Photo: MINI
The 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show will be remembered as the time when almost all the major carmakers presented all-electric concepts of vehicles that, for a change, would actually go into production relatively soon.
Jaguar is bringing its I-Pace electric crossover/SUV thingy, Mercedes-Benz is confirmed to show a compact car (probably a hatchback) that would sit beside the Generation EQ SUV, while Audi's stand will host the e-tron quattro, the first battery-powered SUV bearing the four-rings logo of many to follow.
BMW couldn't sit this one out without its image taking a blow, so it will showcase the first in a series of announced electric versions of the vehicles it already sells. Actually, BMW calls this the MINI Electric Concept, but if you squint your eyes looking at it, you can see it's just a three-door MINI Cooper with EV-friendly modifications and a few embellishments.
It would appear the promised electric MINI will feature the same hexagonal grille, only blocked for better aerodynamics. That's a theme that runs throughout the entire front end of the MINI Electric Concept, with almost no air vents left channel the air toward the now non-existent radiators.
The paint scheme chose by MINI is similar to the matte gray with bright yellow accents seen on the old MINI E prototype, only this time the yellow is much brighter. The wheel design is also specific to electric vehicles, but MINI managed to keep it exciting despite the very low square-footage of the perforations.
We know nothing at the moment about what the company has in mind for the concept's powertrain, but considering how fun the MINI E was and how fun the BMW i3 still is, we have no concerns there. It won't be a Tesla-beater in terms of performances but expect it to give the Chevrolet Bolt/Opel Ampera-e a run for its money.
“With its characteristic go-kart feeling and powerful electric motor, the MINI Electric Concept is great fun to drive while also being completely suitable for everyday use – and producing zero emissions to boot. That’s how we at MINI envisage electric mobility in tomorrow’s world,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad.
Ever since its resurgence under BMW, MINI has always seemed to focus on fun, and we see no reason for its electric vehicles not to follow the same recipe. The only real questions now are how expensive it will be, and how far it will be able to go on a single charge? If MINI gets these right (though we have our doubts regarding the former), then pretty soon (that'll be 2019) we'll be able to welcome the world's first funky-but-not-butt-ugly EV.
BMW couldn't sit this one out without its image taking a blow, so it will showcase the first in a series of announced electric versions of the vehicles it already sells. Actually, BMW calls this the MINI Electric Concept, but if you squint your eyes looking at it, you can see it's just a three-door MINI Cooper with EV-friendly modifications and a few embellishments.
It would appear the promised electric MINI will feature the same hexagonal grille, only blocked for better aerodynamics. That's a theme that runs throughout the entire front end of the MINI Electric Concept, with almost no air vents left channel the air toward the now non-existent radiators.
The paint scheme chose by MINI is similar to the matte gray with bright yellow accents seen on the old MINI E prototype, only this time the yellow is much brighter. The wheel design is also specific to electric vehicles, but MINI managed to keep it exciting despite the very low square-footage of the perforations.
We know nothing at the moment about what the company has in mind for the concept's powertrain, but considering how fun the MINI E was and how fun the BMW i3 still is, we have no concerns there. It won't be a Tesla-beater in terms of performances but expect it to give the Chevrolet Bolt/Opel Ampera-e a run for its money.
“With its characteristic go-kart feeling and powerful electric motor, the MINI Electric Concept is great fun to drive while also being completely suitable for everyday use – and producing zero emissions to boot. That’s how we at MINI envisage electric mobility in tomorrow’s world,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad.
Ever since its resurgence under BMW, MINI has always seemed to focus on fun, and we see no reason for its electric vehicles not to follow the same recipe. The only real questions now are how expensive it will be, and how far it will be able to go on a single charge? If MINI gets these right (though we have our doubts regarding the former), then pretty soon (that'll be 2019) we'll be able to welcome the world's first funky-but-not-butt-ugly EV.
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