From small to off-road vehicles, everything is now also available in an electrified version. Only electric convertibles are rare so far. That could change soon – Mini makes a start in the spring. But only in small numbers and with a rather high price.
SUVs, limousines, small cars, vans, off-road vehicles – slowly there is the right electric car for every need and taste. Only e-convertibles are still lacking. Mini wants to change that now and is putting Generation E out into the fresh air.
Because after the BMW subsidiary received a lot of encouragement for the electric conversion of a current convertible last summer, the British now want to bring the one-off into series production – but initially only 999 times. Market launch will be in April.
The price is inversely proportional to the quantities: According to Mini, it should start at 60,000 euros; it is therefore around twice as high as in the entry-level model of the conventional convertible.
The open-air model is separated from the electric Mini with a fixed roof by more than 20,000 euros. However, customers also sit in the only electric convertible of the season, argues Mini. Because cars like the Polestar 6, the Maserati GranCabrio or the new Tesla Roadster will not be available until 2024 at the earliest. And neither the Fiat 500 nor the Smart EQ are considered full-fledged convertibles by the British.
While Mini promises a completely new driving experience with its noiseless openness, nothing has changed in terms of technology: Like the closed E version, the open 2 2-seater also offers a 135 kW/184 hp electric drive that powers the sprint from the Got to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and accelerated to a maximum of 150 km/h. The 32.6 kWh battery allows a range of up to 200 kilometers.
Equipment details of the 60,000 euro fresh air streamer are 17-inch wheels, heated sports leather seats, leather steering wheel, distance cruise control, head-up display and a textile top, which can be opened and closed fully electrically even when driving up to 30 km/h.
For the time being, electric driving in the open air remains a pleasure that is as expensive as it is exclusive. But in the long term, Mini wants to clear the heads of more e-drivers for less money: When the new generation of the Mini starts next year, it should also come as a convertible, and without limitation.
