The all-electric 2020 Mini Cooper S E has been
spotted multiple times during testing but never without the camouflage. Until now, that is, as Mini’s
first mass-produced EV has been completely undisguised in the United States
during an official photo shoot. The photographers managed to snap several shots
of the electric hatch wearing California plates. As you can see, the Mini
Cooper S E looks exactly as you’d expect given the spy shots we’ve seen so far
and especially the 2017 Mini Electric Concept.
The production model borrows a lot from said study,
including the closed-off grille with yellow accents and Mini Electric logo, the
funky alloy wheels, right-hand-side charging port, and presumably the updated
rear fascia — which is the only element that still remains covered on the car.
Unfortunately, the sharp body kit seen on the Mini
Electric Concept does not make it to production and neither do the sleek light
units. Instead, the Mini Cooper S E looks just like a regular Cooper S model
that happens to be electric.
Underneath the skin, the Mini Cooper S E is expected
to feature the updated powertrain from the BMW i3S. That’s a 44.2-kWh 120 Ah
battery pack feeding an electric motor rated at 184 PS and 270 Nm of torque. Expect a similar range of around 274 km in the
WLTP cycle. Unlike the i3, however, the Mini Cooper S E will be front-wheel
drive. The 2020 Mini Cooper S E is expected to arrive at dealers in late
2019 or early 2020.
