THE Mini Cooper S offers smart summer motoring at a competitive price of £17,595.

It is powered by a flexible 1.6 litre, four-cylinder engine used in both the Mini One and Mini Coopers range.

Of special interest is the addition of a supercharger and intercooler technology. This enables it to produce 170 bhp at 6,000 rpm, giving it an added edge in performance over previous models.

As another bonus, it is fitted with a fully electric roof, Park Distance Control and 16in ‘X lite’ alloy wheels as standard.

The convertible model races from 0-62 mph in 7.4 seconds, accelerates between 50-75 mph in 6.6 seconds and has a top speed of 134 mph. Its fuel consumption is a healthy 32.1 miles per gallon.

An exclusive 17 in, five star bullet alloy wheel is also available exclusively for the convertible range.

There is also a range of 10 exterior paint options including cool blue, hot orange, and two exclusive colours- hyper blue and dark silver.

The mini One (available from £10,780 on the road) and Mini Cooper have also undergone a slight re-design for their front and rear bumpers.

The front has been lowered, while the rear rubbing strip has been split with the fog-light neatly repositioned between the two halves.

Reversing lights are now integrated into the newly designed rear light clusters. All models now come with clear glass headlights providing brighter illumination and optional xenon headlights also available.

The interiors are also to receive a sensitive revamp.

A new five-speed gearbox with modified gear ratios will feature in all Mini One and Mini Cooper models, increasing acceleration.

Torque in the Cooper has also been improved, allowing it to knock 0.1 of a second off its 0-62 mph to a time of 9.1 seconds.

The new Mini Cooper S Convertible will be available from August.