Mini Roadster concept news - Frankfurt show: Mini Roadster - 2009

A couple of weeks ago, Mini announced that two new model lines would be built at its Cowley factory.

One of them, we knew, would be the lightweight Coupe - the car with the backwards-baseball-cap styling - and now Mini has revealed the second: the Roadster.

It's essentially a soft-topped version of the Coupe, featuring the same steeply raked A-pillars and lower roofline. In place of the Coupe's floating roof, there's a manual canvas top which, when folded, is still visible just in front of the rear deck.

Unlike the 208bhp Coupe, the Roadster concept is powered by the 175bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine from the Cooper S, a decision that could be reflected in the production versions of the cars, expected to arrive in 2011.

Though Mini hasn't released performance figures for the Roadster, expect it to crack 60mph in around seven seconds. Prices should start at around £17,000. Would you take one over a Mazda MX-5?