December is an odd time to consider buying a convertible in the UK, but Mini seems to see winter as the perfect time to launch the Droptop Seaside Edition. It’s available to order there now from £34,500 ($41,698 at current exchange rates) on the road. In the United States, the special edition model arrives in the first quarter of 2023, and pricing details will be out in late January.
The Seaside Edition is available in Caribbean Aqua or Nanuq White bodies. It rides on 18-inch wheels with a two-tone finish and a seven-spoke design with cut-out sections. Special badges are on the front fenders, and there is a white stripe across the top of the wing.
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Inside, there are smooth lines on the dashboard. “Seaside” graphics appear on the steering wheel and door sill plates. The number 30 is key as it is the 30th anniversary of the Minis droptop.
The Mini Convertible Seaside Edition was based on the Cooper S trim and had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 176 horsepower (131 kilowatts). The Droptop reaches 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in 7.2 seconds.
Mini is currently preparing to launch several new models. Among them, the next generation of hardtops are on their way with combustion and electric powertrains. Spy shots suggest the latest model adopts a less sculpted exterior design resulting in a slightly closer look to the version from the early 2000s.
The EV rides on a new dedicated platform separate from what’s under the next-gen Hardtop with an internal combustion engine. The base trim is reported to have a range of just under 200 miles (322 kilometers). However, the highest variant is expected to travel around 250 miles (402 km).
We expect the new Hardtop model to premiere in 2023. The next-gen convertible isn’t expected to arrive until 2025. It’s unclear whether Mini will keep the droptop currently in production and in showrooms. Or, the automaker could discontinue it for a few years to drum up a comeback for the variant.
Additionally, Mini is working on an electric crossover Aceman which will allegedly join forces in 2024. The Paceman nameplate may return as an EV. Spy shots suggest that a new Countryman is in development as well.
