The 2020 Electric MINI to be a Performance Minded Hot Hatch
According to our sources and now Autocar, MINI is positioning it’s 2020 electric MINI has a performance minded hot hatch. This is rather unique in the marketplace and should set the electric MINI apart from most of its competition.
This intent has been known for awhile but Autocar has a few more details through their sources. While they’re not details we have confirmed yet they are tantalizing. For one we’ve heard for some time that the name of the car will be the Mini Cooper E. Autocar believes that the performance levels of the car will justify a Cooper S moniker. Thus the name will be the MINI Cooper S E.
As we know the car will be based on the current (UKL) MINI hatch and modified to accept batteries in the center and rear of the car. We also know that MINI will be using the BMW i3s 181 hp powertrain (which we tested last year) and offers 11 hp than the standard i3.
2020 Electric MINI – Performance
According to sources of ours that have driven the car its performance is somewhat surprising and definitely addicting. The instant and abundant torque of the electric engine is help alleviate the added weight of the batteries giving the car a more performance feel. This should result in similar 0-60 times than the current Cooper S.
We expect the battery packs and electric engine to add 600-800 pounds to the 2600 lbs curb weight of the F56. BMW has a long history of being able to mask weight with proper suspension tuning but that will be a tough hurdle to overcome. In our review of the original MINI E, the added weight was immediately recognizable yet it didn’t kill the MINI experience in terms of handling.
2020 Electric MINI – The Range Question
Autocar is quoting sources as saying the MINI Cooper E S will see a 200 mile range. We think that’s pretty optimistic given the i3 (which will surely be a lighter car with at least an equivalent battery count) got only about 120 miles in real world testing. 200 miles might be possible if MINI is using a newer battery technology like Samsung’s new Low Height Pack 125-Ah cells to allow for more density. We also know that 200 miles plus was the original intent of the project so there’s a change that BMW might have found a way. Here’s the hoping.
In terms of charging we know that BMW and MINI will adopt 150kW charging in the future. This would allow for a dramatically quicker charge than an existing i3 (or equivalent electric vehicles) when paired with quick charge stations. However we don’t expect this to be ready in time for the MINI Cooper S E.
2020 Electric MINI – The Reveal.
MINI is putting an enormous effort into making this first electric MINI something that feels like a reflection of the brand through and through. Making it a performance hot hatch is one aspect of that. Another is the designer which we expect to be very similar to the current model with some specific trim giving the car a unique look.
While it’s too early to talk about pricing, Autocar contemplates it’ll be around the 30,000 GBP mark in the UK. With some fuzzy math (which is the only way to translate costs like that from one market to the next) we could see US pricing near $40k.
<blockquote>We also know that MINI will be using the BMW i3s 181 hp powertrain (which we tested last year) which is 11 hp than the standard i3.</blockquote>
<p>A word or two missing here, I believe.</p>
<blockquote>Autocar is quoting sources as saying the MINI Cooper E S will see a 200 mile range. We think that’s pretty optimistic given the i3 (which will surely be a lighter car with at least an equivalent battery count) got only about 120 miles in real world testing. 200 miles might be possible if MINI is using a newer battery technology like Samsung’s new Low Height Pack 125-Ah cells to allow for more density. We also know that 200 miles plus was the original intent of the project so there’s a change that BMW might have found a way. Here’s the hoping.</blockquote>
<p>The 2019 i3 is getting the new 120 Ah batteries, which is bumping the range from 114 miles to 153 miles.</p>
<p>Even with the new batteries, the MINI isn’t going to get to 200 miles EPA range without putting in 30% more batteries than the i3.</p>
<p>Honestly, I don’t think 200 miles EPA is necessary IF you have fast charging, so hopefully the MINI E will charge faster than the i3’s 50kW, but I’m not holding my breath.</p>
<p>150 miles of range and only 50kW charging would make attending MTTS very difficult, if not impossible. At up to ~400 miles of driving per day, you’d need a full charge every night, plus probably 3 stops along the way of 45 minutes or an hour… and those stops have to a) exist and b) be spaced such that they work for a car with 150 miles of range. If you can’t make the distance between DC Fast chargers, now you’ve added additional 3+ hours to your trip charging on 240V.</p>
<p>Here’s hoping for 100kW+ charging!</p>
<blockquote>Honestly, I don’t think 200 miles EPA is necessary IF you have fast charging, so hopefully the MINI E will charge faster than the i3’s 50kW, but I’m not holding my breath.</blockquote>
<p>Completely agree – range isn’t as much of an issue as it used to be given the proliferation of chargers. It’s the ability to charge quickly that will allow for wider adoption of electric vehicles. That’s why I’ve pressed our sources on that aspect of the car. So far they’ve been very limited with their info in that aspect of the car.</p>
<p>Yeah, on a car like a MINI, even if they could fit, I wouldn’t want to drag around 300 miles worth of batteries at the current weight and cost.</p>
<p>Just give me 150 miles and 100kW+ charging and I’ll do 70-120 mile hops between Electrify America chargers.</p>
<p>I really hope they do it, but the 50kW charging on the 2019 i3 isn’t making me optimistic.</p>
<p>Hopefully the pressure from you and others pushes them to provide the faster charging. 50kW just isn’t good enough for a BEV that one intends to use for trips, IMO. Furthermore, it makes charging more expensive because Electrify America charges by the minute.</p>
<p>I think realistically the MINI should be able to do 200 miles or close to it. My 2014 i3 REx with the original 22kWh battery did 98.2 miles in a mix of city and highway driving no problem a year or two into ownership. The magic 100 number was very achievable with judicious use of the throttle and switch to ECO PRO / + modes. Given a capacity of 42.2 kWh (shared with the 2019 i3 and i3s) and perhaps greater weight due to the use of non-CFRP materials but slightly smaller overall size, range should be more than adequate in most cases although more range is always appreciated. I have 80K miles, have lost 20-25% of my capacity, and it’s winter so the max is a bit lower right now…</p>
<p>I’m sure it will <em>theoretically</em> be able to do 200 miles. I’ve done over 100 in my 22kWh i3, also. But, my point was that it won’t be EPA rated anywhere near 200 miles if it has the same battery capacity of a 2019 i3 that’s rated at 153 miles EPA.</p>
<p>Any word on whether the electric models will be able to shrink the front overhang?</p>
<p>And on a less serious note, will there be a manual option for driving enthusiasts who like to be engaged while they drive?</p>
<p>You are far more engaged in driving when your 2 hands are on the steering wheel (the Mini is all about turns)</p>
<p>Agreed.</p>
<p>I would imagine it will be a single speed transmission, but maybe it will be a two speed.</p>
<p>I bet that the front overhang could be reduced, but I doubt they will because there would be so many new parts and testing required for the new front end. Fingers crossed though – less overhang would be a big win and we know from previous MF articles that the Mini designers know the overhang is a problem.</p>
<p>The simple answer to both questions is no.</p>
<p>The Cooper S E by BMW’s own admission is a low budget exercise, due to the life expectancy of the aging F56, and so only minimal essential changes to the F56 body shell have be made. The cost of re-engineering the front overhang would have beeen prohibitively expensive.</p>
<p>Similarly, the cost of engineering a manual gearbox for the Cooper S E, which in any case would add unecessary complexity and weight, makes it a non starter.</p>
<p>Sorry to be a killjoy :)</p>