Mini’s upcoming electric model will be something more than just another zero-emissions compact model; the first electric Mini will also focus in performance, aiming to become the world’s first zero-emissions hot hatch.
Based on the three-door hatchback, the future Mini Cooper S E will be revealed later this year using the existing UKL 1 platform as its base, only adapted to suit the electric powertrain, Autocar reports.
The electric Mini will most likely be powered by the BMW i3 S’s 181hp electric motor, giving it almost the same punch with the petrol-powered 189hp Cooper S. The extra weight of the battery pack is expected to be offset by the zero-rpm torque, making the Cooper S E similarly fast with its sibling.
The lithium-ion battery pack is also expected to be shared from the i3, giving the first electric Mini a driving range of around 200 miles (321km).
Mini previewed its production EV with the 2017 Mini Electric concept; the final car is expected to be visually more common with the Cooper S, featuring small styling tweaks to portrait its zero-emissions nature.
Mini plans to reveal the Cooper S E during the celebrations of its 60th anniversary this year, seeing it as the perfect time to launch the next chapter in the brand’s history. Sales are expected to start in Europe towards the end of the year.