- This weekend Mini revealed new all-electric iterations of its Mini Cooper and Mini Countryman.
- The new EVs will be on show at the IAA motor show in Munich this week.
- Mini is also readying to debut its all-electric Aceman crossover in April next year.
BMW (which owns Mini) has made it known that it is fully focused on electrifying its fleet. When it comes to the former British car brand under its ownership, the same applies, as the carmaker debuted two new all-electric iterations of its Cooper and Countryman models.
The pair do not have official launch dates or recommended pricing at the time of writing, but will be on show in Munich this week as part of the IAA motoring event.
Along with showcasing this new pair, Mini also provided an update on the Aceman crossover concept is revealed last year, noting that it will premiere as a fully fledged road ready vehicle in April 2024.
As the video embedded at the end of this story, and recent marketing for the Mini brand would suggest, the company is certainly aiming its latest offering at a younger demographic of driver. To that end, the styling for both the Cooper and Countryman have been updated, which also helps to differentiate the all-electric models from the petrol or diesel-powered brethren.
“Short overhangs, a short bonnet, a long wheelbase, and big wheels – the proportions of the new model generation are typical MINI. The visual three-part division into the vehicle body, the surrounding window area and the contrasting roof also ensures the new MINI models are instantly recognisable. The surfaces of the all-electric MINI Cooper and the MINI Countryman look particularly exciting thanks to the integrative treatment of details. Flush door handles, the absence of fender flares and side scuttles underline the clear and modern overall impression,” highlighted of the new designs in a press release.
As for the actual performance of the vehicles, the Cooper E as it has been christened, boasts a 135kW electric motor that generates a torque of 290Nm and helps it to accelerate from a standstill to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds. There is also a Cooper SE model that musters a 0 to 100km/h time of 6.7 seconds, and a maximum torque of 330Nm.
As for the driving range from a fully charged battery, the Cooper E is listed at up to 305 kilometres and the Cooper SE is at 402 kilometres.
Shifting to the larger Countryman E, it features a 150 kW electric motor and 250Nm of torque to yield a more modest acceleration of 8.6 seconds for 0 to 100km/h given it is the heavier of the two new models.
It too has another variant within its fold. “Countryman SE ALL4 generate a combined torque of 494 Nm in total and accelerate the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. The range determined according to the WLTP test cycle is 462 kilometres for the MINI Countryman E and 433 kilometres for the MINI Countryman SE ALL4,” according to Mini.
With the Mini brand quite popular in South Africa, owing to the nostalgia of its smaller predecessors of the 60s and 70s, it will be interesting to see what the reaction locally will be to these two new models. Despite the ongoing energy crisis, many manufacturers are bringing new EVs to SA, as evidenced by a recent AutoTrader report.
Either way, these two new EVs are in keeping with Mini’s plan to feature a fully electric fleet by 2030.
