To round out today’s coverage of the Scooter E we’re happy to present you a thorough look at the concept with an extended interview with Adrian Van Hooydonk and a close look at the little design details and features that make these scooters so interesting. If you’ve missed some of our previous coverage of the concept, check out all the details on the Scooter E section of MF.
A lot of MINI fans have probably been scratching their heads these past few days as more and more details emerge on the MINI Scooter E Concept bikes. Why the heck would MINI want to build a scooter anyway? The PR has revealed a handful of reasons, and we have our theories, which on balance make a lot of sense for bringing something like this to market. Let’s start at the source, another video from BMW Design Head Adrian Van Hooydonk (above).
Beginning with the obvious, BMW has a deep history with motorcycles. Expanding into scooters is a logical diversification and leveraging the MINI brand to do that makes sense on several levels. Firstly, a scooter is to a motorcycle what a MINI is to a conventional car. They’re trim. They’re light. They’re efficient. They’re surprisingly quick. They’re stylish. They’re approachable. They’re not all things to all people. Secondly, and I think more interestingly, Britain has a rich scooter history rooted most iconically in the Mod movement of the ’60s. Mr. Van Hooydonk mentions this specifically and it’s an obvious thread woven throughout the design language. That intersection of fashion and statement-making transportation dovetails perfectly into what the modern MINI has come to stand for in the automotive world. continued →
It’s an incredible concept that, until now, has been shrouded in some mystery. BMW Group Design head Adrian Van Hooydonk unlocks some of that mystery by explaining the concept, the drivetrain and the three directions in the video above. Below we also have a full gallery of new images and another more brief (i.e. readable) press release.
Official Release: Iconic British brand MINI unveils its exciting MINI Scooter E Concept today in London. This new design study represents the MINI design team’s unparalleled expertise in recognising the challenges for mobility in major urban areas, and meeting these challenges with the development of stylish, innovative and sustainable future-focused vehicle concepts. The MINI Scooter E Concept comes almost ten years to the day since the new MINI was first shown at the Paris Motor Show. continued →
[UPDATE] We’re having trouble verifying these numbers with the official BMW press information. We published a range figure of around 60 mile in yesterday’s post based on inside sources (not
confirmed) but have yet to hear anything further. We’ll let you know if we get any kind of confirmation on the top speed.
Dubbed MINI Scooter E Concept, the model is e two-wheeler electric scooter. The electric motor is placed behind the rear wheel, and its fuel autonomy is estimated at around 62 miles. Top speed is 31 mph.
Bummer. It’s a bit of a disappointment, frankly. These numbers mean that this scooter is fully MINI in aesthetics, but less so in performance. While the 31 mph top speed places this scooter concept in what is arguably the most accessible conventional scooter speed range (50cc), it really limits where this vehicle can realistically travel. Though you’d be cruising in style, you’d be relegated to only the most urban of downtown avenues or the sleepy streets of your favorite suburb. The upside? In most states you’d be road legal with just your driver’s license — no motorcycle endorsement required. The 62 mile range is impressive and would be more than adequate for the urban commute plus plenty of nonchalant shopping, even if you couldn’t get there in much of a hurry. Here’s hoping for a future JCW version with a bit more oomph!
During August production MINI made a major mistake with a handful of cars destined for the US. The cars were built with a display, but without MINI Connected. These cars were supposed to receive standard Boost CD radio system, but instead they were equipped with a high-resolution “MINI Visual Boost” screen, Combox Controller, Comfort Bluetooth, Smartphone Integration and a Center Arm rest. The best part? Because the option isn’t really an option it’s listed as no cost on the vehicle sticker. continued →
It looks like MINI’s Scooter E will have some competition next week at the Paris Motor Show. Photos of a Smart E-Scooter concept have popped up across the internet. Like the MINI Scooter E, the Smart E-Scooter boasts fully electric drive, lithium-ions for juice, smart phone integration and ambitious design. Where the Smart concept departs is in its more outlandish details. continued →
MINI has released official details along with more photos of the MINI Scooter E Concept. While performance and range details remain a mystery, the press release goes into extensive detail on the inspirations of the MINI design team, as well as specific design cues crafted into these scooters to tie in with the MINI fleet. Beyond design language, however, MINI has chosen to integrate whole functional systems from the R56 and the Countryman alike. Most notably, a scooter version of MINI Connected integrating a smart phone directly into the speedometer, and a Countryman-style aluminum center rail system down the inside center of the leg shield. The smart phone connectivity would feature both navigation and location-based social media functionality, and the center rail accessories are designed to work on both the Scooter E and the Countryman. It’s clear to us that a lot of thinking and development has gone into this concept, which bodes well for it seeing the light of production. Here’s hoping. The full release is after the break and look for our full analysis in the coming days.
1st Gen MINI R50: One & MC Hatch R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt. R53: MCS Hatch 2nd Gen MINI R55: Clubman R56: Hatch R57: Convertible R58: Coupe R59: Roadster R60: MINI Crossover R61: MINI Crossover Coupe 3rd Gen MINI F55: Clubman F56: Hatch F57: Convertible F60: MINI Crossover F62: Traveller
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Sections: Scooter Concept, Video Sep 23rd, 2010 7 Comments 
