The first electric series Mini was expensive and ultimately no longer competitive with its small battery. This did not detract from its success, after all around 20 percent of all Mini three-door models had the electric drive. The next edition improves on the battery, so it should charge faster and be at least as fun to drive as its predecessor. We were already able to do a first lap with the future top model Mini Cooper SE.
Key technical data of the Mini Cooper
The key technical data have been known since the beginning of March. There will be two drives and two battery sizes. The basic model Cooper E already offers 135 kW of power, the energy content in the storage is 40 kWh. In the Cooper SE top model, the driver can access 160 kW, the battery has a capacity of 54 kWh. The memory is thus significantly larger than before. The maximum range in the WLTP should be 450 km. So far, the peak was reached at 50 kW charging capacity, here we expect at least twice that. BMW has not yet given any official data.
Quieter in the border area
The Mini Cooper SE was available for a first test lap on a racetrack and normal roads. Despite the wet asphalt and temperatures just above zero degrees Celsius, the test car hardly had any problems putting its 160 kW on the road. The traction, according to the first impression, is above average. Although the steering is designed to be direct and accurate, only a few drive influences get through. The progress compared to the current model is unmistakable. When braking, the new Mini is smoother on the road than its predecessor. If you push the prototype of the Mini Cooper SE into the limit area in a curve, the rear can be easily caught before the control systems have to intervene.
The chassis is a little more comfortable than before on normal roads, and is easily recognizable on surfaces in need of renovation. Here, the next Mini skilfully intercepts more than its predecessor without sacrificing agility. This speaks for a very careful tuning of suspension and damping, which is rare in this class.
Strong in the beginning
As expected, the progress in the drive is small. Sure, with the 160 kW of the top model, the small car accelerates a little more vehemently than with the 135 kW of the previous Mini Cooper SE or the new basic model. In view of what is already possible there in this respect, the step towards top-of-the-line engines seems almost a bit exaggerated. Because both unfold their real charm less about the possible, absolute driving performance and more about their acceleration, which can be called up at any time without delay. And that is enormous in both variants.
(Image: press inform)
The interior of the test car was still heavily camouflaged. What can already be said: The large display in the middle obviously offers a higher resolution than before. The display looks very sharp. BMW’s decision to show the head-up display on a small, extendable pane doesn’t really fit in with this. A bow to the spirit of the times should also be the omission of the optional leather seats. In this respect, the customer only has the choice between fabric and imitation leather.
He remains expensive
In the future, the electric mini will come from China, where it will roll off the assembly line at Great Wall. It preserves the successful retro design and will also follow the brand’s traditional path when it comes to pricing. We expect around 40,000 euros for the better equipped basic model than before. The Mini may be a small car, but it is still aimed at a group of interested parties who consciously want to afford the luxury claim formulated by BMW. The buyers can perhaps console themselves with the fact that the sober relationship between performance and price is a little less bad than before.
(mfz)
