Is this new, all-electric Cooper SE a sign of the future of MINI?

The MINI we know and love gets an all-electric update to celebrate its 60^th anniversary

Take one of the most popular cars in the UK, choose the best-selling body style, throw in a battery pack and surely, you’ve got yourself a winner!?

That’s right, It may not look all that different on the outside, but under the familiar shell of the latest MINI lies a new fully electric motor.

As you look closer, you may spot a few signs that this is the case, such as a charging port where the filler cap once was and a futuristic cabin featuring a totally digital dashboard display.

However, whilst this is clearly a ‘big deal’ and probably the biggest change to the line-up for 6 decades, fans of this iconic vehicle will be pleased to see that it looks almost exactly the same as the classic MINI hatch and will possibly handle even better.

Instead of trying to divide opinions with a radical new design, MINI have taken the conventional route, of course with the usual level of customisation we’ve come to expect with these fun little runabouts.

The iconic MINI, powered by electricity and built for the joy of driving

The fun-factor is as present as ever and since the MINI E is classed as a low-emission vehicle, drivers will enjoy lower running costs compared to other MINIs on the market.

Charging is quick and simple, giving 80% charge in just over half an hour and there is the option to either charge up at home or whilst out and about.

It was only a matter of time before the MINI joined the EV club and stats so far are looking good; top speed should be 93mph and supposedly, its BMW i3S motor can produce 181bhp and 199 lb ft of torque.

If the name is giving you deja-vu, that’s because the original MINI E was a prototype in 2008 but this never made it into the hands of the general public. Now though, the ‘E’ is available to pre-order for real and will be in showrooms by March 2020.