Mini’s new EV will be the world’s first electric hot hatch, with the brand’s first battery-powered model to wear the hallowed 'S' badging when revealed later this year.
Reports out of Europe suggest the brand is more focused on fun than frugality with what will be called the Cooper S E, which will be revealed this year to celebrate the Mini brand’s 60th anniversary.
It is expected the Coper S E will borrow the electric motor from the sportier BMW i3s, meaning we can expect around 135kW and 270Nm from the three-door Mini EV. That's about on-par with the figures produced by the petrol-powered Cooper S (141kW and 280Nm).
Expect the BMW’s battery pack to be fitted to the Mini, too, translating to a claimed range of around 320km.
While pricing remains a mystery, UK outlets are suggesting a price tag of around 30,000 pounds, which would put the S E about 10,000 pounds above the regular petrol-powered three-door Cooper S.
Will you be in queue for an electric Mini? Tell us in the comments below.
Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold.
But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul.
And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard.
When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House.
But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others.
More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.
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