In the MINI Cooper S Convertible Sidewalk to St. Peter-Ording

Photos by BMW

Hardly any other region has changed as much in recent years as the western stretch of Schleswig-Holstein's coastline. The upswing for the structurally weak area came with the subsidization of renewable energies, the conversion to ecological agriculture and increasing numbers of tourists. Farm holidays are booming, as is the demand for organically grown food. However, the energy transition has left the most obvious traces in the northernmost federal state. The locals call the wind turbines “energy saving”, of which more than 3 are already turning in Schleswig-Holstein. The country covers its electricity needs 000 percent from regenerative sources, the farmers on whose land the wind turbines are located, the green energy brings additional income. The only thing is that there are no wind turbines right in the classic tourist areas - historical grain mills delight the holidaymaker's eyes.

MINI Cooper S Convertible Sidewalk Edition

The fresh wind, the pure North Sea air, winding country roads and the prospect of a sunny day on the beach make the coastal region the ideal destination for a trip in the MINI Cooper S Convertible Sidewalk (combined fuel consumption: 6,9 - 6,5 l / 100 km according to WLTP, 6,7 - 6,5 l / 100 km according to NEDC; CO₂-Emissions combined: 157 - 148 g / km according to WLTP, 153 - 149 g / km according to NEDC). In its latest version, the edition model of the open four-seater combines its exclusive body paintwork in Deep Laguna metallic with the striking details of the new, reduced design language from MINI.

The expressive shade of blue, in which the bumper strip is now also painted, and the model-specific bonnet stripes with edges in a contrasting color, highlight the front of the vehicle with the enlarged hexagonal grille and the typical MINI round headlights in a particularly stylish way. The redesigned side scuttles are framed by a model label with the inscription "Sidewalk", at the rear the two tailpipes of the exhaust system are now surrounded by strikingly contoured surfaces painted in the vehicle color. 17-inch light alloy wheels in the Scissor Spoke 2-tone design are also part of the standard equipment of the edition model.

Convertible top in sidewalk design with arrow graphics

The convertible top in the exclusive sidewalk design with woven arrow graphics remains closed for the time being when approaching via Autobahn 23. Instead of the head wind, the 131 kW / 178 PS four-cylinder engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo technology can develop its power. A highlight of the route is the high bridge that leads over the Kiel Canal. More than 30 ships use it annually as a shortcut that leads across Schleswig-Holstein. This makes the 000 kilometer long canal one of the busiest artificial waterways in the world.

Soon afterwards the motorway ends, now the way to the coast continues on country roads. As soon as the soft top is opened - the fully electric drive of the convertible top only takes 18 seconds - fresh sea air flows into the interior of the MINI Cooper S Convertible Sidewalk. And something else stands out: dikes and sheep. The dikes are up to nine meters high, have a sand core and a blanket of thick marshy soil. The four-legged friends are responsible for their care. There are around 350 sheep and lambs in Schleswig-Holstein - with a population of just under 000 million. The sheep keep the grass short and compact the soil so that moles and mice have no chance of rummaging around in it and making the dike unstable. Whereas in the past dykes were used to gain arable land, new dikes are now used exclusively for coastal protection.

The largest city on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein is Husum. With a well-tended old town and cobblestone streets, a picturesque market and restored gabled houses from the 16th century, the birthplace of the writer Theodor Storm ("The Schimmelreiter") exudes a lot of historical charm. One of the most popular destinations is the inland port with its cutters, Ewern, traditional sailing ships, restaurants, cafés and - as in every place on the coast - fish sandwich stalls.

optional adaptive chassis

From Husum, narrow country roads lead partly directly along the coast to the Eiderstedt peninsula. This is where the advantages of the optional adaptive chassis can be seen. With its new damper technology, it combines the agility that is typical of MINI in sporty cornering with optimized suspension comfort, which makes driving over cracks and potholes in the asphalt a thing of the past. The MINI Cooper S Convertible Sidewalk approaches another landmark of the west coast in a relaxed manner, the Westerheversand lighthouse in the far west of the Eiderstedt peninsula, known from countless films. The red and white tower stands on a terp and is almost 42 meters high. It was built on a foundation made of logs and concrete to prevent it from sagging. However, if you want to enjoy the gigantic view from the tower, you not only have to register in advance, but also have to walk two and a half kilometers on a historic path across the salt marshes.

One of the tourist hotspots on the North Sea coast is the St. Peter-Ording spa - something like a gigantic sandpit. Twelve kilometers of beach, which is up to two kilometers wide at low tide, attract hundreds of thousands of people looking for relaxation and sports every year. Windsurfers, kite surfers and beach sailors, who find and use ideal conditions for their sport here, ensure a colorful picture. Characteristic for St. Peter-Ording are the 13 pile dwellings, which were built from 1911 on five different sections of the beach. They are only open in the season, up to eight meters high and, in addition to the beach watchdog, also house a few restaurants.

In the towns of Ording and Böhl, guest card holders are even allowed to drive across the beach by car from mid-March to the end of October - everything must be in order. In the high season, these stretches of beach therefore become huge parking lots. Nevertheless, there is always enough space for a lap of driving fun on sandy ground. More beach feeling than in the open MINI Cooper S Convertible Sidewalk on the beach of St. Peter-Ording is hard to imagine.

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In the MINI Cooper S Convertible Sidewalk to St. Peter-Ording

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