MINI Scooter Concept Revealed (Official Photos)
A fully electric scooter with an integrated motor in the hub of the rear wheel and a retractable power cord. How cool is that? Oh and it’s from MINI? Even better. MINI is taking the brand to new places with the MINI Scooter E concept. But the best part is that this is looked at as more than a concept within BMW and MINI. The brand is focused on not only carrying on the tradition of the MINI brand but extending its core ideals into new categories that have never been thought of. We’ve seen this in marketing, now with the Scooter E, we’re seeing this in product.
The Scooter E will be fully unveiled in the coming days at the Paris Motor Show and much attention will be focused on consumer reaction. However internally many at BMW and MINI are betting that the idea will be quickly championed by the press and public as a new sustainable way to travel in urban environs.
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The scooter (which will come in three varieties as seen above) is powered by a lithion-ion battery and an electric brushless motor that can be charged using a standard power outlet. The three versions differ in color scheme and some design details:
– There’s the 60’s mod style modeled after the Who’s cult film Quadrophenia
– A BRG version that’s full of traditional MINI cues
– A MINI E version with bright yellow/green accents
The scooter’s main instrumentation comes courtesy of the rider’s iPhone which docks into the scooter itself. All the normal scooter display functions will be there along with entertainment and navigation options.
We’re hearing a range of around 60 miles on full charge with “acceptable” recharge times (whatever that means) meant for charging overnight or at work
Alongside the three scooter concepts will be the first public unveiling of the MINI WRC Countryman. The show starts October 2nd but press days begin next Wednesday the 29th of September. Look for a full gallery of all concepts on MF around that time.
(top images courtesy of biglobgg)
<p>Again, depending on the price point, that BRG with a proportional Viper stripes might be in my future.</p>
<p>Overall, the i like the exaggerated proportions found in the sketches (particularly the rear-3/4), but good stuff.</p>
<p>Very Cool Concept, although the one with the Roundel is a bit much for my taste.</p>
<p>I just read elsewhere that the scooter uses iPhone integration for critical functions, and it has a range of 60 miles.</p>
<p>What is with all the iPhone integration? There are other phones out there!</p>
<p>Love the E version!</p>
<p>@ Pipe,</p>
<p>Apple and MINI have been working together because Apple wants to get the iPhone everywhere. It has been said here time and time again that Apple has been the most open in development of MINI Connected. I guess some of it is that it is a closed system and it is easier to work with, Apple makes the hardware, the OS and MINI can do the programming. It is not so with Android or others.</p>
<p>(Promise, my last post for this story :-)</p>
<p>So, if you’re not convinced that electric power is going to be the real deal, alternative-wise, check out this story on Chip Yates’ electric superbike; <a href="http://electrovelocity.com/2010/09/21/chip-yates-and-his-194hp-electric-superbike/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://electrovelocity.com/2010/09/21/chip-yates-and-his-194hp-electric-superbike/</a></p>
<p>I suspect the iPhone integration is because 1) they’re popular, and 2) they have a uniform interface and OS, and are therefore easy to connect with. That’s a winning combination. You can’t say the same thing for Android, for example, which is an ecosystem with variables determined by carrier and handset manufacturer. It’s a bit of a mess, just like the PC ecosystem has always been. Blackberries are as uniform as Apple’s product, but who wants to connect a Blackberry to their vehicle anyway? ;)</p>
<p>Hmm…now just make it cheaper than a Vespa with a 200cc engine and they have me…</p>
<p>But how am I going to affix my Grille Badges???</p>
<p>I suppose this is one way to lower the average weight of your vehicular portfolio. Alas, I drive on the Interstate, and thus this sorta concept is rather pointless for me. IMO MINI should be using their resources fixing the current gen’s steering feel problems and federalizing the Cooper Diesel.</p>
<p>The WRC car, however, will be fun to see!</p>
<p>These things are great-looking scooters. As the sort of urban-dweller that they seem to be targeting, though, I’d have to go with the Vespa for the simple reason that like most urbanites, I have to rely on street parking, and so I couldn’t plug it in at night. If they could have invented a way for the battery to come off the bike so you could take it inside to charge it up, that would have been pretty interesting. (Probably still not enough to keep me away from a Vespa were I so inclined, though.)</p>
<p>Sweet, Mod or MINI E paint job for me please. Now bring on that WRC car.</p>
<p>@ Sideways Eh! Grill Stickers…;-)</p>
<p>Lots more here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.netcarshow.com/mini/2010-scooter_e_concept/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.netcarshow.com/mini/2010-scooter_e_concept/</a></p>
<p>Ok. Ok. That’s enough talk about scooters. Back to the cars.</p>
<p>ooooooooooohhhhhh, I love it!</p>
<p>Will it come in a JCW version?</p>
<blockquote> <b>Ryephile</b> IMO MINI should be using their resources fixing the current gen’s steering feel problems.</blockquote>
<p>Seconded.</p>
<p>Here is a vid of the concept:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.golem.de/1009/78202.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.golem.de/1009/78202.html</a></p>