The Mini Electric has been revealed at the brand’s 60th anniversary celebrations in Oxford. The new pure-electric hatchback will have the performance of a Cooper S, with zero-tailpipe emissions, and a range of up to 144 miles (WLTP) on a single charge.
Mini’s highly-anticipated EV will be able to complete the 0-62mph sprint in 7.3 seconds, thanks to a 135 kW (184 hp) motor producing 270 Nm of torque. A 32.6 kWh battery – of which 28.9 kWh is usable – allows for the range, which is low by current mass-market standards, but there is a trend developing for premium, compact EVs designed primarily for urban driving.
The Honda e will be a clear Mini Electric rival, though is expected to cost more, with reports around the £30,000 mark. Mini by contrast has priced the Electric hatch pretty keenly, at £24,400 (inc. Plug-in Car Grant).
Charging will be possible at up to 11 kW AC, and 50 kW DC, with Mini fitting a CCS inlet to the Mini Electric, sitting behind what would be a conventional fuel filler flap on the car’s off-side rear three/quarters.
The battery has been developed to be a T-shape, fitting in the car’s floor between the front seats and beneath the rear. The Electric is only 145 kg heavier than a petrol-powered Mini Cooper S three-door with automatic transmission.
Driving modes will see Sport, Mid, and Green – with added Green + – settings available, and Mini’s famous handling set-up is expected to be retained. It is this combination of ‘go-kart feel’ (as Mini puts it) and instant electric response that makes the Electric such an exciting arrival to the UK’s EV market.
A new digital driver’s instrument binnacle has been added to the range, designed for electric-focused displays. The standard 6.5-inch central touchscreen remains from the rest of the Mini line-up which includes navigation, Apple CarPlay, and status update displays.
Order books are open now, with customers able to place a £500 deposit for a new Mini Electric. Deliveries are expected in March 2020, with production in Mini’s Oxford plant starting late in 2019.
