MINI Cooper SE Convertible debuts with a soft patriotic roof

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That’s right; the first all-electric MINI Cooper SE Convertible is finally here, and if you’re interested, you gotta hurry up because Mini has decided to build only 999 units, all of which will be available only in Europe. Why only 999 units and why only in Europe? Well, that’s indeed a good question, but Mini didn’t offer any explanation on that one.

But in the meantime, let’s take a look at all the hoopla. Well, the MINI Cooper SE Convertible is available in Enigmatic Black and White Silver paint options. But no matter what paint you choose, the fabric roof is gonna be in this dark gray color featuring a contrasting Union Jack. The electric roof can be operated while the vehicle is in motion at speeds of up to 30 km/h (19 mph). The rest of the things are pretty much the same as those of the fixed roof version as you can probably tell; I mean, the wheel design and the contrast touches. And, since this is a limited edition, there’s sort of a special plaque on the front fender.

Things are the same on the inside too; you get a Nappa leather-wrapped steering wheel, an 8.8-inch central touchscreen, a 5-inch digital driver display, piano black surfaces, a yellow start-stop toggle switch, and all the usual safety and driver assistance systems.

And, Mini claims a luggage capacity of 160 litres (with rear seats up), which is the same as that of the ICE-powered Mini Convertible. For anyone wondering, the fixed roof version offers 211 litres.

The mechanicals remains the same too, obviously. The front electric motor offers 135 kW (184 metric hp) and 270 Nm (199 lb-ft) of torque. For anyone interested to know, the official 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time is 8.2 seconds, which is 0.9 seconds slower than the fixed roof Cooper SE, mostly due to the added weight of the convertible roof mechanism and extra structural stiffening measures I think.

The battery pack capacity remains the same too at 32.6 kWh. The fixed roof version claims a WLTP range of up to 233 km or 145 miles, while the Cooper SE Convertible can apparently do only 201 km or 125 miles, which is a significant difference, but I guess that’s an unavoidable tradeoff if you want a convertible with an electric roof mechanism.