Mini Cooper SE Convertible Cancelled Before Seeing The Light Of Day

The Mini Cooper Electric is arguably the cutest and most modern vehicle the company builds, but those holding out for a rumored sunny-day version will be disappointed that the convertible variant has been cancelled. Despite a positive reception for the previous-generation, limited-production Cooper SE convertible, sources close to the company reported to BMW Blog that a followup based on the thoroughly modernized Cooper E and SE was canned.

EV Woes At Mini

In addition to axing the open-air Cooper E and SE, Mini seems to be altering plans for the hardtop as well. Previously thought to arrive in the US in 2025 in top-trim SE form, it seems as though the British-German automaker will push American sales back a year or so. The delay could be due to the threat of tariffs on foreign-made EVs, as the Cooper E and SE (and the not-for-US Aceman crossover) will likely be built at a factory in China that’s a joint venture between Mini and Great Wall Motors, according to BMW Blog. Mini eventually hopes to build the electric Cooper at its plant in Oxford, England, a decision that would likely circumvent US tariffs at the expense of higher overall production costs.

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As a result of that economic push-pull, the Mini Cooper SE’s future here is murky, though still expected eventually. When and if it arrives in American Mini dealers, it should carry a base price of around $35,000, in line with the similarly retro-cute Fiat 500e but offering a bit more range and a lot more power. That said, the incoming Trump administration seems to be rather EV- and import-averse, and it could even impose tariffs on individual vehicle components – many of which are only sourced in China.

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The Countryman SE Remains

There is still one fully electric Mini available in the US. The Countryman SE is a compact crossover with battery-electric power, earning 212 miles of range from its 64.7-kilowatt-hour battery. The dual-motor EV is also pretty dang quick, with 308 horsepower and 364 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to hit 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. Unfortunately, its 130-kilowatt DC charging speed isn’t particularly impressive, and the $45,200 starting price is a bit steep given the $10,000-cheaper Equinox EV can go 100 miles more per charge – if with a lot less retro cuteness.

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That’s not to say the oxymoronic “Mini” is a bad crossover. With plenty of personality and parking-friendly dimensions, it fits the brand’s mold of premium design and just-right sizing for its style-conscious customers who might be willing to pay a bit more for fashion. We found a lot to like in our first drive of the Countryman SE, which is built in Germany and therefore less likely to suffer from tariffs as the subcompact Cooper SE.

Source :
BMW Blog