While Mini’s fans were looking forward to waiting for the release of the electric Cooper Convertible, the rumors of its discontinuation have become a subject of discussion. BMW planned to launch the model for production in 2027 in China and the UK, but according to our official reports, its production has been said to be slowed down because of low demand.
Some eyebrows were raised over the news about the electric Mini because the brand had previously unveiled the Cooper SE Convertible concept a couple of years ago. Having followed the development of the car for quite some time now, many enthusiasts were expecting to get a glimpse of the production version, but it seems all hope was a wipeout. Although it is unclear why the company recently canceled the electric version of Cooper Convertible, industry insiders point to attributes such as concerns over profitability and heightened Chinese competitors as potential reasons for this action.
Convertibles have long fought for a small market niche share, and this struggle seems to increase with the lineup of electrification moves. The decline in sales of gas-powered Cooper and Cooper S convertibles shows how hard Mini would have had it if it sought to sell an electric version of the Cooper Convertible; the agency revealed that in the US alone, the sales of the two fell by 89.1% in the third quarter to a mere 127 cars.
However, 2023 went a little better for the Coopers Convertible, which saw an increase in sales by 64.8% to 5,331 units, making it the top three for Mini cars. However, this is not enough to counterbalance the other problems that exist in the sector.
The delay in dropping the electric Cooper Convertible is not the only recent issue that Mini has had to deal with, as the car manufacturer has postponed the introduction of the Aceman and Cooper SE in the American market. This has been more to do with policies such as a 100% tariff on Chinese made EVs and not the demand for EVs. These delays further expanded the understanding of the challenges of manufacturing and bringing electric vehicles into the marketplace.
However, Mini will not discontinue building a new gas-powered Mini Convertible, which is expected to arrive in showrooms early next year with the manufacturer’s suggested retail price starting from $33,950. This variant comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a horsepower of 161 and torque of 184 ft/lb. This engine is combined with a seven-speed automatic transmission and enables the car to possess a 0 to 60 mph time of 7.9 seconds.
In conclusion, even though one might have thought that there would not be an electric Mini Convertible, at least for a while, Mini is quite keen on creating beautiful and exciting automobiles for its fans. Enthusiasts will have a new gas-powered convertible to enjoy, and it still could be some time before Mini revisits the electric drop-top idea. For now, the fans will only be served with the updated gas-powered model, which well deserves a place in Mini’s portfolio and serves as proof of the company’s dedication to the concept of fun behind the wheel.
