Mini's Electric Concept was on display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
During England’s annual Goodwood Festival of Speed, Mini presented the Mini Electric Concept, which offers an early look at both of Mini’s first fully electric model scheduled for release in 2019.
The first fully electric model from the history-rich British brand builds on the Mini brand’s DNA that has made the city its natural habitat and urban mobility a large part of its appeal.
The new model fits the Mini template by turning electric mobility into an emotionally engaging experience brimming with driving fun, style and individuality.
Based on the Mini three-door, the electric model will roll off the assembly line at Plant Oxford. Its drivetrain will be produced at Plants Dingolfing and Landshut – the competence centers for electric mobility within the BMW Group’s production network.
(One in five Americans wants to own an electric vehicle. Click Here for the story.)
After some discussions, BMW selected Mini's plant in Oxford, England, to build the new EV.
“Mini is an urban brand and the fully electric Mini the logical next step into the future,” said Oliver Heilmer, head of Mini Design. “These initial sketches for the fully electrified Mini outline our vision of authentic design creating a bridge between the history of the brand and its electric future.”
Following on from the Mini E pilot project exactly 10 years ago and the Mini Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 plug-in hybrid model on sale since 2017, the Mini with battery-electric drivetrain represents the next stage in the electrification of the Mini brand.
It also reflects the BMW Group’s NEXT strategy. The initial design offers a look ahead to the brand’s first fully-electric production model.
(Click Here for details about the early version of the Mini EV.)
The hexagonal form of the concept EV’s grille is a signature Mini design element, but the closed-off interpretation is all new. Behind the grille, cooling elements are conspicuous by their absence – which means the grille can stay closed and therefore improve airflow.
The Electric Concept retains much of Mini's classic styling, though the grille gets a change to improve aerodynamics.
The other details feature a yellow accent bar with an E badge in the same color produces a powerful contrasting effect and identifies this as an electric Mini. Another feature is the wheel design on the fully-electric Mini, which has been carried over from the Mini Electric Concept – unveiled for the first time last year – into the production model.
The wheels take the motif of the accent bar on the grille and add their own asymmetrical twist.
(For more details about the Mini EV, Click Here.)
The BMW Group announced the development of a purely electrically driven Mini production model in 2017. The first volume-produced Mini with a battery-electric drivetrain will hit the roads in 2019 – exactly 60 years after the classic Mini went on sale.