Copycats. Just a few months after Jaguar replaced the combustion engine of its 60s pin up
with an electric motor
, so BMW has done the same with its one. This is the Mini Electric, shown at New York as a unique concept and looking rather snazzy as it does so. Well, maybe apart from those black headlight surrounds.
The point? It's all about the future, see. Mini says the Electric "sends out a clear signal demonstrating its (Mini's) commitment to retaining the brand's unmistakeable character whilst embracing zero local emission technology." This is the one-off pipe dream to get people's interest up, with cars like Countryman Panamericana Plug-In the rather more staid reality for now. Seems like a bit of a missed opportunity, really - if you can charge £100k for a restored Mini with an A-Series, then surely there's some money in an EV as well?
As far as the concept goes, there are precious few details about the electric powertrain, charge time or range. Or speed actually, for that matter. Mini does say that the "spontaneous power" of the electric powertrain "provides a new dimension to the unmistakeable go-kart feeling". With instant torque and - hopefully - the batteries kept nice and low, there's no reason to doubt that claim. Unless it suddenly now weighs 1,200kg, of course. What a shame nobody will get to test the claim.
Let's not end on a negative with such a joyful endeavour though. This Mini Electric concept arrives a year before a production EV of the current Mini, marking 60 years of the brand and drawing on the experience from the Mini E trials. Given how well resolved BMW's electric cars have been thus far, hopes are high for that one. Check back in 2019...
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