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2020 Mini Cooper SE promises electrified 'go-kart feeling'

Mini calls its new Cooper SE "the first solely electrically powered model of the British brand." We're pretty sure that the 500 U.S. owners of the Mini E from 2008 would disagree, but there's no questioning the fact that this new Cooper SE is a better vehicle and one that was designed from the get-go to incorporate batteries and an electric motor. That electric motor sends 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque right from zero rpm to the front wheels. We expect the motor is borrowed from the rear-wheel-drive BMW i3s. Mini says the Cooper SE is limited to a top speed of 93 miles per hour, that it'll do 0-62 miles per hour in 7.3 seconds and that its "innovative driving dynamics system with wheel slip limiting close to the actuator" (whatever that means) will offer "particularly intense and unmistakable agility, known as the go-kart feeling." We look forward to driving the Cooper SE and putting those statements to the test. The Cooper SE offers four driving modes: Sport, Mid, Green and Green+, in descending order of sporty to efficient. There are also two levels of brake regeneration. A 6.5-inch screen (a larger 8.8-inch unit is optional) inside displays powertrain information and offers suggestions to improve efficiency, and the standard navigation system features a range circle so drivers know how far they can travel at the current state of charge. Power comes from a 32.6-kWh lithium ion battery pack that Mini says is "situated deep in the vehicle floor" to ensure a low center of gravity and luggage space that's equal to the gas-powered version. Mini quotes a range of 235 to 270 kilometers (146 to 168 miles) "based on the new WLTP test cycle and adapted to NEDC for comparison purposes." We can expect official U.S. range figures to be down a bit from there. Suffice it to say, the Cooper SE won't come close to the 226 miles of range offered by the Nissan Leaf E+, let alone the 238 of the Chevy Bolt or 258 of the Hyundai Kona Electric. It's easy to tell the Cooper SE apart from gas-powered Minis. The grille has a much smaller opening than other Mini models — the electric powertrain doesn't have the same airflow requirements as a gas engine — and the bodywork is highlighted with yellow accents on the grille, wheels and mirror caps. Plus there's a cute little plug icon on the tailgate near the Union Jack-shaped taillights. The charge port is located just above the passenger-side rear wheel, right where the standard model's gas cap would be found.

Will the Mini John Cooper Works GP get an electric sidekick?

Mini will beat most of its rivals to the burgeoning electric hot hatch segment by releasing a battery-powered variant of the John Cooper Works GP, according to a recent report. If the rumor is accurate, the British brand's second series-produced electric car will also become one of the quickest models it has ever put its name on. Enthusiast website Motoring File spotted what looks suspiciously like an electric John Cooper Works GP testing in Germany, and unnamed sources who are allegedly familiar with the company's plans confirmed the model is currently being evaluated. None of the insiders said the model has been confirmed for production, however. It's too early to tell what will power the electric GP, or how closely it will be related to the Cooper SE. We're curious to find out how Mini will offset the battery's weight; the gasoline-powered GP (pictured) tips the scale at 2,855 pounds, while the SE weighs in at 3,153 pounds. Granted, a generous amount of instant torque can help the hatchback overcome its extra pounds, but masking it on a twisty road will require serious chassis wizardry. If the rumor is true, we'll learn more about Mini's next electric model in the coming months. It might arrive in showrooms in 2022, likely priced above $50,000 and possibly as a limited-edition model. For context, the existing GP is limited to 3,000 units worldwide, and pricing starts at $45,750. Mini made its commitment to electrification clear when it pegged its future on crossovers, the Chinese market, and electric cars. It confirmed it's developing an electric crossover that will be about as big as the Countryman, and it stressed electrification will spread across its range in the coming years. It's not planning on ditching gasoline- and diesel-powered engines soon, though; it wants to give customers what it calls the power of choice. Who else is in the game? Electrification still hasn't reached hot hatch land, and Mini's rumored electric GP would be one of the first cars of its kind. Volkswagen has often hinted it wants to build a spicier version of the Golf-sized ID.3 sold in Europe, but we haven't seen the model yet; the firm is understandably allocating its resources to ramping up production of volume-oriented models, like the ID.4 crossover. Across the pond, Renault transformed the humble Zoe into a 460-horsepower, four-wheel drive superhatch in 2017, but the project fizzled before it spawned a production car.

David Brown's Mini eMastered puts an electric spin on a British icon

England-based David Brown Automotive specializes in giving classic Mini models the resto-mod treatment; it's to the British icon what Singer is to Porsche. The firm has primarily worked on gasoline-powered cars, but it's branching out into electric vehicles with the Mini eMastered. Starting with a classic Mini shell, David Brown Automotive rips out the four-cylinder engine and the transmission it sits over — this clever layout is part of how Sir Alec Issigonis packaged four seats and a trunk in just 120 inches — and replaces it with an electric motor. The motor draws electricity from an 18.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack to zap the front wheels with about 97 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque. Like most modern electric cars, the Mini eMastered features a regenerative braking system that converts kinetic energy into electricity that gets sent back to the battery pack. David Brown quotes an 8.5-second zero-to-60-mph time and a top speed that's electronically limited to 92 mph. Driving range checks in at up to 110 miles, which won't earn the coveted "long-range" label but should be enough considering the eMastered was envisioned primarily as a city car, and charging the battery pack takes about three hours. The little EV weighs 1,410 pounds; using a small battery helps keeps that figure in check. For context, the original Mini released in 1959 weighed approximately 1,279 pounds. The model shown in David Brown's pictures features an updated exterior design characterized by beige paint with a contrasting brown roof, an aftermarket grille, LED headlights, and new-look rear lights. Inside, it's 100% modern: the brand adds a touchscreen-based infotainment system, air conditioning, and a surround-sound system made up of four speakers, which underlines just how small these cars. However, the sky is the limit when it comes to customization options. Well, realistically, your wallet is the limit: anything is possible if you can pay for it. On sale now, the David Brown Automotive Mini eMastered starts at GBP125,000 excluding taxes and shipping, which represents approximately $155,000 at the current conversion rate. In comparison, the gasoline-powered Mini Remastered carries a base price of under $100,000. Related Video This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.