Mini reported a record year in the U.S. in 2008 with sales up 28.6 percent to 54,077 units – making it one of just two brands that boosted sales in a tough market. Well, the BMW brand doesn’t expect things to slow down in 2009. With a new redesigned convertible on the way and new dealerships on the horizon, Mini’s USA CEO Jim McDowell expects sales to increase in 2009.

While Mini reported a 15.4 percent drop in January 2009, McDowell is optimistic saying: “People held off not because they can’t afford a Mini. It’s a question of whether this is the right time.”

He told Automotive News that it’s normal for the brand to have a slow winter and that January is usually the company’s slowest month.

McDowell is looking forward to the 2009 Mini Cooper Convertible which goes on sale later this month with prices starting at $24,550. The high-performance John Cooper Works MINI Convertible will debut in April with prices starting at $34,950.

The head of U.S. Mini said that the 13 new dealerships are on their way for March 2010 in time for the new crossover due out in 2011. He said that only one dealer was unprofitable last year.

2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible:

2009 Mini John Cooper Works Convertible:

BMW has revealed its new 2009 Mini John Cooper Works Convertible otherwise known as the world’s fastest small premium cabriolet.

Like it’s hardtop hatchback brother, the Mini JCW Cooper Works Convertible is powered by a 1.6L twin scroll-turbocharged engine making a total of 211-hp with a maximum torque of 207 lb-ft. That allows for a 0 to 62 mph time of 6.9 seconds (the hatch does it in 6.5) with a top speed of 146 mph. For those of you concerned with fuel-economy the new Mini JCW Convertible returns an estimated 40.9 mpg (that’s 34 mpg on our side of the world)

The 2009 Mini John Cooper Works Convertible will make its world premiere at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show on March 3 and will go on sale in the UK from March 28 with prices starting at £23,470 OTR.

Follow the jump for the high-res image gallery and the press release.

2009 Mini John Cooper Works Convertible:

Press Release:

The new MINI John Cooper Works Convertible

MINI will unveil the world’s fastest small premium cabriolet at the Geneva International Motor Show on 03 March 2009. The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible will take centre stage at the event and is on sale in the UK from 28 March 2009, priced at £23,470 OTR.

Featuring the same high performance engineering modifications as the Hatch model carrying the John Cooper Works badge, the Convertible’s 1.6-litre twin scroll-turbocharged engine produces 211 hp and up to 280 Nm peak torque with Overboost deployed.

Performance data for both models is therefore equally impressive.

MODEL POWER (HP) MAX TORQUE (Nm) TOP SPEED (mph) 0-62 (mph) MPG (Combined) CO2 (g/km) Ins. Group
JCW Hatch 211 260* 148 6.5 40.9 165 17E
JCW Convertible 211 260* 146 6.9 39.8 169 18E
*280 Nm with Overboost

The newcomer’s petrol power plant is a significantly revised version of the 1.6-litre turbocharged unit found in MINI Cooper S models, and the same as that in the MINI CHALLENGE race car. The engine is lighter, stronger and is supplied with a larger air intake and an exhaust system specifically designed for John Cooper Works cars.

The transmission’s gearing is strengthened to handle the extra available power; power that pushes the car to a remarkable output of 132 hp per litre, yet still able to offer an amazing 39.8 mpg.

The lengthy standard kit list of every MINI John Cooper Works Convertible includes a bespoke John Cooper Works Alcantara steering wheel, sport seats, John Cooper Works floor mats and glossy piano black interior. Air conditioning is fitted as standard, as it is now on every new MINI.

Performance of the Works car is underlined by an exclusive speedometer, which runs to 160 mph to account for the car’s higher top speed than that of any other MINI.

A Sport button is located in front of the gear stick. When pressed it activates a bespoke engine control map producing boost earlier in the rev range and sharpening steering and throttle response. The gear knob featuring a red gearing diagram is unique to the MINI John Cooper Works.

Unique lightweight 17″ alloy wheels in Cross-spoke CHALLENGE design, shod with Run-flat tyres, feature on the exciting new Convertible. A John Cooper Works Aero kit is standard and the tuning brand’s logo is positioned on the boot, grille, brakes and door sills.

Extra-large disc brakes paired with upgraded bright red Brembo performance callipers are supplied. Chassis technologies ensuring a sporty and safe driving experience are also standard features of the MINI John Cooper Works:

    – ABS Brakes
    – EBD Electronic Brake Force Distribution
    – CBC Cornering Brake Control
    – EDLC Electronic Differential Lock Control
    – DSC Dynamic Stability Control (incorporating Hill Assist)
    – DTC Dynamic Traction Control

Unique to MINI John Cooper Works models is EDLC. With DSC fully deactivated, the car’s Electronic Differential Lock Control delivers an even sportier driving experience. EDLC works when the car is accelerating hard out of corners or tight bends. In this situation, it electronically slows the spinning inside wheel to enhance grip and ensure that all available power is transferred to the road through the wheel with greatest traction. In contrast to the way DSC and DTC manage power delivery to the wheels, EDLC does not intervene with the throughput of engine power, meaning the driver is in near total control of the handling of the car.

The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible will be built entirely in the UK
With the new MINI Convertible now rolling off the line, several points of operation at MINI Plant Swindon and Oxford have been modified. BMW Group invested in new assembly stations for the Convertible tailgate at Plant Swindon. At Plant Oxford, the bodyshop installed and commissioned all necessary facilities and infrastructure to meet the high quality standards and geometrical accuracy for the Convertible body.

Associates in final assembly have transformed all work areas to integrate production of the new Convertible efficiently, and are now building the complete MINI model line-up once again on a single assembly line.

Jürgen Hedrich, MINI Plant Oxford’s new Managing Director, said: “The launch of the new MINI John Cooper Works Convertible is incredibly important as it signifies that our complete model line-up is now back in production across MINI’s UK production facilities.”