MINI has announced the new MINI Countryman E which combines an electrified go-kart feeling with a minimal ecological footprint. This latest electric car from MINI will offer a range of up to 280 miles (450km). This is impressive when you consider the current MINI Electric only offers 142 miles (229km) of range. Production, which will take place at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig in Germany, will start in November 2023. This will be the first time a MINI model has been produced in Germany.
It’s a stylish all-rounder and spacious everyday companion building on the MINI brand’s product offensive of all-electric models. With five doors and a variable-use interior, the largest model in the new MINI family of vehicles is leading the brand into an era of locally emission-free electromobility. The MINI Countryman E delivers 140kW/191hp. It will also be available as optional all-wheel drive and the powerful adventurer also ensures safe and unbridled driving pleasure off the beaten track.
The MINI Countryman SE ALL4 is the brand’s first all-wheel-drive fully-electric vehicle. This variant features two highly integrated drive units on the front and rear axles which together generate an output of 230kW/313hp, including a temporary boost. The battery capacity is 64.7 kWh, with an estimated range of around 280 miles (450km) kilometres. This makes it equally at home in city centres as well on longer distances across the countryside making it ideal for family motoring.
With the all-electric MINI Countryman, MINI is further expanding the proportion of electrified models. Every fifth MINI is already electric today. With its length increased by 13 centimetres to 4,429mm, the spacious adventurer offers even more space and comfort for its occupants. The height grew by almost six centimetres to now 1,613mm, offering even more headroom.
The new MINI Countryman combines locally emission-free electromobility with the greatest possible environmental compatibility in production as well. This includes dispensing with all decorative elements in the exterior and interior and manufacturing the cast light-alloy wheels from up to 70 per cent secondary aluminium. In combination with the use of green electricity in production, CO2 emissions can be significantly reduced compared with conventional manufacturing processes.
The surfaces of the dashboards, steering wheel, vehicle headliner and floor, and floor mats are made of recycled polyester obtained from PET bottles and carpet remnants. This high-quality, colourful and comfortable alternative to traditional materials reduces CO2 emissions along the value chain by up to 85 per cent and emphasises the focus on minimising the ecological footprint of the next MINI model generation.
The long-term sustainable strategy for energy generation and consumption of the BMW Group’s “green plant” at the Leipzig site includes four wind turbines with a height of 190 meters on the factory premises. This could generate more than 20 GWh of electricity from wind energy per year.
In the Battery Farm, up to 700 second-life high-voltage batteries from BMW i3 vehicles are used to store energy, such as that generated by the wind turbines. By storing the energy on the premises, local energy management can be optimised and the electrical grid kept stable.
The BMW Group is expanding on-site e-component production capacity by eight production lines by 2024 and investing more than €800 million. The decarbonisation of production by replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen is the focus of what is already one of the most modern and sustainable automotive production facilities in the world.
This news follows the recent announcement from MINI that it is producing new limited edition MINI Convertible electric car. This limited edition electric car is powered by a compact, yet powerful 135kW/ 184hp electric motor. This enables harmonious axle load distribution, agility and controllable handling while delivering 0-62mph (0-100kph) in just 8.2 seconds. This ultimately delivers a range of 124 miles (km).
