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With the new MINI Cooper SE, the British brand once again sets a pioneering impetus for urban mobility. 60 years ago, the revolutionary design principle of the classic Mini established the basis for maximum interior space within a minimum surface area.
The MINI was launched in 2001 – a modern re-interpretation of creative space use and unique riding fun that became the original in the premium segment of small cars.
The new MINI Cooper SE will be the first purely electrically powered premium small car, paving the way to a sustainable yet at the same time highly emotional driving experience in urban traffic.
Automakers are currently having difficulty developing cost effective model line-ups especially with the high cost when it comes to batteries making it less profitable to manufacture when compared to ordinary engine vehicles.
BMW plans to be stable with battery models by 2023 including their upcoming X3 sport utility vehicle in 2020.
The new MINI Cooper SE will be available for sale in South Africa, in limited quantities, from the first quarter of 2021
What you should know
This will be the first MINI and first small car in the premium segment to run on electrical power only. The electric motor will deliver 135kW and 270Nm.
The model-specific lithium-ion battery enables a range of 235 to 270 kilometres – without constraints in terms of a luggage compartment volume.
It can be charged at a household socket, wallbox or public charging stations, with fast direct-current charging possible at up to 50kW.
Mini claims outstanding agility due to spontaneous power delivery, a low centre of gravity, front-wheel drive and wheel slip limiting close to the actuator.
It goes from zero to 60km/h in 3.9 seconds and from zero to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds.
Mini says thee SE will feature characteristic designs of the Mini 3-Door with model-specific accentuations. There will also be a model-specific display and control elements in the interior.
The automaker says recuperation can be configured at two levels for individual one-pedal feeling.
Standard equipment features include LED headlights, 2-zone automatic air conditioning, heating with heat pump technology, auxiliary heating, electric parking brake and Connected Navigation.
Wheels24's Janine Van der Post test drove an electric Mini prototype in 2014, read her perspective of driving an electric car five years ago here.
