The current Mini models are in their final months of sales and the new generation, developed together with Great Wall, is already in the starting blocks – as a combustion engine and purely electric. For sun-seeking fans of the current model, there’s another icing on the cake, because if you’re quick, you can secure one of the 999 open electric models – in time for the summer. The market launch is already in April – after a development time of just eight months. However, the price is lavish: 60,000 euros.
“Three years ago we launched the all-electric Mini Cooper SE, and today every fifth Mini sold in Europe is an all-electric Mini. This success has inspired us to implement the small series of the Mini Cooper SE Cabrio within a few months,” says Mini boss Stefanie Wurst. The open jester is only available in the Enigmatic Black and White Silver. Door handles, details and bezels of the front and rear lights are in bronze. The newly developed 17-inch alloy wheels are made from recycled aluminium. For the last time, there are also high-quality leather seats in the open Mini models, because Mini has completely omitted these in the new generations, which is unlikely to impress many die-hard Mini fans. Especially in an open-top joker like the Cooper SE Cabrio, heated leather seats are used.
The steering wheel of the open Mini can also be heated and the interior surfaces are made of black plastic. The central starter button is not red as usual, but yellow like the closed electric model. When you press it, the 135 kW / 184 hp electric motor, which also drives the closed version via the front axle, silently comes to life. The trunk size of 160 liters is identical to that of the open combustion variants. However, the range to the next charging stop is extremely manageable at 200 kilometers. The standard consumption: 17.6 kWh per 100 kilometers. From a standing start, it accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and the open electric mini is already limited at a narrow 150 km/h. The electric fabric roof with the Union Jack logo can be opened or closed at speeds of up to 30 km/h. The production site is the mini contract manufacturing company Nedcar in the Netherlands.
