Exclusive: MINI Cooper S E Pricing, Battery Specs and other Details
We’ve seen read about pre-production drives and even seen the MINI Cooper S E completely undisguised. Yet quite a lot remains a mystery about MINI’s first mass produced electric car. Until now. Through sources we’ve unearthed key details on the MINI Cooper S E that gives us our best view of the car ahead of its launch later this year.
2020 MINI Cooper SE – Battery & Performance
According to sources the MINI Cooper S E will pack a 92Ah battery and not the 94Ah in the i3. In other words this is not the same pack in the i3 but an entirely different one from a different manufacturer (CATL and not Samsung). Sources tell us that this battery pack is less temperature sensitive and should produce more range than the 94Ah found in the BMW i3.
Officially the MCSE tops out at 100 mph and does 0-62 in 7.7 seconds. However more importantly we’ve been quietly told by those who have driven it that it’s a surprisingly fun car to drive and might just be the fastest MINI around an auto cross when it’s released later this year.
2020 MINI Cooper S E – Charging
Our sources are vague here but we’re told the Cooper S E will have a standard AC/DC charging which allows for fast charger use. We’re told that this will translate into 40 minutes for an 80 percent charge when hooked up to a 50 kW D/C charger.
2020 MINI Cooper S E – Size and Space
If you noticed the excessive wheel gap on spy photos we write about earlier this week you have a good eye. MINI has raised the car 1.5cm to allow for the battery to not interfere with the interior volume of the car. Shockingly sources tell us that the F56 doesn’t lose any boot space in the transition to electric. With this change MINI has also subtle widened the wheel arches so its not as obvious of a change.
2020 MINI Cooper S E – Exterior Design
The car is exactly we you see above. That means MINI has made only very small tweaks to the MCSE over the standard car focuses it’s resources on the drivetrain.
Based on earlier comments the one area of contention so far are the standard 17” wheels. It’s worth noting that other MINI wheels will be optional.
2020 MINI Cooper S E – Options and Pricing
Pricing for the MCSE has been subject to intense debate for years. MINI has told us that it will be close to an automatic Cooper S and we can now report that’s absolutely true. In Europe the MINI Cooper S E will retail for 28.000€ without taxes. It’s worth noting that we’re told that price will vary slightly depending on region. While we don’t have any specific US market information we’d expect something around $29,000
For that price MINI will be packing a fair amount of standard equipment on the MCSE. Look for LED headlights and taillights along with the all new digital dash as standard. In Europe MINI will be using a simplified package offering of “S”, “M” and “L”. It’s unclear if that approach will make it to North America at this time.
The MINI Cooper S E will debut later this year with deliveries beginning in November for Europe and early 2020 for North America.
<p>It looks great and priced right, performance seems fine between Cooper and a Cooper S. But the really big question is range and if an option to boost battery size to improve the reported miles/km if more than a city driver.</p>
<p>I am currently putting on solar panels to the home with plan to add more and battery specifically for electric car transition. I drive a Cooper S now. If you live in the country (Australia) a EV is a no brainer. Plenty of sunshine and reduced maintenance.</p>
<p>But my main commute home (rural) to city is 250 km (155 miles). The reported range of the SE is 120 miles / 192 km. So just short of what I require. Most 2019 EV have 200 miles range (300 km) as standard. I mean if you drive 100km per hour you’re out of juice in 2 hours of driving.</p>
<p>So could be a deal breaker. I only hope BMW have an option to extend the range. For me range has been the real oversight of BMW/Mini they forgot how good the Mini is for a drive in the country and 120 miles won’t cut it.</p>
<p>I hope can go with the Cooper bonnet without the air slot. I always disliked the fakeness and the Cooper bonnet is cleaner look. If the air vent served a purpose than fine but it doesn’t.</p>
<p>I have a good feeling about the Cooper S E.</p>
<p>By all accounts, with it’s 54/46 weight distribution – compared to the Cooper S 60/40 – and a lower centre of gravity, the Cooper S E is already a hoot to drive, and that’s before the final development and tuning of its steering have been signed off for production. In addition, any performance deficit compared to the Cooper S is easily off-set by its impressively strong and instant mid range urge.</p>
<p>The Chinese CATL supplied battery is also expected to provide a superior range compared to the Samsung battery in the i3 S.</p>
<p>I do think it is good and do hope the range is better than so far suggested, crossing my fingers.</p>
<p>7.7 seconds to 100 km/h seems disappointing for an electric hot hatch. Even petrol version does better.</p>
<p>BMW puts those massive wheels on the i3 and yet not here.</p>
<p>As you know, the i3 platform was designed from the outset to take an all-electric drivetrain, whereas the MINI Cooper S E uses an existing ICE platform lightly modified to take the i3 all-electric drivetrain, albeit located at the front.</p>
<p>According to sources, 18″ wheels will not be offered as an option on the Cooper S E because not only do they make the ride too stiff, they also provide no tangible improvement in handling.</p>
<p>The suspension – essentially the same as the Cooper S – has been recalibrated to manage the additional weight. With standard-fit 17″ wheels, the ride is said to be as firm as a Cooper S on 18″ wheels.16″ wheels will be optional for customers who prefer a more supple ride.</p>
<p>It’s those awful wooden tires I mean run flat tires.</p>
<p>I completely agree. BMW designed much of the i3 for maximum range. Run-flat tires, being heavier and stiffer, would not only result in a harsher ride than the standard low rolling resistance i3 tires, they would also reduce the available range.</p>
Hmm… if it’s actually priced at $29k, that makes it quite a bit more interesting considering that BMW/MINI will still have the full $7,500 credit.
Sure, the range and 50kW charge rate make it uncompetitive with other $35k+ cars (Bolt, Kona, Model 3, etc.), but if this car is $29k, that puts it below even the base Leaf (~150 miles) and the Ioniq (~125 miles, but more coming soon).
With the full tax credit making it effectively $21,500, that’s getting a lot more palatable for a use cases that don’t need huge range or super-fast charging, IMO, like city dwellers or commuter car
or second/third cars.
Personally, I figured it was going to be $35k+, at which point it’s a much tougher sell and I had pretty much given up on buying a new one even though I’ve been hoping for a new MINI-E for years… but at effectively $21,500, it may actually make sense to replace my i3 for commuting / 2nd car duties.
<p>Hmm… if it’s actually priced at $29k, that makes it quite a bit more interesting considering that BMW/MINI will still have the full $7,500 credit.</p>
<p>Sure, the range and 50kW charge rate make it uncompetitive with other $35k+ cars (Bolt, Kona, Model 3, etc.) for primary car duties, but if this car is $29k, that puts it below even the base Leaf (~150 miles) and the Ioniq (~125 miles, but more coming soon).</p>
<p>With the full tax credit making it effectively $21,500, that’s getting a lot more palatable for a use cases that don’t need huge range or super-fast charging, IMO, like city dwellers or commuter car
or second/third cars.</p>
<p>Personally, I figured it was going to be $35k+, at which point it’s a much tougher sell and I had pretty much given up on buying a new one even though I’ve been hoping for a new MINI-E for years… but at effectively $21,500, it may actually make sense to replace my i3 for commuting / 2nd car duties.</p>
<p>The range and the charge rate would be an issue if it were $35k+ or if MINI was trying to sell Model 3 volumes, but it might actually work at the volumes they’re probably shooting for at $29k.</p>
<p>July 9!</p>
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