According to the BMW Group, MINI is already migrating towards an all-electric future, as pieces have already been set in motion. 2025 will mark the last year when a new MINI model will be launched using an internal combustion engine. By 2027, MINI is expecting to see fully electric vehicles account for more than 50 percent of its sales and, if the sales of the MINI Cooper SE model are anything to go by, that target will be easily achieved.

Furthermore, the first all-electric alternative part of this new plan will be the Countryman. MINI also confirmed today the next generation of the British crossover will be available with a fully electric model in the line-up. The Countryman will be built in Leipzig starting with 2023.

Additionally, BMW also announced that a wide range of the MINI electric models planned for future launch will be built in China, in collaboration with local manufacturer, Great Wall Motors, starting with 2023. This is yet a long-time coming bit of news as the two companies have been negotiating this move for several years. This way, Great Wall Motors will become the second Chinese car maker the BMW Group is in business with after Brilliance Automotive.

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The two cars might be similar on paper; the MINI has a 28.9 kWh battery while the Honda has a 35.5 kWh pack, they both have relatively small ranges of 110 miles and 124 miles, respectively and they’re both quite similar in size. However, their approaches to EV driving are quite different. The MINI Electric is based on the standard MINI Cooper, just with a BMW i3 powertrain stuffed inside. While the Honda E is built on a bespoke EV architecture. The MINI is also front-wheel drive while the Honda is rear-wheel drive.

But it’s more than just their configurations. The MINI is designed to drive and feel like a proper MINI. So it’s sporty and fun to chuck around. While the Honda is just designed to be pleasant, comfortable and quirky. The Honda is fun, too, just in its own silly way.

Ironically, the Honda E, despite being a bespoke-built EV, is large and yet it has less cargo space. Though, in its defense, it has two extra doors and a larger back seat. Still, it’s the bigger car on the road.

Having said that, this new video review from Autocar actually reckons that the Honda E is the better car to own. Sure, its range is small and it’s slower and less engaging than the MINI but there’s a charming character to the little electric Honda that makes it incredibly endearing. While the MINI actually seems like bad value, because you can get a standard gas-powered Cooper for less money that’s more fun, the Honda E seems entirely unique and interesting. When it comes to EVs, that stuff matters. Also, look at it — it’s adorable.

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At the moment, MINI is currently working on creating the aforementioned combination of the MINI Cooper SE and the JCW GP, two cars that on their own have immense potential but fall a bit short of greatness. Coming together, however, might just create the best FrankenMINI we never thought of.

The idea behind the car is simple: take a MINI Cooper SE, with its 181 horsepower, front-mounted electric motor, add some power and fit it with all of the same chassis, suspension aero bits from the MINI JCW GP, thus creating a MINI Electric GP.

As far as specs; range, power and performance; we don’t have any. However, according to our extremely reliable source, this car is happening, is green-lit and is currently under development. There are still some questions about power and range that we’re eagerly awaiting answers to, however. For instance, is it going to have enough power to actually necessitate GP suspension and chassis upgrades? The MINI Cooper SE is a fun car but it has nowhere near enough power to warrant such a capable setup.

Also, will it pack more range than the Cooper SE? That car barely cracks 100 miles on a single charge. With ‘GP’ branding and equipment, you’d expect the new electric hot-hatch to be capable of lapping a track quite well but track duty rapidly depletes battery life. So it’s going to need some more juice if it wants to be a proper GP. Thankfully, with a chassis and suspension as capable as the GP’s, it could likely handle the added weight of a bigger battery pack without issue.

We can’t wait to learn more about the MINI Electric GP. The idea of an electric hot-hatch from MINI is a great one and has the potential to be an absolutely brilliant car, if done properly. You’ll get more details as we do.

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