THE Mini Convertible was announced Car of the Show at the Motor Show Live in Birmingham.

Thirty-five expert automotive designers and engineers from the Institute of Vehicle Engineers (IvehE) scoured the stands to find the cars they judged to be the best of the show.

Eight main categories ranging from 'small cars under £10,000', to 'performance cars, price unlimited' plus four special categories produced 12 winners, but it was the new Mini Convertible that took the title of Car of the Show.

Considered by the panel of judges to be a well engineered, well conceived version of an already successful design that will have a special resonance for a great many visitors to the show, the Mini Convertible was a fitting winner for the first British Motor Show to be held in the summer. The Mini One Convertible and Mini Cooper Convertible go on sale in the UK on June 26, priced at £13,325 and £14,625 respectively.

The Mini Cooper S Convertible will go on sale in the UK in August priced at £17,595.