British Carmaker Mini recently announced an all-electric car, planned to be launched in the first half of 2022. The 2022 MINI Electric Hardtop 2 Door has been updated with fresh technological and stylish features. Fully loaded with more standard premium features, the MINI Electric drive is even more fun than before. Coming in the hardtop 2 door variant, the Cooper SE will start from $36,900 for the US markets. Mini is yet to unveil the Indian price of the vehicle, but reports suggest that it is likely to be around Rs 50 lakhs. For a long time, the British carmaker has been lauded for its unique and unorthodox design that has turned into its own signature. Round headlamps, twin striped down the middle and a retro British cab like design, the Mini Cooper has served as an alternate to the mainstream car. Now, the 5-decade old carmaker looks to step into the new market of EVs by introducing its own Cooper SE. Here are 5 features of the MINI Cooper SE:
1. It has a very similar exterior styling to the regular 3-door hatchback but with its own grille and aero-optimized wheels. The interior is similar too but with EV-specific functions and a sleek digital driver’s display. It has a 184PS/270Nm electric motor good for a 0-60kmph time of 3.9 seconds. The Mini Electric has a 32.6kWh battery for a claimed range of up to 233km and can be charged to 80 per cent in 35 minutes using a 50KW DC fast charger. It is expected to be priced around Rs 50 lakh, a hefty premium over the regular Mini Cooper 3-door.
2. Inside, you’ll find the familiar ring-like design on the central console and a sleek 5.5-inch digital display that acts as the instrument cluster. The look is simultaneously retro and modern. It has a premium upholstery and a host of tactile controls on the console, some of which are EV-specific, such as the level of regenerative braking and drive mode selection.
3. The Electric Hatch now comes with more standard premium exterior features. From new wheels to redesigned front and back grilles, and standard LED Headlights and Union Jack Taillights to air curtains that give a more aerodynamic drive – this electric MINI is looking fresh. It also comes with the new standard Lane Departure Warning, built to ensure safety on the road with visual warning and vibrations in the steering wheel to notify the driver when it's drifting from the lane. Also included are standard Active Driving Assistant with active safety features such as Pedestrian and Front Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation.
4. There are, however, some key differentiators like the blacked-out front grille with a new ‘E’ badge, a slightly reprofiled front bumper, a redesigned rear bumper that does not need to house exhaust pipes, and the yellow accents on the door mirror caps and wheels. It also sits 15mm higher than the combustion-engined model to allow clearance for the battery pack. The Cooper SE will be offered in four colour options in India – White Silver, Midnight Black, Moonwalk Grey and British Racing Green.
5. As things stand, the Cooper SE will not have any direct rival in India as the likes of the Mercedes EQC, Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-Tron models are significantly larger and pricier. It will, however, be the most affordable luxury EV in India when launched.
