Mini electric built in China for New Zealand?



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SUPPLIED

The new electric Mini will be built in China and the UK and will almost certainly come here.

The question of whether the Mini model that launched the brand in an electric era deserves to be released in a fully battery-based variant raises advantages and disadvantages for the local distributor.

Mini New Zealand model that started their electric odyssey, the Cooper SE version $ 59,990 (PHEV) of the Countryman that went on sale almost a year ago, encouraged his hopes for the # Acceptance of the next step: a fully electric Mini hatchback next year

Thought to be closely related to the Electric Concept study car that was revealed to the world at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September last, it should imitate the latest BMW i3 BEV. Same running gear, same DC fast charging option, same range of about 200kms.

  The Electric Mini will debut in 2019, exactly 60 years after the launch of the original.

SUPPLIED

The Electric Mini will debut in 2019, exactly 60 years after the launch of the original.

The model ready for production will soon be revealed and production will begin early next year. BMW NZ intends to have it in 2019 but does not know exactly when

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"That's all there is 39, we can say for the moment, "said BMW / Mini NZ spokesman for Corporate Affairs Paul Sherley. "We are committed to taking this option and we are committed to introducing any electric option available to New Zealand."

  BMW says interest in electric minis is increasing in New Zealand, with the popularity of the PHEV Countryman proof. 19659015] BMW says interest in electric minis is increasing in New Zealand, with the popularity of PHEV Countryman's proof of that. </p>
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<p>  The orthodox hatchway is currently the most popular local model of Mini, reaching almost half the record of last year. annual account of 668 units. Still, the great Countryman sport utility is just behind and accelerating. Its penetration rate of 39 per cent last year has increased to 41 per cent since the beginning of the year, which corresponds to the growing consumer demand for vehicles with real or imagined potential. </p>
<p>  About 10 percent of this volume by PHEV, which combines a three-cylinder turbo-gasoline engine and a six-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels, with a rechargeable battery and an electric motor driving the axle Rear by a two-stage transmission for four-wheel drive </p>
<p>  The PHEV will remain on sale after the arrival of the EV hatch. But with Mini's head office expressing the desire to expand its battery portfolio, what a chance of a fully electric Countryman, taking over the transmission of the fully electric BMW X3 for introduction in New Zealand in 2020? </p>
<div id=   BMW unveiled the Mini EV concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year.

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BMW unveiled the Mini EV concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year.

Sherley and Mini NZ manager Kenny Aulia say that they like the idea of ​​a Mini with a powertrain promising a range of 400km (versus more than 30km on the PHEV's battery) and yet they also make pure speculation as the brand planning electrical products beyond the three-door city car is by no means clear.

"At the moment, the only electrical option we know is with the hatch, we are not sure of all other formats, we are perfectly satisfied with the PHEV Countryman, it does a good job for us and it is popular , "Sherley noted.

Aulia adds: "We are fond of everything electric, but we are totally committed to PHEV, its share of Countryman's volume here compares well to the world level."

  Ok, so that's not really a

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Ok, so that's not really a "grille", but it's the new "grille" for The Electric Minis

Surprisingly, the men also suggest that even though the X3 and the Countryman occupy the same crossover space, they will not necessarily appeal to the same set of buyers.

Sherley: "They're different technology, different size, different focus markets too, SUVs, yes, but very different target markets."

Aulia says, "The OHV offers the best of both worlds.I think that a full electric makes sense for the city, but with an SUV, you want flexibility.We know our customers do not take it (Countryman) for heavy off-road, but they like to go camping. "

  Even though it will be built in the UK, a version of Chinese flag taillights might also be appropriate

SUPPLIED

While it will be built in the UK United, perhaps a Chinese flag However, the anticipation of EV's interest continues to grow is one of the reasons why the local distributor has now completely abandoned the diesel.

The comment comes as the brand releases locally the editions rafra ichies of Orthodox essence Mini. range, the final change for the Mini before the arrival of the electric tailgate.

Aulia says customers are already showing an interest in full electric. "Our PHEV result also shows that there is certainly an interest in electrification for Mini, we are wondering about when the all electric will arrive."

  Here's one they've built before: the Mini E (seen here with his cousin PHEV Countryman) helped lay the groundwork for the ...

Equipped

Here's one of those that # 39, they built before: the Mini E (seen here with his cousin PHEV Countryman) helped prepare the ground for the BMW i3.

Sherley suggests the Mini The launch of EV will perfectly follow the consumer sentiment about batteries.

"A greater number of fully electric offerings are coming to the market (and) that is on this wave of fully electric options where the range is not an obstacle," he says. Is almost normalizing EVs for a lot of people. "

What he does then once the EV hatch goes on sale, the brand simply said that it is unlikely that all his Mini bodyshapes will be charged. However, he did refer to electric propulsion as part of the future John Cooper Works high performance powertrain.

  Here's another one they've built before: an original Mini with an electric transmission built for the New York Motor Show this year. 19659010] Here's another one they've built before: an original Mini with an electric transmission built for this year's New York show. </p>
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<p>  The Electric Mini is not exactly unannounced. In 2009, BMW Group launched trials of the Mini E – a demonstration EV based on a converted Mini Cooper. The car has never been on sale but the project was partly responsible for BMW's green lighting of the i3. </p>
<p>  And where will the EV source come from? There is another twist. The powertrain is outside of Germany and the car needs to be built in the UK. However, the German owner of Mini clearly covers his bets in this period of uncertainty about the Brexit, turning to China where, in partnership with Brilliance to build BMWs, he has just announced a partnership with Great Wall Motor to develop and build electric vehicles, including </p>
<p>  Brexit developments and uncertainty regarding the Trump administration hit non-US automotive products (although BMW's factory in South Carolina is the epicenter of BMW's sport utility program) are viewed "with great interest and continuity," Sherley said. </p>
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