MINI. Who was waiting for the MINI Cooper electric convertible? It is finally available but not everyone can afford it
MINI has introduced its first production 4-seater electric convertible, the MINI Cooper SE. It will be sold only in Europe, and even in a limited edition of 999 units. In such an original and trendy way, the company says goodbye to its favorite model. Therefore, the Limited Edition final version will cost 52,500 pounds, while the price of the top-end MINI Cooper SE electric hatchback is 35,500 pounds… So, who was waiting for the MINI Cooper electric convertible? It is finally available but not everyone can afford it.
MINI’s first electric model was the Mini Cooper SE hatchback, which debuted in 2019. The company called this model "the first compact electric car in the luxury vehicle segment”. The electric car received a powertrain from the BMW i3S and a driving range of up to 270 km. The price of the MINI Cooper SE started at 24,400 pounds in the UK.
Exterior
The MINI Cooper SE Convertible is only available in two colors: black or silver white. It goes without saying that the British flag adorns the black fabric roof. The car features LED headlights and taillights. Due to the low center of gravity (the T-shaped battery is hidden under the floor), the car offers an agile steering response. The body is 18 mm higher compared to its gasoline counterpart to ensure a decent ground clearance.
Interior
The Limited Edition comes equipped with just about every accessory a MINI can possibly offer: an 8.8-inch infotainment system, an overhead display, wireless charging, a navigation system, a remote control application, a heated Nappa leather sports steering wheel, sport seats with leather upholstery, interior lighting, adaptive cruise control, rear view camera, parking assistant, etc. etc. The power roof can be opened/closed at speeds up to 30 km/h. A dual-zone climate control system with a heat pump uses 75% less heating energy than a simple electric heater. The interior of the electric MINI can be heated or cooled, with the possibility of specifying its time through a mobile application.
Driving characteristics
The electric MINI Cooper SE Convertible has received a single electric motor on the front axle with a capacity of 184 hp. It takes the car 8.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h, while the maximum speed is electronically limited at around 150 km/h. A lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 32.6 kWh provides a driving range of 201 km. According to the manufacturer, the entry-level version contains all the necessary types of charging, including a Type 2 cable for public charging stations and a mobile charger with three connecters for various sockets. It will take you 3.5 hours to charge the battery from 10 to 80% with 11 kW AC. With a 50 kW DC charging station, this time is reduced to 35 minutes. There is a preliminary adjustment of the recovery level (two positions): with a more intense one, you can drive ‘on one pedal’ (a noticeable slowdown begins as soon as the accelerator pedal is released).
