Mini presents one-off electric convertible

The BMW brand Mini has unveiled its first – and so far only – all-electric Mini Cooper SE as a convertible. As yet, this one-off electric car is not for sale, but it’s looking like there’s hope for a series model.

BMW is currently saying that the Mini convertible is “a unique specimen that shows how the path to an all-electric premium brand could continue and also electrify classic sporty open-air driving in the future.”

The one-off model uses the same drive components as the familiar three-door model – which in turn uses numerous components from the BMW i3s. The power of the electric motor on the front axle is 135 kW, with an acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and a WLTP range of 230 kilometres. The German carmaker says that this electric convertible is supposed to transfer the “brand-typical go-kart feeling into the world of electric mobility”.

The components of the convertible roof are also standard parts that are familiar from the company’s combustion engine versions. The textile soft top can be opened or closed fully electrically in 18 seconds. This is also possible while driving at speeds of up to 30 km/h.

The one-off was built on the occasion of the community event “Mini Takes the States”, a tradition in the USA, which takes place on the winding roads between Burlington in the state of Vermont and Greenville-Spartanburg in South Carolina. Spartanburg is also home to BMW’s US plant, which is now the carmaker’s largest production site, even ahead of Dingolfing in Germany.

As far as the firmly-roofed series version electric Mini goes, just last month, the German trade publication Handelsblatt reported that the electric Mini that BMW has planned with Great Wall in China could also be exported to the US market. After a non-public presentation of the Chinese-made new electric Mini to American dealers in May, company sources were cited saying there was great interest in the USA. So much so, that the BMW board wants to decide by the end of the year whether the China Mini should be exported to the USA.

bmwgroup.com

4 Comments

about „Mini presents one-off electric convertible“

Larry Wolf

17.07.2022 um 17:30

I'd love to replace my 2017 JCW convertible with an all electric but now when it slower than a Nissan Leaf. No thanks. It has to be FASTER than the ICE version or few will spend the lotta extra money for it. I think all the Mini owners feel the same way. There is simply no reason to make the Mini so slow (0 to 60 in 7.4 seconds) when all the other EV's blow it away (most are under 5 seconds). The potential pocket rocket that it could be becomes a pocket Leaf and slower than molasses. What is wrong with BMW? Are they trying to kill the Mini?

T Terence

18.07.2022 um 09:40

No, they're trying to slow walk EV adoption..same as all the rest of the legacy fossil car makers.

Larry Wolf

18.07.2022 um 16:58

Not true the word "all". It's true of Japan for sure. It's not true of Ford and GM which are putting out pretty quick Ford F150's, Silverado's (both around 4.5 seconds to 60), Ford Mustang which is in the low 4's which is considered a 'sporty' model. And all of the Korean Legacy auto makers. It's true of BMW which is really dropping the ball since buying out the Mini.It will be a cold day in hell before I move from my 2017 JCW Mini convertible. It's 0 to 60 in 6.1 seconds blows away the Mini EV's as proposed. When it should be the other way.BMW is going to go bankrupt with it's attitudes.

Stu Lambert

19.07.2022 um 13:31

I'd be entirely happy with a slow electric mini instead of my beloved orange Cooper droptop. It's ridiculous to spec a car to save like two seconds to get to cruising speed.50 mph is the most comfortable speed with the top down, you can't hear music or talk at much faster speeds, so I would be happiest with an EV that was economical and got me home to my 100% renewable leccy supply.