Is Anyone Else Nervous About MINI Going All Electric?
The classic sound of a high-performance four cylinder MINI will soon be a thing of the past. Some rumors point to MINI aggressively moving to an all electric line-up for its small cars by 2023. Other rumors point to MINI selling petrol and electric in parallel for a few more years before going all electric. Either way it’s a change that is coming and means the Cooper and Cooper S hatch as we know it will cease to exist. Are you ready?
Having driven the all electric MINI, we’re generally optimistic. It’s shocking how an electric drivetrain has not just transformed the current MINI, but enhanced the very characteristics that make MINIs so special. But we can’t help but feel something will be lost in the ultimate transition.
Hearing the full throated roar of a JCW or a well tuned second-hand MINI from a block away will be missed. As will manual shifts and dropping the clutch for a quick getaway. In general there’s an analog quality and a finesse in driving that will be simply lost to new generations as we move to all electric MINIs.
Does it matter? Will the benefits to the environment and overall performance make us forget it all? For some that will be the case. But for us, and we’re guessing many of you, well cared for second-hand MINIs will begin to take on new meaning and importance to all of us.
Are you ready to embrace electric MINIs?
Will miss it zero. All that noise is wasted energy. And it disrupts my music listening. ICE = dinosaurs.
But am doubtful that MINI will survive the electrification of vehicles, so it probably doesn’t matter anyhow. Am for that matter, am also not a fan of what BMW did with the brand last generation. The brand is already on life support for me.
yes, looks like the second hand use minis like r56 generation will still hold a huge value
It doesn’t really matter since I am really no longer interested in Minis. Fortunately I purchased the 2013 Mini GP, hate the look of the new one, so I will keep mine till I can no longer drive. Glad I will no longer be around when all vehicles are electric.
Lucky man – that’s a great car ?
If anything, going all electric means they’ll have to treat it as more than an afterthought or box-ticking exercise. I’ll miss pops and burbles a bit, but fingers crossed they can pipe some Jetson’s flying car noise into the cabin.
MINI can’t just shove an electric drivetrain into their existing chassis and expect to compete with all-electric platforms. I ditched my MINI for an i3 because of its unique take on electrification. It’s way more fun to drive than any MINI I’ve owned.
Now, BMW, as others have said, doesn’t seem to fully get it. Perhaps the next few years of marketplace dynamics will help shape up their strategy. Should be a fun ride. 🙂
Same same, we replaced our Mini with an i3. 3 years later we replaced it with an i3S and I also replaced my 3 series with a Model 3. BMW has lost it’s way, they were so far ahead of everyone and are now going to be dead last to market. It’s a real shame.
Very nervous. I can’t see an electric vehicle being useful for me with the large majority having a range under 150 miles. There’s no charging infrastructure where I work and I believe the lack of a supporting infrastructure is going to be the largest gap in electric vehicle launch.
Makes it all the more imperative to find an early Mini to complement my 2009 factory JCW Clubman…
I am still driving my 2006 R53 for almost 15 years. Still love it! The styling of the current Minis are a bit off-putting for me. If I ever go electric, the car will be merely an appliance.
Nervous no…Sad, yes! BMW is ignoring the motoring roots of the MINI brand by turning it into a lifestyle brand that appeals to hipsters. I have no problem with an electric MINI, what I have a problem with is MINI going all electric.