MINI E Slides Under the Radar, 500 Units, 150 Mile Range

[YSSMAN]

...Now MINI Has an Electric Car...

Five hundred Mini aficionados in New York, New Jersey and California will soon have the chance to lease the first all-electric Mini E following its official introduction at the LA Auto Show at the end of November. The little 'lectric Verne Troyer tribute will feature a 204 HP electric motor sending 162 lb-ft of torque through a single-speed gearbox to the front wheels. Mini claims a 0-to-62 sprint of 8.5 seconds — nothing spectacular, but when you consider the lack of shifts and the electric's full torque production at 0 RPM, it's gotta feel like a jet plane taking off. The lithium-ion battery pack is good for 150 miles between refills, facilitated by a charger included in the as-yet-unannounced lease price.

Having only 500 units is a bit of a disappointment, but I'm certain they're testing the waters to see how well the cars perform before they ever get around to doing a full production model. Nevertheless, a 150 mile range is very impressive (compared to the 40-60 range that we'll likely see with the Volt and Prius PHV models), but I'd be most-interested in the price... And if I can order it without the yellow interior accents. It makes me feel like I'm in an episode of Reboot.

 

[Philly]

What's it weigh?

But I think this is an electric city car I certainly wouldn't mind having. Well done, MINI. 👍

 

[Jim Prower]

Where the hell did THIS come from? I mean, it's nice that they want to jump on the electric bandwagon but...damn. kept this a secret.

 

[YSSMAN]

It debuted mid/end of last week, I had figured Joey would have been "all up in dat." I guess not?

My only qualm with the car (other than it being a 500-unit run) is that it loses the two rear seats. Certainly, the origional Insight ran on a similar idea, but its the functionality of the Prius and the Volt that will keep them as winners with most people.

 

[Joey D]

The electric MINI has been rumoured for a really long time now, news broke about it over the summer. I thought I posted something back then but I suppose not. It's going to be really expensive though, which is what ultimately hurts most electric cars of any size and quality. I like it, although I don't think I would really want to own one. Although if I had to get an electric I would go for this without a doubt.

 

[Philly]

^ Maybe that's why the only moderately successful EVs at this time are the ones that are either heavily manufacturer sponsored (I think?) or sports cars and luxury cars. And why nobody until now has created a hatch.

 

[Joey D]

^ Maybe that's why the only moderately successful EVs at this time are the ones that are either heavily manufacturer sponsored (I think?) or sports cars and luxury cars. And why nobody until now has created a hatch.

The hatch is a perfect platform for an EV, you can stash the batteries where the rear seats would go and still retain the shape of a normal car. Sure you give up passenger and cargo space but people will probably just use these as commuter cars for to and from work with only one occupant. I'm not surprised MINI did this though, they have an image of being very eco-friendly and this only exemplifies this. Great marketing on BMW's part.

 

[Philly]

The problem with making an EV hatch is that the hatchback is generally synonymous with being economical. And if EVs are expensive compared to their gasoline counterparts, then it won't be very economical and probably not very true to their goal. At least that seems to be a reasonable explanation for why the hatchback hasn't really been made into an EV, despite how much sense it would make.

 

[Joey D]

True, but look at other EV's we've gotten over the years.

The GM EV-1 was basically a two seater electric Saturn which was awful. There is one at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn (if you ever get to this side of the state I suggest that museum) and it's just an awful vehicle in every way. It looks cheap and cramped.

Then there are the little run abouts like the GWhiz which aren't really cars but still sell sort of in other parts of the world.

EV have always been impractical because their battery packs. The upcoming Volt is really the only car so far that is going to push the boundary which is why it's so important it succeeds.

 

[niky]

And the ZAP Xebra, which is so horrid, even with a gasoline engine, that I can't even imagine buying the Electric version.

The only way you can have an electric that competes on a good price point with gasser cars is to forego a lot of what you expect from a car. My dad just bought an electric bus for commuting duty. Cost half-a-Corolla, but range is limited to around 40 miles, and the body structure is reminiscent of a ten-seat golf cart. No aircon, little weather protection, and no conduction plates yet (though I'm assured they're coming).

In no way would this car meet the requirements of modern motoring. It'd score a zero on the Euro-NCAP, it can't even hit 60 mph, and... again... there's no air-conditioning (though there is a radio). Drives nicely, though. And for anyone who doesn't have to drive more than twenty miles a day, it's perfect.

----

I'd love to drive the MINI E... 0-62 in 8.5 seconds? That's sounds like fun.

 

[Robin]

Looks nice apart from the horrible logo, graphics and paint job.. You would have thought it could do better than 150 miles.

Robin

 

[Omnis]

Wouldn't it make more sense to put the speedo at the steering wheel and the battery level in the middle?

 

[Joey D]

Wouldn't it make more sense to put the speedo at the steering wheel and the battery level in the middle?

No, they would have to redesign a major part of the car. Plus the little digital screen on the battery monitor will display the speed as well.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

No, they would have to redesign a major part of the car. Plus the little digital screen on the battery monitor will display the speed as well.

They would?

Hmm, could've sworn most gauges were electronic now days, seems like it wouldn't be exactly a massive undertaking.

 

[Joey D]

They would?

Hmm, could've sworn most gauges were electronic now days, seems like it wouldn't be exactly a massive undertaking.

Yes, the radio and OBC are in the giant speedo on the dash. You wouldn't really want a battery metre the size of the sun since that wouldn't do you any good, not to mention not go with the retro theme, so you would have to redesign that area to fit a smaller gauge. Eve if you left it the same it would be a pain to try to come up with something to fill that space effectively. Where it is is fine, you don't need a tach in an EV.

I suppose they could have used the touch screen to do a Prius like display but that would have sucked energy.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Still wouldn't be too hard to change the gauge face itself and the gauge.

 

[Joey D]

Still wouldn't be too hard to change the gauge face itself and the gauge.

I'm not saying it would be hard, to change it and still have it look good would be the difficult part. I mean why on earth would you want a battery gauge that big?

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Why on earth would you want a speedo that big by the same token?

 

[Joey D]

Why on earth would you want a speedo that big by the same token?

Have you ever seen the classic Cooper? It's along the same lines, just with a bigger car everything was made bigger. The speedo also incorporates the OBC and the radio so that also adds to the size. I agree it's huge, but if you own a Cooper it doesn't really bother you.

 

[Tornado]

I mean why on earth would you want a battery gauge that big?

In an electric car I'd imagine the battery gauge is vaguely more important than the speedometer.

 

[Joey D]

In an electric car I'd imagine the battery gauge is vaguely more important than the speedometer.

Why? It's no more or less important then the fuel gauge in a normal car yet the battery gauge is much larger then the fuel gauge. I fail to see your point.

 

[Omnis]

Why on earth would you want a speedo that big by the same token?

I was just going to post that.

That giant speedo is astoundingly ugly, imo. I would put the smaller battery gauge in the middle and then move the airvents up and to the middle so that they're not blowing on your knuckles. Airvents right behind the steering wheel are okay if you use heat most of the time, but for cold a/c it's terrible.

 

[Joey D]

I was just going to post that.

That giant speedo is astoundingly ugly, imo. I would put the smaller battery gauge in the middle and then move the airvents up and to the middle so that they're not blowing on your knuckles. Airvents right behind the steering wheel are okay if you use heat most of the time, but for cold a/c it's terrible.

Once again that would be a major re-design of an already existing product, which wouldn't be economical. And I've never once had a problem with my heat or A/C in my car and the vents are the same way. The only problem is the heater takes a long time to actually get hot, well at least compared to the Blazer.

 

[Tornado]

Why? It's no more or less important then the fuel gauge in a normal car yet the battery gauge is much larger then the fuel gauge.

Its far more important, as this has way less range than a normal Mini; and its refueling times are much longer and it is harder to find places to actually perform them.
Personally, I don't care, nor do I think it is much of an issue. But in an electric car, knowing how much battery life is left is considerably more important than how fast you are going, so I understand where Omnis and Rotary Junkie are coming from.
Also:

Once again that would be a major re-design of an already existing product, which wouldn't be economical.

That isn't true, nor would it be relevant if it was.

 

[Joey D]

What Omnis is suggesting is a major redesign, if you don't think redesigning the dash is a major thing then you should get a job in the automotive industry.

 

[Tornado]

What Omnis is suggesting is a major redesign, if you don't think redesigning the dash is a major thing then you should get a job in the automotive industry.

They don't have to redesign the dash to change what the readout says and change the radio shape. Furthermore, your contention about cost effectiveness doesn't apply, as unless BMW charges outrageous prices for this thing (I'm thinking similar lease price to an average Lexus), they will be losing money on it anyways.

 

[Joey D]

They don't have to redesign the dash to change what the readout says and change the radio shape. Furthermore, your contention about cost effectiveness doesn't apply, as unless BMW charges outrageous prices for this thing (I'm thinking similar lease price to an average Lexus), they will be losing money on it anyways.

Making a smaller gauge a moving airvents around isn't a major redesign? Seriously?

 

[Tornado]

Moving airvents is. Messing with the gauges isn't unless you make it do so.

 

[Joey D]

Moving airvents is. Messing with the gauges isn't unless you make it do so.

Read what he's saying then. He is suggesting moving airvents around.

 

[Omnis]

Read what he's saying then. He is suggesting moving airvents around.

Yeah, I am. But not as something they should've done on this particular Mini. That was just a general comment that, were I in charge of design, that would be how I would've had it.