If the engine died away in a 30-year-old Mini, that used to be a problem. Finding the right parts for a repair was sometimes complicated. Not anymore. Mini dares the future and makes the classic cars electric if desired.
If the Smart had appeared as originally conceived, the small car would have been an electric car from the start. This probably also applies to the Mini, but in 1959, when the first car rolled off the assembly line, a series-ready electric drive was still a long way off. And so the little runabouts received combustion engines up to the year 2000. That’s changing now, because the old original Mini is officially becoming an electric car – if you wish.
With Mini Recharged, the parent company BMW announces a program for the careful conversion of old vehicles. The work will take place at the mini plant in Oxford. As early as 2018, BMW presented such a converted classic car as a one-off at the “New York Auto Show”. The reactions were probably overwhelming.
The price is unknown (high)
According to the manufacturer, they were so positive that it was decided to also offer the conversion to private owners of the classic speedsters. First of all: The costs are not yet known, a spokesman said on request stern with the fact that one is still experimenting with components at the moment and therefore cannot name a package price.
However, some key data are already public: A converted Mini will have a 90-kilowatt motor and a battery with a capacity for a range of around 160 kilometers. According to official information, the charging speed is 6.6 kilowatts. This probably means that when the car is empty, it takes a relatively long time before it can continue.
Something is also happening in the iconic interior. A fresh but visually matching central instrument shows the selected gear, the drive temperature and the remaining range.
Dismantling possible at any time without a trace
In the press release, BMW emphasizes that it attaches great importance to maintaining the character of the vehicles and carrying out the conversion work in such a way that retrofitting is possible at any time. The option of storing the original parts that have been removed is also planned for this purpose. All work, no matter where the vehicle comes from, is only carried out in Oxford.
Speculating about the price is difficult. There are conversion kits, such as the one from for around 20,000 euros before taxes, but you would have to install them yourself. If you want to have it done professionally, add about 15,000 euros, as with . However, the “Mini Recharged” program also seems to include transport to Oxford, the storage of original parts and BMW technology, so that an additional premium can be expected here.
It is not yet clear when owners of an old Mini will be able to send their vehicles home. There is currently no information about the duration of such a conversion or other specific details.
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Source From: Stern
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