The Mini electric concept that appeared at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2017
An all-electric version of the Mini is due to go on sale in early 2020, some ten years after the company first began developing an EV model.
The electric car, which will be called the Cooper SE when it hits showrooms in a year’s time, will be based on the existing Mini and use battery technology derived from parent company BMW.
Mini first started trialling electric versions of its popular hatchback in a number of cities in 2009, says Autocar. Around 500 vehicles were tested in public and a production model seemed to be on the horizon at the time, but Mini instead opted to shelve the EV in 2011.
But Mini is now committed to an all-electric model, as the Cooper SE will be available to order within the next year.
While buyers wait for the company to unveil its production-spec EV, here are all the details on the new Cooper SE:
What do the critics think?
Critics have been behind the wheel of a prototype model of the Cooper SE to see whether the British marque is on track to deliver a true rival to Nissan’s Leaf and the newly-announced Peugeot e-208.
Thanks to the instant torque provided by the car’s electric motor, which is derived from BMW’s i3 EV, acceleration in the Cooper SE is “brisk” and there’s a “remarkable” amount of traction, particularly on sodden surfaces, The Daily Telegraph says.
Steering retains the combustion-engined Mini’s “lively” feel, which is partly thanks to the battery and motor being mounted low in the chassis, the newspaper adds. This helps keep the car’s centre of gravity low, which in turn minimises body roll and improves front-end grip.
Customers will find “plenty of interesting technology” on the electrified Mini, says CarBuyer. For instance, there are two forms of regenerative braking, a system that recharges the battery once drivers take their foot off the accelerator. In its highest setting, customers could easily drive through a city “without ever touching the brake pedal”.
However, the reviews site argues that buyers may find the Cooper SE’s battery range “disappointing”. As standard, the electric hatchback delivers 120 miles of power on a single charge, which falls short of the 211 miles offered by the e-208.
If the prototype is representative of the final product, then Mini could be on to a winner with the Cooper SE, according to Auto Express.
The carmaker has “crucially” retained the hatchback’s “lively driving dynamics”, blending with “a well-integrated electric powertrain that will attract converts to the technology”, the magazine says. “If the pricing is right, it could be a hit.”
When will it come out?
Orders are expected to open either at the end of 2019 or early 2020.
Ahead of its release, Mini is expected to preview the electric hatchback at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, which runs from 12 to 22 September.
How much will it cost?
There’s no official word on pricing just yet. However, Car magazine says buyers should expect a figure of around £29,000.
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