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Mini has announced that the brands first electric car will focus on performance rather than trying to maximize its range. This means the Mini EV will be badged as a Cooper S E and will be available solely as a three-door hatchback.
It is believed to be borrowing its powertrain from the BMW i3 S, which delivers 181 bhp with its electric motor. This is nearly identical to what you would get from the 2.0 liter 4 cylinder in the Cooper S. While it will weigh more with the battery pack, no gearing and instantaneous torque should yield similar 0-60 mph times.
If its powertrain is derived from the i3, that means it will only have an electric range of around 200 miles. This is well below what is being offered by key rivals and we hope that is reflected in its pricing. If owners do decide to drive it as a sporty hot hatch, we expect real world numbers to be even lower.
We are glad to hear that performance isn’t taking a back seat but hope that Mini strikes the right balance between a car that’s fun to drive and one that’s also practical.
[SOURCE]