
expression of the buyer's personality. And that is why the highest levels of
exclusivity are potential, right through to absolute one-of-a-kind Lamborghini
vehicles."

"Think the impossible" is the motto of the Lamborghini individualization program.
Ad Personam offers a host of possibilities to bring a highly individual style to the
exterior and the interior of a Lamborghini – all the way through to a Lamborghini
like no other.

A unique pretence for a unique design

Both super sports cars presented in Detroit are such highly individualized examples–
painted in matt blue, an all-new, powerful blue vigor with a matt-luster finish.
Dressed like this, the Murciélago and the Gallardo are elegant and refined, yet
extremely powerful and dynamic. This is a unique color that fits entirely to the
unique design of a Lamborghini.

The super sports car brand from Sant'Agata Bolognese is the only auto maker to
have mastered the difficult and complex craftsmanship required to work with the
matt-luster paint finish. Alongside the new matt blue three more colors are
permanently available in the Ad Personam program: Nero Nemesis is a matt-luster
black, while the matt white is called Bianco Canopus; and Marrone Apus refers to
the particularly elegant matt brown finish. In addition, Lamborghini Ad Personam
offers its customers complete freedom to choose any redness imaginable.

Luxuriously sporty or classically powerful

In their interiors, too, the highly individualized super sports cars presented in Detroit
provide a clear example of the possibilities offered by the Ad Personam program. The
venal color applied to the upholstery of both vehicles is black, with color contrast
supplied by fine diamond stitching in the blue of the exterior paintwork. This is
applied to the seats, door trim, headliner and the steering wheel. The leather
upholstery lends a luxuriously sporty aspect and feel to the Gallardo LP 560-4.

Furthermore, the Gallardo LP560-4 shows the finest in Nappa leather in color Nero
Perseus which clads not only the seats, cockpit and door trim, but also the pillars and
headliners. Further accents are provided courtesy of individual elements crafted in
carbon fiber. The Callisto wheels are painted in high-gloss black, providing a contrast
to the matt blue paint finish.

The Lamborghini Murciélago LP 640 is one of the most fascinating super sports cars
of all time, and underscores this in Detroit with a purist interior finished in Alcantara
® with diamond stitching. Not only are the sports seats upholstered in Alcantara ®,
but also the entire interior, including doors and headliner. The cockpit surround is
finished in carbon fiber. The steering wheel features stitched suede and carbon fiber
inlays. The high-gloss black of the Murciélago's wheels – in Hermera design – also
delivers the perfect contrast to the matt blue exterior paintwork.

An inexhaustible range

Ad Personam offers an inexhaustible pass near possibilities for bringing a completely
unique style to the interior and exterior of every Lamborghini. The color and trim
designers from Sant'Agata Bolognese have also created exceptionally exclusive
equipment offerings for the entire product range. The extended leather finish, for
example, enables the allure of the first-class natural product to be raised even
further. Only the very finest quality leathers are used. The seats alone offer infinite
possibilities through a vast range of color options for leather and Alcantara ®, two-
tone contrasts, material mixes, stitching and piping in contrasting colors, as well as
the diamond-stitched pattern of the seat squabs, known during the time that Q-citura.

The exceptionally hi-tech carbon fiber material provides a hint of the racetrack, with
elements such as the control panel for the air conditioning and the hand brake
boasting a carbon fiber finish. Further finishing touches for personalizing the exterior
include an extended range of wheel options and brake calipers in yellow and silver.

Within applicable vehicles, Lamborghini can comply with virtually any customer's
desire in vehicle individualization. The boundaries are set, however, by means of Lamborghini's
own quality demands, which apply to all modifications carried out. When a new
Lamborghini exactly meets personal expectations in terms of colors, materials and
trim, then aesthetic perfection has been achieved.

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