MINI Electric EV priced
Early adopters of the first MINI EV will be treated to a promotional drive-away price of under $60,000The MINI Electric EV will arrive in Australia in very limited quantities from August, priced at $59,900, drive-away.
The limited-run MINI Electric 'First Edition' will be the only model available in Australia initially, with around 100 vehicles understood to be shipped here for the year.
2020 MINI Electric video review
Interested buyers can place a $2000 deposit via the MINI Electric website to secure a car, then choose a dealership to collect the vehicle from – similar to the way many car brands are shifting to online sales.
The MINI Electric hatch retains the iconic MINI body shape but the combustion engine is replaced by a 135kW/270Nm electric motor that gives the car ample acceleration.
MINI claims a 7.3-second 0-100km/h acceleration time, which isn't quite hot hatch territory but comes close.
Mirroring the EV powertrain first used in the quirky BMW i3, the electric motor draws energy from a 32kWh lithium-ion battery that provides a claimed range of 233km, but during our first drive of the car in the USA it returned a range closer to 200km.
That is significantly less than similarly-priced rivals such as the Tesla Model 3 ($67,900) and Hyundai Kona Electric ($59,990), both of which offer a 450km-plus real-world EV range.
It takes around 12 hours to fully charge the MINI Electric with a regular household power point and around two-and-a-half hours with an 11kW wall box charger. The maximum charging rate is 50kW on a fast-charger, which are often found at shopping centres and rest stops and can add an 80 per cent charge in roughly 35 minutes, according to MINI.
Standard features for the new MINI Electric EV include:
- 17-inch Power Spoke two-tone alloy wheels
- Adaptive LED headlights
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Reversing camera
- Wing mirrors and highlights in energetic yellow
- Leather cross punch upholstery in carbon black
- 8.8-inch touch-screen infotainment (Professional Navigation)
- Harman Kardon Hi-Fi sound system
- MINI Connected with Apple CarPlay
- Head-up display
- Heated front seats
Brett Waudby, MINI Australia's general manager, said interest in MINI's first-ever battery-powered model was significant.
"It is wonderful to see such a positive response we are getting to the car. Our dealers across the nation are extremely excited to add this model to our customer offering, which is sure to be an absolute thrill to drive," he said.
Sales of MINI vehicles in Australia were down 24 per cent during the first four months of 2020. Of the 861 sales recorded so far, the hatch is the top seller, accounting for around half of all MINI sales (410 units).
The retail price of the MINI Electric First Edition excluding on-road costs is $54,800. MINI Australia has not yet announced other model grades beyond the First Edition.
Currently MINI offers four models in Australia: the MINI hatch (three- and five-door), Cabrio convertible, Clubman wagon and the Countryman SUV, which is its second best selling model.
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