Mini unveiled their first ever plug-in hybrid, called the Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4, alongside the biggest Mini yet – the 2017 Countryman. Both the cars will make their debut next month at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show.
The plug-in hybrid makes use of BMW Group’s eDrive components, which the parent company developed specifically for the Countryman. The 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine which produces 134bhp and 220Nm, is synchronised with an 88bhp electric motor, resulting in a combined power output of 224bhp and 385Nm. The internal combustion engine is mated to a six-speed Steptronic transmission sending power to the front wheels, whereas the electric motor directs its power to the rear axle via a two-stage single-speed transmission. This unique all-wheel drive, called the ALL4, is managed by a Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system derived from the BMW i8.Mini claims a 0-100kmph time of 6.9 seconds.
The eDrive toggle switch provides an option of three driving modes– Auto eDrive, Max eDrive, and Save Battery. The standard Auto eDrive allows the Mini to run on electric power alone up to the speed of 80kmph, after which the engine kicks in automatically for an additional push or for when the battery charge falls below seven per cent. The Max eDrive can speed up the electric drive to 125kmph, albeit with a range of up to 40km. The Save Battery mode runs the car solely on the combustion engine to preserve the battery or charges it for further consumption.
The electric motor is powered by the lithium-ion battery placed underneath the rear seat. The high-voltage battery has a capacity of 7.6 kWh. With a charging capacity of 3.6 kW, it can be fully charged in 2.15 hours, whereas charging at a regular household socket will take 3.15 hours. The connection for the charging cable is under a flap on the left-hand side on the front fender.
On the inside, the 6.5-inch screen follows a green theme. It displays the operating driving mode selected by the eDrive toggle switch and the battery charge status. Steering mounted controls with a yellow start-stop button comes standard, with an optional media package which adds a navigation system to an increased 8.8-inch touchscreen in the centre console.
The Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 will be available internationally by June next year and is expected to subsequently make its way to India. When launched, the plug-in hybrid SUV won’t have a real competition to lock horns with and hopefully, by then the charging infrastructure here becomes better.
