Topless is really expensive

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Electric drive and cabriolet – a combination not yet available on the market. So far: BMW subsidiary Mini is now offering the fun all-electric Cooper SE as a convertible version. Blick was allowed to try one of the only 999 units produced on the holiday island of Mallorca.

So remove the sunscreen tube and enter the usual beautiful, high-quality cockpit. Only the very small touchscreen in the middle indicates that the time of the still current Mini is coming to an end – the brand new fourth generation of the iconic little car will launch next year.

humming instead of roaring

We roll the first few meters as quietly as a whisper through the Palma suburbs, quickly testing its suitability for the highway (top speed: 150 km/h) and heading where we suspect the topless biker is in perfect terrain: winding, narrow mountain roads towards the Coll de Sóller pass. We start the Cooper SE Convertible by pressing the chrome lever in the center console: in “Sport” mode, the car now responds instantly to commands from the accelerator pedal; 184 hp (130 kW) and 270 Nm are available from the first electric motor cycle – the drivetrain is strictly inherited from the closed variant.

The power is easy enough to propel the 1550-kilogram Convertible (100 kilograms more than the closed hatch) up mountain passes – 8.2 seconds for acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h was noted by Mini in the datasheet. More important than pure performance, however, is the always-forgotten “go-kart feel” of the four-seater, which is only 3.86 meters long: the e-cabrio climbs through tight bends at lightning speed, literally sticking. rough asphalt thanks to its low center of gravity, and it instantly rolls out of corners with a light foot, as only a Stromer can. Instead of the hum of the combustion engine, we listen to the sound of the electric motor in the front before the head wind deafens our ears – driving an electric convertible becomes a real pleasure!

Small range, big price

But not everything that shines in the Majorcan sun is gold. The already modest 201km (when off) standard range narrows to around 150km with a sporty driving style. The Mini SE Convertible absorbs at a DC fast charger with a maximum of 50 kW; this corresponds to a 30-minute standby time until the 32 kWh battery is 80 percent charged again. It takes two and a half hours to fully charge the 11 kW wall box at home. And the rather modest 160-liter trunk doesn’t make the mini convertible a maxi touring car.

Of course it shouldn’t be: the open Cooper SE is a classic second car for weekend trips to the ice cream parlor or the swimming lake – and it’s definitely ideal for that. But if you want to name one of the 999 copies as your own, you’ll have to hurry: only 34 pieces will arrive in Switzerland – and only a few of them are still available. In addition, a large wallet is required for the mini e-cabrio: at least 62,490 francs is nothing short of a bargain and should make the joker a fun brake for many potential customers.

Source: Blick