A limited-run, convertible Mini Cooper SE will arrive later this year, with a hefty price tag of £52,500.
The BMW Group-owned firm claims it is the first convertible to be sold with electric power, with only the Fiat 500 Cabrio EV its closest competitor, but that has only a landaulet rear.
It follows a one-off Mini electric convertible prototype built last year to, as the firm previously said, “test the waters of emission-free, open-top driving with Mini”. Tested by Autocar, the “impressive” prototype “looked and felt like a proper production car”.
Now, just eight months on, this production version is the result, albeit launched as a special edition and limited to just 150 models in the UK; 999 in Europe. Mini has not revealed if the model, arriving in April, will have a global presence.
Like the prototype, the convertible gets the same 181bhp single-motor set-up as the standard Mini Electric, pushing it to 62mph in 8.2sec. It also shares the same 32.6kWh battery, albeit with 20 fewer miles of range at 125.
The limited-run model is nearly identical to its combustion sibling, with the same dimensions (at 3863mm in length, and 1727mm wide), boot space (160 litres), and electrically powered, Union Jack-embossed cloth soft top.
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Lots of purists hate that BMW took over the brand.
Back in the old nasty days, Austin then BL and then Rover went bankrupt selling the brand. Along comes BMW and they can sell it for £52500 ! And lets be honest here, these cars will be sold out as fast as you can say Issigonis.
You really have to admire BMW, they certainly know how to market and sell a product.
There are people here complaining at the price. If you want to make money, I'd suggest an easy way to do it would be to order one and then sell it on. Would someone pay £60k for one? I pretty sure someone would.