Mini Cooper Se – Mini Cooper SE Convertible Prototype First Drive: Driving the Future of Droptops This battery-powered convertible won’t go into production, but the Mini Cooper SE droptop gives us an early idea of what we can expect.
Believe it or not, the original Mini was never released as a convertible, at least not from the factory. Three years after the Mini’s revival, the company officially added the droptop to its lineup, and it quickly became a staple.
Mini Cooper Se
Now that Mini is firmly entrenched in the convertible game, 17 years later, automakers are exploring drop-top EVs as customer demand grows as they begin the transition to battery power.
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The bad news is that the mini EV convertible prototype pictured here will not go into production. I’m sorry to disappoint you. But Mini’s product planners say there’s a good chance the next generation will feature a convertible EV. So while this isn’t a literal example of what the future will bring, this prototype does provide an early and exciting preview of what to expect.
It may sound obvious, but the drop-top mini EV prototype isn’t much different visually from the hatchback, except that it doesn’t have a roof. Mini designers carried over the flashy T-shaped wheels, electric yellow accents and closed grille. It’s because of EV. The interior is also identical, with a digital instrument cluster, head-up display, and matching accent colors scattered throughout.
The same similarities are reflected in the driving experience. Even with the roof down (it operates in just 18 seconds), this convertible gives up almost none of the dynamic character that makes the Mini so fun. The steering is quick and the suspension is responsive, and the agility of this drop-top’s action retains Mini’s signature “go-kart-like” character. For a car that is battery-powered, has a sunroof, and has a curb weight slightly heavier than the hardtop version (which weighs 3,100 pounds), this is no easy task.
The Cooper SE hardtop’s same 135.0 kW electric motor and signature T-shaped 32.6 kWh battery pack remain, but the convertible still delivers a healthy 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. And like its siblings, this Mini has plenty of drive.
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Driving through South Beach’s crowded, narrow streets, this mini convertible had no trouble navigating gaps and accelerating quickly from stoplights. The mini EV concept can reach 62 miles per hour in 7.7 seconds thanks to the instant activation of the electric motors.
Upping the drive mode to Sport unleashes maximum battery power, improving throttle response and allowing the Mini EV to get off the line a little quicker. Moving the toggle in the opposite direction accesses Green and Green Plus riding modes. This mode dulls the go pedal and rolls back some settings that might otherwise drain power.
This Mini also has two playback modes: High and Low. The most aggressive regenerative setting provides true one-pedal braking, helping the vehicle come to a complete stop. Perfect for pedaling through Miami Beach’s choppy traffic.
My quick one-hour tour wasn’t enough to test things like battery range or charging capacity, but that’s debatable considering this concept won’t be available at your local dealer any time soon. Given that the convertible shares the same mechanical characteristics as the hardtop, it should theoretically have the same 50kW DC fast-charging capacity that can restore 80% in 36 minutes.
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In short, it’s a Cooper SE with less roof. This may sound like faint praise, but like any hardtop, it’s impossible not to like this product. An interesting characteristic of the SE remains the same, although it does not have a roof. This means anyone with a passion for open-top driving can have their battery-operated cake and eat it too.
Unfortunately, this only applies if Mini produces this device, but Mini is trying to address some of the shortcomings of the first generation EV (range, charging, etc.). Expectations are that the second-generation EV will be better, more efficient, and more suited to convertible models. Of course, something interesting will happen. The electric Mini is about to get a facelift just a year after its launch, but it remains a fun option for those looking for a fun compact EV.
Most facelifts occur in the middle of a car’s life cycle, in the second or third year. But the Mini Electric seems too eager to improve itself with a facelift just a year after it was first launched.
The international launch was in January 2020 (at a time when international press travel was still a big issue), and the car arrived in Singapore in August last year. So basically, the original Mini Electric lasted less than 12 months on sale before being replaced by the updated version here.
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Nonetheless, personal development should always be encouraged and the refreshed Mini Electric features several updates, mainly to bring it in line with the rest of the updated Mini range. The changes are mainly cosmetic, with a bit of a refresh on the outside and some minor interior improvements on the inside.
At first glance, the most noticeable difference is the redesigned front grille with a ‘goat’ surround. This look will be carried over to the rest of the facelifted Mini range. This makes the car look more imposing, as if it has a serious expression instead of its previous cute look.
The rest of the car is virtually unchanged and the electric Mini can be differentiated from its petrol siblings with unique badging, bright yellow door mirrors and a new-look wheel design that is claimed to resemble the sockets. receipt. clever.
There are even bigger changes inside the Mini with an all-new infotainment system. It is now a feature-rich touchscreen system that takes the form of a portable ‘app’ like a smartphone, allowing for greater configurability and customization. The rotary controller is still there, but you can at least choose to touch the screen if you want.
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Another notable update is the steering wheel, which now has a new design that looks a bit more modern. The buttons on the steering wheel are now smooth glossy elements instead of the round buttons on the old model. Whether this is an improvement is subjective, but the older car’s feel was undoubtedly more tactile compared to the newer car’s Haptic Touch style switches.
There are essentially no changes under the skin of the electric Mini. That means the electric powertrain still delivers 184 horsepower and 270 Nm of torque, and the car is still as quick and energetic as ever. If you’ve ever driven a regular Mini, you’ll know how eager it is to zip through traffic, and the electric Mini takes this a few steps further. It’s a very fun and even exciting experience.
The only downside to the Mini is its range. The Mini has a range of up to 270 km on a full charge, but in reality it can only travel around 230 km. But with more and more EV chargers around the island, charging your Mini is a little less of a hassle than it used to be. Using a ‘slow’ AC charger you can get an 80% charge in about 3 hours. You can charge it in about 30 minutes using a fast DC charger. If you think about it, it’s not that long of a time.
The updated Mini Electric doesn’t bring too many significant upgrades, but that’s probably a good thing, considering it retains much of the essence that made the original so beloved. Sometimes you don’t need to make big changes, but just small, incremental improvements will go a long way.
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‘s print editor went out to explore the Great Big World, including working for a time in China (despite her limited Chinese). Now he’s back and ready to force all the pros and cons of the automotive world on you. Follow Ben on Instagram @.ben.
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