The thrill of open-top driving remains a captivating experience for car enthusiasts. The shift to electric powertrains is not diminishing this allure; instead, it’s ushering in a new era of electric convertible cars. This article explores the exciting range of electric convertibles anticipated to hit the market in the coming years, from city-friendly compacts to high-performance roadsters. One notable compact example, the Fiat Topolino, measures just 2.53 meters in length – a detail that’s relevant when considering its European pricing and potential conversion to USD. Speaking of currency, let’s delve into the world of electric convertibles and see what exciting models are on the horizon.
Fiat Topolino
Fiat Topolino front three quarter
The Fiat Topolino, primarily destined for European roads, embodies stylish and fun urban electric mobility. Sharing its foundation with the Citroen Ami, the Topolino distinguishes itself with a charming retro design inspired by the iconic Fiat 500 and, crucially, an open-top experience thanks to its retractable roof. This compact electric quadricycle measures a mere 2.53 meters (approximately 99.61 inches) in length, a key dimension for navigating congested city streets. Powering this nimble EV is a small but efficient 5.4 kWh battery, fully rechargeable in under four hours, offering a range of up to 75 km (47 miles). Its top speed is capped at 45 km/h (28 mph), perfectly suited for urban environments.
Price: Starting at EUR 9,890 in Italy, the Fiat Topolino’s price translates to approximately USD 10,485, based on current exchange rates. This makes the 2.53m Euro To Usd conversion relevant when considering its affordability in different markets.
MINI Cooper SE Convertible
MINI Cooper SE Convertible front three quarter charging
The MINI Cooper SE Convertible, also known as the MINI Electric Convertible, proudly claims the title of the world’s first series-produced electric convertible. While its U.S. availability remains uncertain, European markets are seeing a limited run of just 999 units. This exclusive EV retains the iconic MINI convertible charm, featuring a powered textile soft top operable at speeds up to 30 km/h. Drivers can also enjoy a sunroof mode with a partially retracted roof. Cargo capacity is a practical 160 liters, slightly less than the electric hatchback version.
Under the hood, the MINI Electric Convertible shares the same powertrain as its hatchback counterpart: a 135 kW (181 hp) / 270 Nm (199 lb.-ft.) motor and a 32.6 kWh battery pack. This configuration delivers a WLTP range of 201 km (125 miles), a bit less than the hatchback, and a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 8.2 seconds.
Price: In Germany, the MINI Cooper SE Convertible starts at EUR 60,000, which is approximately USD 63,609. Production is already underway for this highly anticipated electric roadster.
Caterham Electric Roadster
Caterham EV Seven side profile
Caterham, renowned for its lightweight and driver-focused sports cars, is entering the electric era with an electric roadster, previewed by the Caterham EV Seven concept. While an official release date is yet to be announced, anticipation points towards a potential launch as early as 2026. The EV Seven concept emphasizes Caterham’s core values: lightness and agility. It weighs under 700 kg (1,543 lbs.) and utilizes a custom version of Swindon Powertrain’s HPDE E Axle motor, producing 240 hp and 250 Nm (184 lb.-ft.) of torque. A 40 kWh immersion-cooled battery pack, cleverly integrated within the engine bay and transmission tunnel, provides the power.
The EV Seven is designed for quick bursts of driving fun. Its 152 kW charging input allows for a unique 20-15-20 drive cycle: 20 minutes of driving, 15 minutes of charging, and another 20 minutes of driving. Caterham aims for a 0-60 mph acceleration time of around 4 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph.
Bentley Continental GTC Electric
Bentley Continental GTC Jetstream II blue front three quarter
Bentley’s foray into electric vehicles will extend to its convertible lineup, with an all-electric Continental GTC expected a few years after the brand’s first EV launch in 2025. Likely arriving around 2027, the Continental GTC EV will blend Bentley’s signature luxury with cutting-edge electric performance. It is anticipated to draw inspiration from the Bentley Batur, showcasing the brand’s new design language for its EV range. The electric convertible is expected to be built on a version of Volkswagen Group’s Scalable Systems Platform (SSP).
Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark has hinted at astonishing power figures for the brand’s EVs, suggesting they will produce double the horsepower of the current Continental GT Speed. This could mean up to 1,300 hp for the electric Continental GTC, promising breathtaking acceleration, potentially achieving 0-60 mph in under three seconds.
Launch Date: 2027
Price: Estimated at $275,000
Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV Cabrio
Wuling MINIEV Convertible launch
From China comes the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV Cabrio, an affordable and stylish electric convertible. Launched in China in September 2022 by SAIC-GM-Wuling, the MINI EV Cabrio offers open-top motoring in a compact package. It features a dustproof, waterproof, and electrically operated soft top roof available in red or black, along with two-tone interior color schemes. The interior includes a new two-spoke steering wheel and dual 10-inch screens. Notably, the rear seats have been removed to accommodate the convertible mechanism.
Powered by a 30 kW motor and 110 Nm of torque, the MINI EV Cabrio is designed for city driving. It accelerates from 0 to 50 km/h in eight seconds and reaches a top speed of 100 km/h. A 26.5 kWh LFP battery provides a range of 280 km, and charging from 20 to 100% SoC takes 8.5 hours. In Europe, Dartz is offering its version, the Freze Froggy Beachstar Body concept, targeting car-sharing and rental companies.
Price: Priced at CNY 99,000 in China, which translates to approximately USD 13,760.
MG Cyberster
2024 MG Cyberster doors open live image
The MG Cyberster marks MG’s return to the sports car segment with a technologically advanced and visually striking electric convertible. While the production version is less dramatic than the initial concept, it retains a radical design, featuring radiation symbol-inspired headlamps, electrically folding soft top, scissor doors, and full-width tail lights with Union Jack-inspired accents. The interior is designed as a gaming cockpit with three screens and an optional steering yoke.
The Cyberster will be available in multiple variants, including single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive configurations. Power outputs range from 231 kW (310 hp) to 250 kW (335 hp) for the rear motor and a combined 400 kW (536 hp) for the dual-motor version. Battery options of 64 kWh and 77 kWh (gross) are expected, with the larger battery offering a WLTP range of up to 330 miles.
Launch Date: April/May 2024 (UK)
Price: Expected to be over $62,000
Neta GT Speedster
Introduced at Auto Shanghai 2023, the Neta GT Speedster is the open-top variant of the Neta GT coupe, from Chinese manufacturer Hozon Auto. This electric roadster boasts a more stylish appearance than its coupe sibling, featuring a Matt black paint, gold/black accents, and black wheels with gold stripes. The interior adopts a trendy bright orange theme. A unique feature is the electronically controlled helmet storage behind the rear seats.
The Neta GT Speedster is expected to launch in Q3 2023 in both single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD versions. The base RWD variant will produce 170 kW (228 hp) and 310 Nm (229 lb.-ft.) of torque, offering a range of 580 km or 660 km. The top-end AWD variant will deliver a more potent 340 kW (456 hp) and 620 Nm (457 lb.-ft.) of torque, with a range of up to 580 km.
New Tesla Roadster
Tesla Roadster front three quarter
The Tesla Roadster is one of the most highly anticipated electric convertible cars, promising groundbreaking performance. Elon Musk has indicated further enhancements to torque and RPM, suggesting even more impressive performance figures. The SpaceX package could enable a 0-60 mph acceleration in a staggering 1.1 seconds. However, production has faced delays, and the launch is now expected in 2024 or potentially later.
Tesla’s focus remains on high-volume, profitable models like the Model X and Cybertruck, which are crucial for funding ambitious projects like the Roadster. During Tesla’s 2023 shareholder meeting, Musk suggested that even a 2024 production start is a challenging target.
Launch Date: 2024 or 2025
Price: From $200,000
Abarth 500 Electric Cabrio
Abarth 500e Cabrio rear three quarter
Abarth’s electric transformation includes the Abarth 500e Cabrio, offering a sporty open-top experience in a compact electric hot hatch. It comes exclusively with a 42 kWh battery pack, providing a WLTP range of up to 164 miles. While the range is modest, the focus is on driving engagement and performance.
The Abarth 500e’s motor delivers 113.7 kW (152 hp) and 235 Nm (173 lb.-ft.) of torque. Three driving modes – Turismo, Scorpion Street, and Scorpion Track – allow drivers to tailor the performance. A 0-62 mph sprint takes just 7 seconds, and the top speed is electronically limited to 155 km/h (96 mph). Order books are already open for the Abarth electric cabrio.
Launch Date: 2023
Price: From GBP 37,195 (approximately USD 45,527)
Maserati GranCabrio Folgore (GranCabrio Electric)
Maserati GranCabrio Folgore electric convertible rendering
Maserati is electrifying its GranCabrio, with the GranCabrio Folgore, or GranCabrio Electric, slated for launch in 2023. This electric convertible will embody Maserati’s blend of luxury and performance in an open-top EV. It is expected to share the GranTurismo Folgore’s powerful tri-motor setup, featuring three 300 kW (402 hp) motors for a combined output of 560 kW (751 hp) and 1,350 Nm (996 lb.-ft.) of torque. Performance is projected to be exhilarating, with a 0-62 mph sprint in around 2.7 seconds and a top speed potentially reaching 320 km/h (199 mph).
An 83 kWh (usable) 800-volt battery pack will power the motors, supporting fast charging at up to 270 kW (DC). Maserati has confirmed that the next-gen GranCabrio is undergoing final tuning ahead of its launch.
Launch Date/Availability: 2023
Price: From $140,000 (estimated)
GMC Hummer EV Pickup
2022 Hummer EV convertible truck
The GMC Hummer EV Pickup might seem an unlikely addition to a list of electric convertible cars, but its innovative roof design qualifies it as an electric convertible truck. The Hummer EV features removable ‘Lexan’ roof panels, allowing for a fully open-top experience. The panels can be removed individually or in combination and stored in the ‘frunk’.
For those seeking a fast electric convertible, the Hummer EV delivers impressive performance, boasting a 0-60 mph sprint time of just 3 seconds using the Watts to Freedom feature.
Release Date: Deliveries are underway. Reservations are temporarily closed.
Price: Currently at $110,295, with future versions expected to start at $84,650.
Polestar 6
Polestar electric convertible car concept
The Polestar 6 will be the production version of the stunning Polestar O₂ concept, a hard-top electric roadster. Sharing underpinnings with the Polestar 5, it will utilize a bespoke bonded aluminum platform and an 800-volt battery pack. The top-end configuration will feature a dual-motor powertrain producing a combined 650 kW (871 hp) and 900 Nm (664 lb.-ft.) of torque. Polestar anticipates a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.
Reservations for the Polestar 6 LA Concept launch edition, limited to 500 units, opened in August 2022 and quickly sold out. Deliveries are scheduled to begin at the end of 2026.
Release Date & Price: Deliveries from late 2026. Launch edition priced at USD 200,000.
Fisker Ocean
Fisker Ocean California Mode
The Fisker Ocean SUV offers a unique take on the convertible experience with its ‘California Mode’. At the touch of a button, eight glass panels retract, including the windows, rear windscreen, and sunroof (which doubles as a solar panel), creating an open-air feel. Fisker even refers to the retractable rear quarter glass as the ‘Doggie Window’.
The Ocean is available in multiple variants, with the top-tier Extreme and One versions featuring a dual-motor AWD powertrain producing up to 564 hp and a 106 kWh battery pack providing an EPA-estimated range of 360 miles. Deliveries are currently underway in Europe and the U.S.
Release date: Deliveries are underway in Europe and the U.S.
Price: $37,499 to $68,999
Audi Electric Convertible
Audi skysphere concept front three quarter
Audi is expected to expand its open-top lineup with an electric convertible, potentially drawing design inspiration from concepts like the Audi skysphere. Volkswagen Group is considering its Osnabruck plant as a “niche convertible location,” hinting at both Volkswagen and Audi electric convertibles in the future.
Former VW Group CEO Dr. Herbert Diess suggested a new electric convertible idea is under consideration, potentially a technical cousin to an Audi electric convertible. While details are scarce, Audi’s commitment to electrification suggests an electric convertible is a likely addition to its EV portfolio this decade.
Wiesmann Project Thunderball
Wiesmann Project Thunderball front three quarter
The Wiesmann Project Thunderball marks the revival of the German sports car maker with its first electric car, an electric roadster built on an aluminum spaceframe chassis. It features an 83 kWh 800-volt battery pack powering two rear-mounted motors, producing a combined 500 kW (670 hp) and 1,100 Nm (811 lb.-ft.) of torque.
The Thunderball boasts a 0-62 mph acceleration time of just 2.9 seconds and a targeted WLTP range of 311 miles. Its 800-volt architecture supports fast charging up to 300 kW, and production is slated for Wiesmann’s factory in Dulmen, Germany. All build slots for the first production year (2024) are already reserved.
Release Date: 2024
Price: Starting at EUR 300,000 (approximately USD 318,045)
Mercedes-AMG Electric Convertible
Mercedes-AMG Vision AMG front three quarter
Mercedes-AMG’s electric vehicle lineup is expected to include a convertible, as suggested by Mercedes-Benz Group CTO Markus Schäfer. While acknowledging the challenges of designing an appealing electric convertible and the declining demand for roadsters, Schäfer emphasized the brand-building potential of such an emotional model. Mercedes-AMG is actively considering and engineering a zero-emission cabriolet.
Release date: Expected in 2026
Price: Upwards of $200,000
Chevrolet Corvette Electric Convertible
2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 front
General Motors has confirmed an all-electric Chevrolet Corvette, with a convertible version highly likely to follow. Given the popularity of the convertible body style among Corvette buyers (accounting for nearly half of 2022 production), an electric Corvette convertible is expected to be a significant model in the electric Corvette family, potentially arriving after 2025.
Release date: Expected after 2025
Price: Upwards of $100,000
Fisker Project Ronin
Fisker Ronin front three quarter
The Fisker Project Ronin is a striking four-door electric convertible GT, designed to function as both a sports sedan and a convertible. It features unique butterfly doors, a carbon-fiber hardtop that retracts into the trunk, and a triple-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain projected to produce over 1,000 horsepower. Fisker targets a 0-60 mph acceleration time of approximately 2 seconds and an impressive range of 600 miles.
Production will be limited to 999 units, with deliveries expected to begin in the second half of 2025.
Release date: 2025
Price: $385,000
Maserati MC20 ‘Cielo’ Folgore
Maserati MC20 Cielo Folgore rendering (Maserati MC20 Electric convertible render)
Maserati will extend its Folgore electric range to its supercar lineup with the Maserati MC20 Cielo Folgore, an electric convertible version of the MC20. It is expected to debut as a convertible ‘Cielo’ first, with a coupe version following later. The MC20 Cielo Folgore is anticipated to share the GranTurismo Folgore’s tri-motor powertrain, potentially tuned for supercar performance. This could result in over 751 hp and a 0-62 mph acceleration time of around 2 seconds, with a top speed exceeding 199 mph.
Release date: 2024
Price: $250,000+
Porsche 718 Boxster Electric
Porsche 718 Boxster Electric rendering
Porsche’s iconic 718 Boxster is going electric, with the Porsche 718 Boxster Electric program approved and heading to dealerships by mid-decade. Test mules have been spotted, indicating advanced development. The electric Boxster appears to have a longer wheelbase to accommodate a battery pack, potentially similar to the Porsche Mission R’s 82 kWh unit. Porsche aims to maintain the lightweight and engaging driving dynamics of the 718, possibly focusing on a single-motor rear-wheel-drive configuration to manage weight.
Release date: 2025
Price: $85,000
Rolls-Royce Spectre Convertible
Rolls-Royce Spectre electric convertible variant image
An open-top Rolls-Royce Spectre Convertible is a highly anticipated prospect. As the spiritual successor to the Phantom Coupé, which had the Phantom Drophead Coupé convertible, a Spectre Convertible is a logical next step. With the Dawn no longer in production, a Spectre convertible would fill a gap in the Rolls-Royce lineup.
It is expected to share the Spectre coupe’s powertrain, producing 430 kW (576 hp) and 900 Nm (664 lb.-ft.) of torque. While the Spectre coupe has a WLTP range of 323 miles, the convertible version might have a slightly reduced range due to added weight and aerodynamic considerations.
Release Date: By 2025
Price: $425,000
BMW i4 Cabriolet
A BMW i4 Cabriolet is reportedly in development and expected to arrive in 2028 as part of the next-gen BMW i4 family. Codenamed BMW NA2, it will be a Neue Klasse EV, featuring BMW’s next-gen eDrive technology, a new software platform, and enhanced sustainability measures. Cylindrical battery cells with improved energy density and range are expected to help manage weight despite the convertible mechanism. Production is anticipated to start in Germany in July 2028.
Release Date: 2028
Price: $65,000
Jeep Recon
Jeep Recon roof top view
The Jeep Recon, the first of Jeep’s electric SUVs for the U.S. market, will offer open-air freedom with a one-touch power top, removable doors, and glass. Designed for off-road capability, the Recon will have sufficient range for trails like the Rubicon Trail and feature Jeep’s Selec-Terrain system, electronically lockable axles, and off-road tires. Reservations are expected to begin in early 2023, with production starting in North America in 2024.
Release Date: 2024
Price: $60,000
Genesis Electric Convertible
Genesis X Convertible front three quarter
The stunning Genesis X Convertible concept is confirmed for production, signaling Genesis’ entry into the electric convertible segment. Genesis dealers have reportedly been informed of its production, with the X Convertible positioned as the brand’s halo model. The production version is expected to retain the concept’s stylish hardtop roof, modern interior with sustainable materials, and advanced technology features. Launch in the U.S. market is anticipated mid-decade.
Release Date: Expected mid-decade in the U.S.
Price: Estimated between USD 200,000-300,000.
Alpine Electric Roadster
Future Alpine electric cars
Alpine’s future EV lineup will include an electric roadster derived from the next-gen A110, built on the flexible Alpine Performance Platform (APP). The APP platform is a bonded aluminum chassis, similar in construction to the Polestar 6. Alpine’s APP platform allows for variations in length and width, accommodating battery packs from 77-100 kWh and powertrains ranging from 250-500 kW. The Alpine electric roadster is expected to debut around 2027, shortly after the Alpine A110 EV.
Alfa Romeo 4E
An Alfa Romeo 4C Spider successor, potentially named Alfa Romeo 4E (“E” for Electric), is being considered for release after 2027. Alfa Romeo product chief Daniel Guzzafame has indicated the company’s desire to continue its Spider legacy, with design cues potentially inspired by the 33 Stradale and Duetto Spider. Built on the STLA Medium platform, the electric roadster could offer impressive performance, including a 0-62 mph acceleration time of around 2 seconds and a range exceeding 500 miles. However, its launch is likely to follow Alfa Romeo’s first wave of five EVs, scheduled for completion in 2027.
Featured Image: Rolls-Royce Spectre convertible version (for illustration)
By Anjan Ravi Freelance Editor
