Trying to keep tabs on info on the 2023 Hatch. Saw this and thought it was worth sharing. Quite a departure from the current rear end design. Looks like the union jack design may still be present though. Still waiting on data regarding leaks about improved range and battery size.

https://insideevs.com/news/553911/20...per-se-leaked/

 

More info at the MotoringFile ...

https://www.motoringfile.com/2021/12...ic-mini-hatch/

 

That's some very interesting information. I'm liking what I hear and this could be the EV car I was hoping Mini would introduce. The front view appears to be a bit off-putting yo me personally, but will likely look much better in a color other than white. I had read that the interior of the new version will be more upscale than the current version, Not sure what that exactly means as the current interior is pretty nice. Not sure if they are talking materials or design of both. I am anxious to see more of this car and get more info on the expected ranges of the various models. Wondering if they will offer different battery options based on the model (base vs. S vs. JCW).

Hoping the see more of this new version and get more leaked info. I could be trading our 2019 S Iconic for one of these...........................................

 

I hope the new MINI Electric based on Great Wall Motors' Ora Good Cat isn't any heavier than the MINI Cooper SE. Perhaps battery technology will have advanced enough to provide the range people crave without negatively affecting MINI's traditionally excellent handling.

Speaking of handling, will the Chinese MINI Electric inherit the Ora Good Cat's torsion-beam rear suspension? That wouldn't be an upgrade.

About the reports of a 169-horsepower motor making for a quicker car. Unless the new MINI Electric is lighter than the SE, it will need a more powerful motor to be quicker. Increasing the motor's power will make it tougher to provide more range without installing a bigger, heavier battery. It's a vicious cycle.

Then there's the car's height. The Ora Good Cat is 6 inches taller than the MINI Cooper SE. MINI was wise to abandon the slab-style i3 battery for the current SE and instead stuff the tunnel and fuel-tank voids with batteries. I guess a big, heavy, long-range, slab-style battery under the cabin would be great at lowering the center of gravity, but I like being able to wash the top of my MINI without needing a stepping stool.

As you can guess, I love my MINI Cooper SE and am skeptical about the Chinese version being able match it despite recent advances in electric vehicle technology.

 

Found a couple of videos that may give us a bit more insight in what to expect with the new 2023/2024 Mini. I'm guessing that we will see some "re-skinning" of the "Mini" version of car from the Chinese Ora Cat to look more like the current Mini and of course the "center circle" input screen in place of the one seen in the videos. The GT version of the Cat seems to fall about where the leaked information regarding HP/TQ and range of the Mini will fall. The interior of the Chinese version looks pretty nice however I expect to see more of the BMW influence carried to the Mini to justify it's higher price point (in the same way Ford sold their Ford vs. Mercury versions of the same car). Car apparently will gain about 250lbs based on the Ora Cat specification vs. the current Mini SE (3300lbs vs. 3147lbs) Don't know if BMW engineering will be able to tweak handling to compare to the current SE given the weight gain. Still not a huge gain IMO. Regardless, thought these videos were enlightening as a precursor of what we may see in the upcoming Mini EV

 

Artist rendering of the new Cooper SE

https://www.bmwblog.com/2021/12/15/2...tch-rendering/

If factual, I like it.

 

The more I see the EVs in their different designs, the more I see "small" as not very efficient.The battery weight required for all the different alternatives( short trips or long trips , i.e. 500+ whatever miles) makes having a small car as a secondary car. Is it efficient to have to have 2 diferent cars to be able to handle all your motoring requirements? Just a thought. I have two cars ,an Audi S5 and a MINI JCW Hardtop. We drive my MINI on very long trips. There isn't enough time to have to drive a small EV on a long trip. I appreciate EVs will fix this in the future, but I am going to wait until the charging time and the cars' costs are reasonable.

 

I hope that in the future, we will get lighter batteries that take up less space but until then, I think we will see EVs as a secondary car for many people. I wouldn't choose a Mini, Miata, or BRZ/86 as a car to take on long trips so to me, these are perfect cars to turn into EVs. I'd rather have a larger car for hauling stuff around and for long trips. That is why our second car is a small SUV.

 

I agree. For those that travel, a second ICE car makes sense. For home-bodies with no travel aspirations, an EV could be their one and only. Going forward, with battery tech improving (smaller, lighter, higher density, quick recharge times) and an integrated nationwide charging network, incl rest stops, repurposed gas stations, wireless charging spaces at businesses, shopping centers, parking meters, etc., we should see EV's eventually replacing ICE cars. At present, EV's can be an excellent second vehicle. Depending on the range and features of the 2023 Mini SE, my 2019 MCS could get replaced as our errand and grocery getter.

 

I think I agree with the "EVs as a second vehicle" comment. If gas stations were to convert to EV charge stations, EV charge times need to come WAY down. I can currently fill up my bohemoth SUV in about 5 minutes, and get ~350 miles on a full tank. To get ~350 miles out of a Tesla, you'd have to charge it up over night. And the smaller, more affordable EV options can only get ~150 miles per charge. There will need to be a huge jump in EV technology and battery tech, not to mention infrastructure, in order for EVs to be make more sense for me.

 

The wait is driving me crazy.. Announce MINI/BMW! Battery size, range, details, something!!! I will trade my 2019 MCS Iconic w/ w/ 4500 on the OD miles for a Mini SE if they can mange to provide 250 miles of range. Chevy Bolt can do it........pleeeeease!

 

https://insideevs.com/news/528346/ev...tery-capacity/

In terms of weight per kWh, the Tesla S LR has the best at 22.4 KG/kWh. The current Mini is 44.8.

So, let's use 40 KG/kWh.

The Mini gets about 4 miles per kWh too. To get 250 miles or range, you need 62.5 kWh plus 10%-15% buffer. So let's say you need a 70 kWh battery.

40 KG * 70 = 2800 KG or 6172 lbs.

Assuming a miracle and the batteries are lighter and gets to Tesla level of weight per kWh of 22.4, the weight is then 22.4 * 70. 1568 KG or 3456 lbs. I just don't think BMW will invest this much into making the rest of the car light enough to reach 22.4 KG/kWh. Instead, the car would weigh over 4000 lbs and I just don't think that is "mini" enough to be a Mini.

Instead, I think BMW will keep making the Mini with a lower range to keep the car lighter.

 

The Bolt weighs in at 3598 and 259 miles of range...BMW/Mini can't match that without going to ton more in weight?

 

As reported, BMW is partnering with Great Wall Motors to build the next electric MINI based on the L.E.M.O.N. (really? for a car?) platform GWM created for their Ora Good Cat. The Ora Good Cat weighs a porky (for a MINI Cooper) 3,323 pounds and provides an optimistic (ie, not EPA) range of 311 miles when equipped with the optional 59.1 kWh battery. The standard 47.8 kWh battery reportedly offers 249 miles of range (I assume the 3,323 pounds is with this battery). Sources: Motor1 and Wikipedia