FANS of open top motoring will be able to fly the flag for Britain when MINI releases its new convertible next year.

The new drop top is to feature an option of having a Union Jack motif woven into the fabric roof in similar fashion to the design already popular on the hatchback models.

It is one of a number of new options on the latest convertible which also include a smartphone app that can warn if rain is on the way.

The new MINI Convertible is due on sale next March and will be priced from £18,475 - an increase of some £500 over the current version.

Diesels will cost from £20,225 and a higher powered Cooper S derivative is priced from £22,430.

Steptronic automatic transmissions are available with all engines and carry a £1,270 premium on the Cooper and Cooper D and £1,625 on the Cooper S.

Compared to the outgoing car, the new convertible is some four inches longer, almost two inches wider and its wheelbase has been increased by an inch creating more room inside, especially in the back where there is an extra 1.5-inches legroom and longer seat squabs.

Boot space is also bigger at 215 litres with the roof up and 160 litres with it down - an increase of 25 per cent - and the rear seats can fold down to allow larger items to be carried. The tailgate still opens downwards and is now sturdy enough to hold 80 klios.

At launch, the convertible will come with a choice of three engines, three-cylinder 1.5-litre turbos developing 136hp in the Cooper and 116hp Cooper D and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder boosted to 192hp in the Cooper S.

All offer better performance than before with the Cooper capable of accelerating 0 to 60 in 8.8 seconds and the Cooper S managing a lively 7.2 seconds with official fuel returns of 55.4 and 46.3mpg. Emissions are 114 and 131g/km respectively.

The diesel, though not as quick with 0 to 60 taking 9.9 seconds, is much more frugal and is rated at 70.6mpg with a CO2 figure of 104g/km.

The new convertible shares its design with the latest MINI hatchbacks and the hood is power operated, retracting in 18 seconds at speeds of up to 18mph.

All versions have a reversing camera as well as rear parking sensors while a head up display is also available.

Other options include LED lights, a multi-mode drive control and a variable damper system while the high end sat nav set up features live traffic information and a journey planner to help avoid congestion plus the ‘rain warner' facility which sends a message to your phone the top has been left down while the vehicle is parked.

The device also works on the move with an alert coming on the centre console and should the car be travelling at more than 30 mph it will even use the navigation system to identify suitable places to pull over and close the roof.