Electric Mini Cooper SE revealed with 270 kilometres of range

-    First pure electric vehicle from Mini.

-    Powered by a 184bhp electric motor with 270 kilometres of driving range.

Mini has taken the wraps off their first pure electric product as a part of their electrification push. The Mini Cooper SE has retained its classic design while adopting several elements from the 2017 Mini Electric Concept.

So, although the overall shape and styling are carried forward from the conventional car, the grille is now finished in green and silver with a chrome surround and sports a new E badge where traditionally the S badge sits. The contemporary-looking alloy wheels are carried over from the Electric Concept while at the rear there’s no sporty exhaust tip or an aggressive diffuser. Instead, there’s just a simple bumper finished with Union Jack LED taillamps and the same E logo on the tailgate. Meanwhile, the charging ports are located where the fuel filler cap would otherwise be.

The cabin is instantly recognisable yet thoroughly futuristic. The all-digital instrument cluster is new while all the other elements are carried over from the standard car. There are three drive modes to choose from – Green, Mid and Sport. The boot space is the same 211 litre as the standard car while the ride height has increased by 18mm owing to the floor-mounted battery pack. All the other bells and whistles offered in the conventional variant can be had with the SE as well. 

Powering the electric Mini is a 181bhp electric motor mounted on the front axle which has a twisting force of 270Nm. The 0-100kmph time is 7.3 seconds and the top speed is limited to 150kmph. The 32.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack claims to have a range of 235 to 270 kilometres under the new WLTP test cycle. Under normal charging (11kW), 80 per cent of the charge can be achieved in two and a half hour while a full charge takes three and a half hours. With fast charging of 50kW, 80 per cent charge is possible in just 35 minutes. Even though the electric Mini is heavier than the standard car, its go-kart-like characteristics have been retained, claims the carmaker. 

The Mini Cooper Electric will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, with production commencing in November. It will go on sale in 2020 with Indian debut likely to happen in the following years.