MINI Cabriolet rides again

Volkswagen might have killed off the iconic Golf Cabriolet, but British rival MINI has confirmed it will keep the drop-tops coming – even when it switches to all electric cars.

Due to be revealed in 2025, when the toughest round of European emissions rules kick in, the next-generation MINI Convertible will – like the next MINI hatch – be available with both hybrid and electric powertrains.

So even though MINI Australia has just released the facelifted 2021 hatch and cabrio line-up Down Under, the biggest talking point is already the next one.

MINI confirmed in March that its last generation of combustion-powered models will be launched in 2025, before it only makes EVs by the early 2030s. 

With typical MINI model cycles running between seven and nine years, the timing would effectively mandate an EV powertrain as an option for all next-generation MINI models.

MINI has one EV on its books at the moment, the Mini Electric, but supplies have been short since an initial burst a year ago.

The 135kW/270Nm MINI Electric hatch uses the same powertrain as the BMW i3S, but only ekes out an official 233km from its 32kWh battery.

That is all likely to be upgraded in 2025, when newer battery and electric motor technology comes on stream, and the next-generation cabriolet will charge with far more enthusiasm than the 50kW that is the current car’s maximum rate.

The first electric MINI convertible is expected to have at least 50 per cent more range than the current EV (which is only available in hatchback form).

“The Mini Convertible has a large and particularly loyal fan base. This is also shown by the great demand for the latest, freshly updated model,” said MINI brand head Berd Körber in a statement.

“We are therefore firmly convinced of the success of this vehicle concept for the future."

It also won’t be the last MINI EV to roll out of the UK either, if parent company BMW is serious about its plan to turn its smallest brand into an EV-only car-maker.

MINI plans to launch a full-production three-door electric city-car sometime between 2023 and 2025, plus a stretched Countryman EV and even an electric people-mover.

It has already shown the MINI JCW Pacesetter EV, though that massive upgrade of the MINI Electric will only be used as a Formula E safety car rather than a serious research program.

The recently updated MINI three-door and five-door hatches and the Convertible are on sale in Australia now, with a starting price of $37,500 plus on-road costs for the MINI Cooper Classic 3-Door.

The electric MINI Cooper SE three-door hatch is available in both Classic and Yours trims, priced from $55,650 plus on-road costs (up $850).

There is also a stripped-down Essential version of the hot-shoe John Cooper Works models, with 170kW of power and 320Nm of torque, to go with the more luxurious standard version.

The MINI Cooper S upgrades the hatch’s 100kW/220Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with 141kW/280Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol power.