The 2020 Mini Cooper SE Is an Electric Version of the Road-Going Go-Kart

Last year, BMW announced its first all-electric vehicle since the i3. The 2020 Mini Cooper SE is a juiced-up version of the 2-door Mini hardtop and promises to stay true to the brand’s handling characteristics. So should we be expecting an electric go-kart? Because that would be fun. And “fun” is the key word in the short film from BMW entitled The Getaway Car. Are you getting The Italian Job vibes? Well, you should be!

The promo video shows the electric Mini Cooper SE performing a job more important than any gold heist: escaping rush hour traffic. The little hatchback winds its way through the side streets of Turin, Italy and ends up on the roof of the Lingotto Building, which was featured in The Italian Job. The structure was also home to Fiat until the 1980s, and the Italian manufacturer maintained a test track on the roof. The electrified Mini pays homage to the 1969 film when it faces its predecessor, an original Morris Mini Cooper S (badge engineering allowed Mini Coopers to be marketed under both the Austin and Morris brands).

Squeeze the juice

The Mini Cooper SE’s 135-kilowatt electric motor sends 184 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. The SE can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in about 7 seconds, according to a BMW press release. Top speed for the SE is limited to about 93 mph. BMW says the electric Mini is about 320 pounds heavier than the Cooper S 2-door hardtop with Steptronic transmission.

Range anxiety

BMW cites a range of 235-270 kilometers (146–168 miles) based the world harmonized light-duty vehicles test procedure (WLTP) cycle. We turned to a formula at InsideEVs.com to translate this into EPA figures. The WLTP range converts to an EPA range of 130–150 miles with an eight percent margin of error. This car will find more use as an urban commuter or errand runner rather than a road tripper.

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BMW’s own i3, which was introduced in 2013, has a base range of 153 miles. The base model Nissan Leaf has an EPA range of 150 miles and the Chevrolet Bolt steps it up to 238 miles. When compared to small EVs from other manufacturers, the Mini Cooper SE looks to fall short. It does top the Fiat 500e’s 84-mile range, however.