MINI Electric Concept for Frankfurt – production 2019

The MINI Electric Concept will make its debut at IAA show in Frankfurt next month. The pure-electric design study, designed for use in urban areas, offers a window into how pure-electric day-to-day mobility might look in the years ahead, MINI says.

The MINI hatchback is a great host for electric tech. The brand is proudly saying that this concept – which will make production in 2019 – brings the iconic design, city-dwelling heritage and customary go-kart feeling of the MINI brand into the electric mobility age.

“With its characteristic go-kart feeling and powerful electric motor, the MINI Electric Concept is great fun to drive while also being completely suitable for everyday use – and producing zero emissions to boot. That’s how we at MINI envisage electric mobility in tomorrow’s world,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, the BMW board member responsible for MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad.

This isn’t the first MINI with no engine. The MINI E unveiled in 2008 was the first all-electric car from the BMW Group to be driven by private users in everyday conditions, as part of a field trial. Over 600 cars entered service worldwide and the knowledge gained was incorporated into the development of the BMW i3.

The British brand’s first series-production model with a plug-in hybrid drive system was presented earlier this year in the shape of the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4. In the future, all electrified products from the MINI brand will be grouped together under the “MINI Electric” banner.

It’s somewhat clear that this car is electric-powered. Identifying features include the contrasting silver and yellow colour scheme reminiscent of the MINI E, as well as the distinctive E badge.

Besides this, the grille is closed to improve aerodynamics, and also because the electric drive unit requires very little cooling air. A yellow accent bar in the grille – with an E badge in the same colour – produces a contrasting effect, which is echoed by the styling of the LED DRLs. Below that, the simulated “air intakes” are also sealed, but they still include dark louvres that look like cooling fins.

The 19-inch wheels has aerodynamic inlays – made using a 3D printing process – that echo the fibreglass structure of the air deflectors. The rear of the concept car sports rear lights that each form one half of the Union Jack as an LED dot matrix, and a rear apron with aerodynamic elements similar to those at the front, including air deflectors and a fibreglass diffuser. No exhaust pipes, of course.

The coolest EV seen so far.

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