MINI has already impressed us with its Cooper S Convertible, but now the even hotter John Cooper Works model has joined the drop-top range.

There’s no mistaking it, thanks to the larger air intakes and gills on the front bumper, plus unique alloy wheels, giving it a pumped-up look. The red highlights on the bodywork and JCW badges hint at what’s under the bonnet, too.

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The JCW gets a big power boost over the already spicy Cooper S, up from 189bhp to 228bhp. That’s the same as the hatchback JCW, but thanks to extra strengthening this Convertible version is ever-so-slightly slower, taking 6.6 seconds to go from 0-62mph, compared to to 6.3 in the hatch.

Both of those figures are for the manual car, as the auto versions are slightly faster in the sprint; the hatch takes 6.1 seconds and the Convertible takes 6.5 seconds. Both units are six-speed, and the automatic version costs over £1,500 more. So, unless you really desire that tiny performance improvement the extra driving fun from the manual makes more sense. The box is slick and easy to use, and features a rev-matching system, which blips the throttle on downshifts for you. It makes for a smoother driving experience in normal driving, as well as when you’re pushing harder, too.

The engine its at its best in the mid-range, with lots of torque and a fruity soundtrack, but that does make the top end feel a little flat. Lift off and you’ll get the familiar MINI pops and bangs from the exhaust.

On a twisty road, the MINI comes into its element. The steering is communicative, quick and – in sport mode – it’s well-weighted. That opens up the exhausts for a bit more noise as well as stiffening up the suspension, which helps reduce body roll. 

The JCW remains flat through the bends in all modes, however, and some may find the harder ride a bit much for the road. On smooth European roads the ride was acceptable, but we’ll have to try it in the UK before we give our final verdict.

The brakes are sharp and powerful, though they could do with a bit more feel through the pedal – and it’s under braking where you can feel the extra weight of the Convertible most. The rest of the time you might not notice the difference, as the car feels almost as light on its feet as the hatch.

The driving position is good, but some of controls feel awkwardly placed. The central armrest gets in the way when you’re shifting gears, as well, whether it’s up or down.

Inside you’ll also find all the usual MINI design cues, with the circular theme meaning there’s a large central display to match the rev counter behind the steering wheel. The door handles, air vents and gearstick all match, too.

The JCW-specific seats and dashboard trim add a sporty touch to the cabin. Just like the Cooper S model it’s all suitably upmarket inside, and you can’t say it’s not characterful – there’s no other car with an interior like it.

There’s plenty of space in the front and very little in the back. With a tall driver, even children will feel cramped, but get the front seats forward and it’s just about big enough.

The soft-top roof, which can be specced with a Union Jack if you’re feeling patriotic, takes 18 seconds to raise or lower. It can do this at speeds of up to 18mph, or from the key fob from outside the car.

Bootspace suffers with the roof down, reducing it from 215 litres to 150 litres. Still, there’s nothing like having the roof down on a summer’s day, and it also allows you to hear the brash exhaust note better. At higher speeds the wind buffeting does start to become a problem. You can fit a wind deflector over the rear seats to combat this though. Wind noise isn’t too bad with the windows up, either.