Mini John Cooper Works Cabrio : Red hot drop-top spied in the snow

The spy images show the John Cooper Works Cabrio test car with only light camouflage on its bonnet and the top of its windscreen, while the squiggly black and yellow plastic wrap does a slightly better job of disguising its rear quarter panels, tail-lights and tailgate.

Despite the psychedelic wrap, it’s clear from these images that the JCW Cabrio shares its sporty front and rear bumpers with the three-door JCW hatch, which debuted at January’s Detroit motor show and will go on sale in Australia in August from $47,400 plus on-road costs.

Despite looking almost production ready in these images, we’re not expecting the JCW Cabrio to make an official appearance in final showroom form until either late this year or early in 2016, following the launch of the regular Mini Cabrio variants that’s tipped to take place in November.

That means the JCW Cabrio is unlikely to arrive in Australia until around the middle of 2016, though better news for fans is that it will almost certainly be cheaper than the current JCW Cabrio, which costs from $58,500. We suspect a circa-$55,000 starting price would be closer to the mark.

The Mini JCW Cabrio will be powered by the same 170kW/320Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that launches the three-door JCW from 0-100km/h in as little as 6.1 seconds when teamed with the optional six-speed automatic (6.3sec with the six-speed manual).

Expect the JCW Cabrio’s equipment list to mirror that of the three-door variant, with highlights including 18-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes, dynamic damper control adjustable suspension, LED headlights, head-up display, JCW sports seats, semi-automated parking system, reverse-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, satellite navigation and digital radio, among others.

Click the Photos tab for more Mini JCW Cabrio images.