– Long summer nights in Sweden: On the road with the MINI Cooper S Convertible.

Days that never end what sounds like pure stress in everyday urban life takes on an entirely different twist amid the vast landscape of the archipelago. Around midsummer, in the middle of June, hours of sunshine and seemingly endless bright nights provide plenty of time to relax outdoors. The MINI Cooper S Convertible offers open-top driving fun for an extended summer adventure along the Swedish Baltic coast. From Stockholm, a short drive on the E18 towards sthamra is all it takes to leave behind the hustle and bustle of the big city. From here, routes 276 and 278 lead south-east on small country roads through a picturesque natural setting and on to the coast.

Island feeling.
The archipelago north-east of Stockholm is characterised by the deep cuts made by the Baltic Sea to create a rugged coastline. Numerous small islands and an vast expanse of water give a sense of endless space. As soon as you lower the top of the MINI Cooper S Convertible (fuel consumption combined: 6.6-6.2 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 151-141 g/km according to WLTP), this impression is reinforced, revealing a view of the numerous wooden houses along the shore painted in typical Swedish red. This matte yet vibrant colour has its origins in the Swedish mines, where iron hydroxide is extracted as a byproduct. When exposed to air, it becomes iron oxide in other words rust. This is what creates the unique and typical colouring of the Swedish wooden huts the bathing houses and excursion restaurants that are a typical feature of the landscape along the Baltic Sea.

Lots of sunshine through the open roof and the constant view of the water intensify the desire to jump into the cool water. Before heading deeper into the archipelago, a stop at Solbadet is a good idea. From the water, the MINI Cooper S Convertible with its body in Melting Silver III and comfortable leather seats in Chester Malt Brown fits perfectly into the scenery on the shore and makes you want to drive on.

After the swim, a short detour leads north. Crossing a small bridge, we reach the island of Marholmen, where the decorated maypole already stands on the festival meadow of this small islet. As in the whole country, the longest day of the year is celebrated here by singing and dancing together. Midsummer in Sweden is a time of community festivities. Laughter, music and happy get-togethers are the stuff of summer memories, making them unforgettable.

Endless days for exploring.
Looking out over the water glittering in the light, the numerous bays and islands overgrown with small forests, you forget the passing of time especially around the time of the Midsummer Festival. This is because it is bright at any time of day. But your appetite for the Nordic cuisine with its fresh fish and crisp vegetables reminds you in time that it is getting late. With acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds and the dynamic Steptronic sports automatic transmission, the journey to the eastern end of the archipelago continues swiftly, offering typical MINI driving pleasure. How fortunate that a restaurant is still open on Furusund: it instantly feels like home with its family atmosphere and freshly caught food.

As we eat, the spectacle of different hues on the horizon unfolds, typical of this time of year. It may be approaching midnight now, but instead of being shrouded in deep dark black, the sky glows in a fascinating mix of different colours including blue, purple, orange and pink. In this unique atmosphere, the top of the MINI Cooper S Convertible naturally remains open late at night. The distinctive blend of freedom and driving pleasure is a perfect match for the Swedish highlight of the summer season and on the return journey to Stockholm provides special moments that are just as memorable as the surreal light above the winding archipelago.