MINI TO GO ALL-ELECTRIC IN 2019
Electric Concept showcases bespoke styling of zero-emission hatchback and will get EV know-how from the BMW i3
Didn’t Mini once go all-electric?
Yes they did, and that was back in 2008. However, the so-called Mini E was only meant for an experiment back then when 600 units of it were deployed on the road worldwide.
This time, Mini is planning to put a full-electric version of the hatchback into series production in 2019. As a preview to it, Mini will be showing a concept car called Electric Concept at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show this month.
Coincidentally, there will also be other electric cars in concept forms at the German auto show. MercedesBenz is set to unveil an A-class-sized hatchback version of the EQ family (the first one was a GLC-sized SUV), while Volkswagen is planning to show a saloon variant of the ID range (the three others shown earlier were MPV, SUV and hatchback bodies). Likewise, Honda has confirmed an EV concept that will eventually be put into production for the European market first.
EVs are really comin’. Why does the Mini have so many air inlets?
Oh, they’re just for show, according to Mini. The hexagonal front grille and air intakes look as if they can breathe air but are actually sealed for the sake of aerodynamic efficiency. Mini says EVs don’t require much cooling. Also, note the distinctively styled front and rear lights.
And because EVs don’t spew out any of that black stuff, the Electric Concept has no tail pipe allowing designers to give the rear end a nice flushed appearance. The unique wheels and sides fins also help lend a sense of modernity, aside from distinguishing it from the regular Hatch with conventional power.
What’s the electric propulsion like?
Mini isn’t discussing the technical details yet, although it will be definitely better than that of the Mini E, which had 200hp of electric performance but a meagre 160km driving range. Some hints could come in the form of the BMW i3, itself having learned some lessons from the Mini E of yore. Also in Frankfurt, BMW is set to debut the facelifted i3 with, for the first time, a choice of two electric packs.
The regular i3 has 170hp, sprints from 0-100kph in 7.3sec and can drive for a potential 300km, while the go-faster i3s gets 184hp, a quicker 6.9sec acceleration time but a slightly shorter 280km touring range.
The use of an improved 94Ah battery has been introduced in the i3 last year.