Mini took the covers off its all-electric Cooper SE early July, showing off a hatchback designed to make city driving emissions-free.Sporting classic Mini styling, you probably wouldnt notice at first glance that the Cooper SE is an all-electric vehicle.The EV makes a respectable 181 horsepower and 199 lb.-ft. of torque from its 135-kW electric motor; thats enough to dodge and weave through downtown traffic.Its also enough to get the small hatch to 96 km/h from zero in 7.3 seconds, which is about the same as a turbocharged three-cylinder Mini.The Mini is based on the older i3 platform, which BMW says fits perfectly where the engine used to be. The 32.6-kWh battery will help the SE reach a range of about 183 miles, which is slightly down on what were seeing with other brands recent EVs. The battery can be charged up to 80 per cent in 35 minutes or less when using a fast charger, and can also be charged using a standard 120-volt house outlet or Level 2 charger. Inside the cabin, the Mini is standard fare: not much has changed in here except for some colour-matched switches and lights. The large central information screen is still there, with touchscreens available in 5.5-, 6.5- and 8.8-inch sizes. Apple CarPlay and wireless charging are also available.While Mini has said we should expect the Cooper SE to show up on North American shores, it hasnt released a timeline for when thatll happen. As for the price? We arent sure yet, but we expect it to be a little more expensive than the Cooper S. Think of all the money youll save on
Origin: Mini’s first all-electric Cooper debuts, arrival date in North America uncertain