Every Electric MINI to Eventually Have Two Variants
BMW’s Chief Development Officer Klaus Fröhlich has a German language interview in a recent AutoGazzette where he openly discusses the future of electric MINI and BMWs. One of the more interesting nuggets his the statement that every MINI and BMW will be designed from the ground up to be either electric or petrol powered. Perhaps even more interesting (it’s the first time we’ve seen it officially mentioned) is that every electric MINI will have two performance variants. Much like the Cooper and Cooper S, BMW is planning an entry level model with less range and a performance model version longer range.
One thing to keep in mind is that the initial electric MINI (officially to be called the MINI Cooper E) will arrive with one variant. MINI may wait for its next generation model which will be designed from the ground up to better accommodate an electric power-train.
Fröhlich went onto say that BMW and MINI are now on their 4th generation of electric powertrains while other manufacturers are still in pilot mode.
Of course much of this is due to the lessons learned from the original MINI E and the BMW i3 and i8.
The MINI Cooper E will debut next year and will go onsale in Q4 of 2019. Pricing will be announced next year.
<p>I’m happy for the confirmation on the new platform, too bad that they couldn’t manage to make the 2020 MINI-e right the first time. I’m still guessing that it will have a max of 200-250km (EPA).</p>
<p>They really shouldn’t gloat about their 4th generation EV if their second electric MINI is essentially the same as their first – just with new electronics.</p>
<p>It wont stop me from grabbing the first to Canada though. I can’t wait.</p>
<p>Join us on the journey to the MINI Cooper E at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/MINIelectric" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.facebook.com/groups/MINIelectric</a></p>
<p>According to sources, MINI will launch the Cooper E on August 26, 2019 – to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the launch of the original Classic Mini in 1959.</p>
<p>For me range will be important and time to recharge. I commute from country to city (248km) and back again.It may not have the range and quick recharge to be practical.</p>
<p>If it does then what is performance like. Electric is suppose to kill combustion engines. Lastly tech specs for recharging at home for solar and battery requirements.
Then price $ or $$$?</p>
<p>I am looking forward but expecting to be disappointed on at least one criteria.</p>