Indeed, it would seem the quirky three-door small crossover is due to return. The lesser-known model built by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria had a short life cycle of only about three years. MINI axed the Paceman because executives were concerned it was positioned too close to the Countryman. In other words, they were worried it cannibalized sales, thus deciding to phase it out in 2016.

However, British magazine CAR is now reporting the MINI Paceman (even though we believe the name is Aceman) will return as early as 2024. Instead of getting combustion engines, it’s said to evolve into a purely electric crossover. In addition, it should also be more practical if the rumor about gaining rear doors will turn out to be accurate. The old version was just 4.1 meters long while the new Countryman could stretch at almost 4.5 meters. That would allow the engineers to stretch the Paceman’s wheelbase to add rear doors without stepping on the Countryman’s toes.

The report mentions it will adopt the hardware from the BMW iX3 and even offer AWD with two electric motors. The availability of xDrive comes as a surprise since the iX3 comes exclusively with a RWD layout. MINI could install a 60-kWh battery pack, good for 250 miles (402 kilometers) on a single charge.

[Source: CAR]

The post Is the MINI Aceman the next small electric crossover? appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

The decision to make a minivan in this day and age when crossovers and SUVs are all the rage comes somewhat of a surprise, but the idea of a Mini(van) does sound rather interesting. We are also curious to see how the funky Urbanaut will be transformed into a production vehicle and to which extent the concept’s traits will be carried over.

Since its debut in November 2020, Auto Express claims the Urbanaut has evolved into a running prototype earlier this year. To get an idea about its size, the electric minivan will likely be a compact car given the concept’s footprint, stretching at 4.46 meters (175.6 inches) long. That’s not all too surprising considering the next-generation Countryman crossover will be much bigger and offer an EV variant as well.

Aside from these two models and the traditional hatchback version, Mini is also working on a compact electric crossover for China that will ride on a new platform BMW is developing with Great Wall. It’s said to be mechanically related to the next-gen hatch, but other details are not available at the moment of writing. Mini’s chief rival Smart – now a joint venture between Daimler and Geely – will also come out with an electric crossover in China much larger than previous company offerings.

As to when the Urbanaut will hit the streets in production form, it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. The three-door hatch and the new Countryman are the top priorities, so don’t expect the electric minivan until around the middle of the decade.

Source: Auto Express

The post Mini electric minivan planned as production version of Urbanaut concept appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

Today, MINI is offering us their own spy photos of the next generation MINI electric hatch. A fully camouflaged MINI was presented to the press revealing the proportions of the next MINI. The proportions are important this time around since sources say that the MINI hatch lineup will allegedly be split in two. On one side we could see a MINI hatch powered by combustion engines. Those models will be larger in size than their electric counterparts. The next MINI electric hatch is rumored to be slightly smaller than the petrol-powered models and will be produced by BMW and Great Wall Motors in China. It’s also likely that the MINI electric hatch will be built on a separate platform than the petrol-powered models.

All other MINI hatch models will continue to be manufactured at the MINI Plant in Oxford, while the next generation MINI Countryman will move its production in 2023 to the BMW Group Plant Leipzig. MINI is assuming that electric vehicles will already make up 50 percent of total global sales of MINI by 2027. In 2025, the last new MINI model powered with a combustion engine will come onto the market. At the beginning of the 2030s, MINI will be an all-electric brand.

Design wise, this new MINI electric hatch seems to stay true to the brand’s design DNA. It retains the typical sporty hatch proportions, but some of the exterior design elements are likely different than what MINI has shown us in these “official spy photos.” We expect a different set of headlights and taillights, along with other design cues typical to an electric car. The spy shots don’t show the interior design, naturally, but the curved screens seen in BMW models are likely to appear as well. We expect other tech updates as well, from the latest infotainment system at BMW Group to advanced driving assistance features.

We don’t currently have any solid information on the electric drivetrain and driving range, but we certainly expect the next generation of BMW batteries to provide more range than the current 110 miles in the MINI Cooper SE.

The post Next generation MINI Electric Hatch: What Will Change appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

The report cites “people familiar with the matter” saying Mini is going to introduce its last car powered by a combustion engine in 2025. Two years later, the company estimates 50% of its sales will be represented by electric vehicles, and that only EVs will be available from 2030. We won’t have to wait much longer for a confirmation (or a denial) as BMW CEO Officer Oliver Zipse is expected to make an announcement on March 17 when it will detail the ambitious plan.

The decision makes perfect sense given the success of the Cooper SE and the fact electric cars are perfect as urban commuters. Factor in tougher restrictions (and even bans in some cases) in an increasing number of cities for vehicles equipped with traditional engines, turning Mini into an EV-only marque seems logical.

Mini would be the next automaker to announce plans about transitioning to an electric future, with Jaguar aiming to kill the combustion engine from 2025. Volvo plans to sell only EVs by 2030 when Ford of Europe targets to abandon gasoline and diesel engines from its passenger cars. Another relevant example is Bentley, which it too wants to sell only electric cars in nine years from now.

Meanwhile, Mini has already teased a John Cooper Works electric hot hatch and has promised to give the next-generation Countryman an electric derivative. The Vision Urbanaut concept might be a taste of things to come as far as a city-focused EV, so the BMW Group is certainly planning ahead for the post-ICE era.

Source: Automotive News Europe

The post BMW reportedly turning Mini into an electric brand by 2030 appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

Changes start on the outside where the new variant comes painted in Island Blue metallic that hasn’t been offered up until now on the Cooper SE. Mini also has Rooftop Grey as an alternate color, while the roof transitions from San Marino Blue through Pearly Aqua to Jet Black from front to rear. To separate it from a regular Cooper SE, the BMW-owned brand has added hood and side stripes, although if we’re being honest, they’re barely visible.

The Electric Collection rides on 17-inch alloy wheels with dark surfaces complementing a variety of high-gloss black accents noticeable on the grille, headlight and taillight surround, and door handles. Mini has also blacked-out the badges, the model’s name on the tailgate, and even the side scuttles, which is marketing speak for the fake vents on the front fenders.

As standard, the special edition gets matrix LED headlights as standard equipment along with fancy door sill trims adorned with a printed “Mini Electric” logo. Images of the interior have not been provided, but we do know the Electric Collection boasts sports seats covered in a combination of light gray fabric and leatherette, while the headliner has an anthracite finish. Rounding off the changes is a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel spruced up with a “Mini Electric” logo.

At an additional cost, customers can order the new Electric Collection with a heated steering wheel for the first time on the Cooper SE. There’s also a Connected Navigation Plus package encompassing wireless charging, a head-up display, and other content. Go for the optional Driver Assistance Package and you’ll get a Lane Departure Warning system, while the upgraded Driver Assistance Package Plus pack adds Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go functionality.

Since the Electric Collection is all about visual and equipment upgrades, there are no changes “under the hood.” It gets the same electric motor with 184 horsepower (135 kilowatts), 270 Newton-meters (199 pound-feet) of torque, and a WLTP-certified range of up to 234 kilometers.

Source: Mini

The post Mini Cooper SE Electric Collection debuts with visual, equipment upgrades appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

“The MINI brand has always stood for ‘Clever Use of Space’. In the MINI Vision Urbanaut, we extend private space far into the public realm, creating completely new and enriching experiences,” explains Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design.

The Mini Urbanaut ditches the brand’s typical go-kart racing shoes and replaces them with hemp sandals. There are three different “Moments” that the car provides; “Chill”, “Wanderlust”, and “Vibe.” These moments are essentially comprehensive driving modes that are designed to put passengers into different moods.

In “Chill”, the car becomes a relaxing pod, so that its driver can work peacefully or just sit and have a cup of kombucha tea on the way to work, as the car drives itself entirely autonomously. “Vibe” is designed to focus on passengers and letting them hang out with each other in the living room-like environment, presumably while playing banjos. “Wanderlust” mode is the only mode in which the MINI Urbanaut is actually driven by the driver, though it can still use automated driver aids to assist the driver.

These different Moments are selected by placing the MINI Token, which is roughly the same size as a “worry stone” (that’s seriously what the press release said), into one of the designated slots on the dashboard. Because, ya know, buttons weren’t complicated enough. You can even customize your own MINI Moment, in which everything from the ambient lighting, seat position, driver aids, and music can be personalized.

Speaking of its interior, there are a few different configurations for the four seats inside the MINI Vision Urbanaut. The front seat can not only swivel around to allow the “driver” to converse with other passengers but, while stationary, the entire dashboard actually lowers to become a little bench. MINI calls this the “Daybed”. Adding to the Daybed, the entire windshield pops open, upwards like a canopy, to create what MINI calls the “Street Balcony”. But wait, it gets better. In the back, there’s a little bed-like seat that’s apparently called the “Cozy Corner”. Said Cozy Corner also features a textile-covered “Loop”, which is essentially an LED backlit arch that extends over the seat, for reading about how to DIY sustainably-sourced beaded seat covers.

If you think the BMW iX is too far of a departure from its traditional brand values, the MINI Vision Urbanaut is going to give you heart palpitations. Nothing about the exterior, interior or driving dynamics of the Vision Urbanaut even semi-resemble the MINI brand. Honestly, you could slap KIA badges on this and it would look completely normal. It looks nothing like a MINI, except for some vague headlight similarity, nor does its interior have any resemblance to a MINI, either.

Of three driving modes, only one allows a human being to drive and, even then, it’s not going to be fun. The MINI Vision Urbanaut, if put into production, would be the tallest MINI ever made and the first MINI van (pun unintended). So it’s not going to have that traditional go-kart MINI feel.

Despite rolling my eyes so hard I was able to examine my cerebral cortex at least four times while reading the Urbanaut’s press release, it’s actually a genuinely interesting design study in the future of the automobile. However, it’s the most un-MINI-like concept car we’ve seen from the brand thus far.

The post MINI Vision Urbanaut Concept – A living room on four wheels appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.