TOMORROW brings big tax changes for company cars, and that’s good news for those buying or leasing a new Mini, especially the latest model.

It’s good news too for private buyers, because the new Convertible launched at the weekend is a lot cheaper to tax and run – and a lot more fun!

CO2 emissions have been slashed, from 174 to 137g/km for the £15,995 123mph 1.6 Cooper and 199 to 153 for the £18,995 138mph turbocharged 1.6 Cooper S – for road tax of £125 and £150 respectively.

Their fuel economy has been increased by more than 10mpg to a stunning 49.6mpg combined for the top-selling Cooper, 44.1 for the S. Flagship is the 146mph racederived John Cooper Works model at £23,470.

According to cleangreencars Mini is the cleanest manufacturer and the latest model is more than keeping up appearances for this 50th anniversary year of the brand.

So it will be in its party best for the big celebration of the year, with racing, bands and partying at Mini United at Silverstone on May 22-24.

You might well have seen the new Mini Convertible – thousands have been shipped out through Southampton since production started at Oxford in December.

Visual changes are subtle, like the loss of external boot hinges, but the body is ten per cent stronger and occupants are protected by active rollover hoops which shoot into place in just 150 milliseconds.

The electro-hydraulic soft top operates in two modes, with a sunroof section that operates at up to 75mph and the full roof with glass rear window that drops or rises in just 15sec at speeds up to 20mph – you had to stop before! For fun, and perhaps to check your UV exposure, you can spend £115 on an ‘openometer’ which displays how long you’ve had the roof down. Another option is a £400 bike rack for which there is full preparation on Cooper and Cooper S models.

But in a fun car you want to know the Cooper cracks 0- 60mph in less than 10sec, while the John Cooper Works version pictured in Pepper White – the most popular colour – does that sprint in under 7sec.

It’s not just fun and good looking – the new Mini Convertible is a neat and grippy mover as I found on the race circuit. There was no hint of scuttle shake – the closest I found was on a rippled lane with the Sport mode selected for suspension as well as throttle response, and you can’t complain at that!