MINI is showcasing its take on future personal mobility in the city – in the form of the MINI Electric Concept. The concept car will be officially unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA Cars 2017). The series-production of an all-electric MINI model will be presented later in 2019.
The MINI Electric Concept is a highly attractive and zero-emission solution to the present challenges facing personal mobility in our cities and their surroundings. Its characteristic go-kart feeling and powerful electric motor make it a great fun to drive car while also being completely suitable for everyday use and producing no emissions.
“The systematic electrification of the brand and product portfolio is a mainstay of the BMW Group’s NUMBER ONE > NEXT strategy. The MINI Electric Concept offers a thrilling preview of the all-electric production vehicle. MINI and electrification make a perfect match,” said Harald Kruger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.
The design of the MINI Electric Concept is recognizable thanks to the hexagonal radiator grille and circular headlights. It is finished in Reflection Silver – a matt liquid metal colour shade which showcases the surfacing to exceptional effect. A striking Yellow colour is used throughout the car. It is used as a means to announce the presence of an electric drive system. This silver and yellow colour scheme is reminiscent of the earlier MINI E.
The radiator grille is closed for superior aerodynamics. A yellow accent bar runs across the width of the grille with an E badge. The all-LED headlights feature uniquely styled daytime running lights.
The add-on parts in the front apron highlight the dynamic character of the MINI Electric Concept and also increase its range with their aerodynamic benefits. The front apron also includes pseudo air intakes that are sealed including the dark louvers which look like cooling fins.
At the side, the MINI Electric Concept features fiberglass add-on parts along the lower edge which enhance the car’s dynamic proportions. Its silhouette is composed of taut, clean-cut surfaces, producing a minimalist impression that exudes efficiency. A large yet discreet “E” badge just behind of the front wheel provides another tell-tale sign of the power source.
The outside mirrors are also finished in the striking yellow colour and feature the MINI E badge. The yellow accent is also present on the side skirts as well. The colour of the roof flows from matt white at the front to high-gloss yellow towards the rear. The MINI Electric Concept runs on 19-inch wheels whose design is inspired by the radiator grille’s accent bar and is interpreted in an asymmetrical form.
The MINI Design team has made quite a use of a 3D printing process to create some visually appealing elements across the car. The aerodynamic inlays in the wheels are 3D printed and echo the fiberglass structure of the air deflectors. The recessed louvered surfaces in the simulated air intakes were also produced using a 3D printing method.
The rear end looks wide and sporty. While the upper section is dominated by clean and smooth surfaces it transforms into a more dynamic looking the rear as it cascades down. The rear light assemblies provide a clear pointer to the car’s British roots. Framed within the classic MINI outline, they each form one-half of the Union Jack as an LED dot matrix.
The rear apron just like the front one features aerodynamic elements including air deflectors and a diffuser. A yellow accent strip runs in the lower part of the bumper in the middle. The look is further enhanced the dark louvered surfaces in the simulated air outlets and the absence of the exhaust pipes remind of the car’s electric powertrain.
The foundations of an all-electric MINI were laid back in 2008 when the BMW Group had unveiled its first all-electric car – the MINI E. Over 600 MINI E cars were put into service the world over for the purpose of the field studies which eventually led to the development of the BMW i3. The British car maker had also launched its first series-production model with a plug-in hybrid drive system in spring 2017 in the shape of the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4. The all-electric MINI Electric Concept represents a seamless continuation of this bloodline. In the future, all electrified products from the MINI brand will be grouped together under the “MINI Electric” brand.
MINI Electric Concept – Image Gallery:
