Mini brings out the aces with Cooper S
This is an easy one for me.
I have either owned or driven just about every brand out there, except a Ferrari of course, but I am working on that.
This week, Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) delivers one of its spin- off brands, the well known Mini Cooper. Not the 1965 version that you all remember, with the two-white- separated strips up the center and big bug- eye headlights, but the recently created 2020 Cooper SE-EV. Although the idea of the new Mini is similar to the old, it brings tons of new features to the table.
Let’s make this really clear, you don’t have to be a Toff to enjoy any model of Mini, because as a previous owner and stocky 6-foot-1 guy, the Mini brings tons of fun for everyone. In fact, my good friend and co-worker has two of them and he is even taller than I am. My 2010 was black with white strips, and his 2015 Countryman is red with white strips; guess us newspaper guys like our Minis. (Editor’s note: The other one is a two-door hardtop painted something called “Volcanic Orange,” with black stripes.)
The all-new, all- electric, Mini Cooper SE-EV is certainly just as much fun. Think of it as a golf cart (now that it is electric) and yeah, just about that. Of course it comes with the similar Mini styling; the base Signature model starts at $29,900, a real win for Mini enthusiasts. The Mini boasts a 181-horsepower electric motor that has an estimated 110 miles per full charge and takes 30-plus minutes to get a 75% charge. Although this seems low, for the money it really isn’t. Count an additional $7,500 in available tax credits and you have a great “around town” vehicle that is perfect for grocery shopping or your everyday cruise.
You know our love-hate relationship for EVs as they just aren’t practical for everyone’s usage, but if the local commuting is your real purpose, then it is great. Our Iconic model came with LED headlights, Apple CarPlay, power folding mirror, Harman Kardon Sound, parking assistant, heads-up display, an 8.8inch center touch screen with navigation and wireless charging — all great options, but started at an expensive $36,900.
Certainly a Mini isn’t really large enough for a family vacation vehicle or something you would use to go to a home improvement store with, but rather your everyday commuter, city cruiser, grocery- getter or church driver, since the EV version is the same as the gasoline model. If that is your requirements in your next vehicle, then BMW, I mean Mini, has your EV aroundtown solution with the Mini Cooper SE-EV.