MINI boss answering questions

This is an interesting bit from him; "It carries a lot over from the i3."
I assume that refers to the powertrain and battery pack more than design. So maybe we'll see overlapping specs between the upcoming mini EV and the i3?

Greenie said:

This is an interesting bit from him; "It carries a lot over from the i3."
I assume that refers to the powertrain and battery pack more than design. So maybe we'll see overlapping specs between the upcoming mini EV and the i3?

Click to expand...

That definitely refers to the powertrain. There is no point for MINI to have the same exterior design cues, it will just ruin the whole MINI brand picture. However, MINI EV won't share a lot of powertrain and battery features with the current model of i3. More likely MINI EV will be close to the next generation of i3.

What I like the most about this interview is that Peter Schwarzenbauer doesn't think Mini will be 100 percent electric, so you will still have an option of the regular MINI, if EV version is going to fail.

The similarities can refer to the powertrain and materials used, BMW is pretty green when it comes to the i3's interior with all those recycled bits. As fr motor, the i3 has a EPA rating of 97 miles on electricity alone or 180 miles with the gas engine. So Mini could have something similar.

Agree. The powertrain may have some similarities, however, I don't think that Mini will go for the same green strategy as BMW announced for their i3 model.

Come to think about it what Mini can do differently is tune these powertrains in a way that offers different characteristics from the BMW. BMW and Mini are still very much about feeling and I doubt that will ever change, so this is something we will have to look out for as potential owners.

Can't think of any motor characteristics because this segment is still relatively new and I have no idea how they'd go about tuning it. But drive feel could be improved thanks to the Mini's low ground clearance giving it a planted feel.

I think it will come down mainly to gearing and the drivetrain system because those are what will really regulate what happens at the wheels. Looking at other current system you see that being the case. Mitsubishi's PHEV's is one example and as you can imagine its nearly an industry standard.