When Electrified Mini Magic Meets David Brown: Mini eMastered
Well, you know me. I've spent decades singing the praises and occasionally tearing apart everything from sedans and motorbikes to luxury yachts and jumbo jets. Gasoline and diesel were my old companions, but these days? Ah, the allure of electric MINI Countryman purrs to me. Mostly.
And if you know anything about me, you know that the classic Mini is not just a car to me. It's a work of art. An icon of a time when cars weren't just massive steel monsters but light, nimble, and, well... pretty tight inside. I mean, why would anyone want a supercar when this piece of perfection exists? I'd swap a Lambo for this little beaut, and yes, if push came to shove, bye-bye mother-in-law. The kidney's negotiable.
Imagine my surprise when David Brown announced their eMastered version of my beloved Mini, now in electric! At first, the skeptic in me channeled my inner Jay Leno, thinking, "You're tinkering with a classic, huh?" But let's dive in.
Sporting a cheeky 18.8 kWh battery (I suppose they had to keep it tight) with a zesty 97 hp and 129 lb-ft (175 Nm) of torque, it goes 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 8.5 seconds. Not exactly McLaren territory, but you're not buying it to win drag races, are you? With a top speed of 92 mph (148 km/h), it's more of a love letter to the past with a nod to the future. And if you're concerned about range anxiety, this baby promises 110 miles (177 km) on one charge. Not too shabby for something that weighs just 1,410 lbs (640 kg).
Now, let’s get to the heart of it. What's changed? David Brown has jazzed it up a bit: a color-matched front grille, an orange-brown roof (snazzy), and color-matched wheels on the outside. Inside, we’ve got luxurious brown leather seats that are quite un-Mini-like, a wooden-rimmed steering wheel, and a Pioneer infotainment system. Fancy tech in a classic body? Count me intrigued.
I do wonder, with a dash of vintage car enthusiast skepticism, whether it still feels like a Mini? The gasoline aroma, the vibrations - will I miss them? Will the silence of its electric engine rob it of some of its personality?
But, as Michelle Gay from David Brown Automotive said, electrifying such an icon wasn’t easy. Their commitment to combining sustainable luxury while preserving the heart of the Mini is commendable. Now, if only they could make it run on my undying love for motorbikes...
Do I love the idea? Wholeheartedly. Will I sacrifice half a liver to get one? Likely. Will it replace my undying affection for the OG Mini? Well, there’s only one way to find out.
To electrify or not to electrify, that is the question. But when the result is as tantalizing as the Mini eMastered, it's hard not to want to plug in.
Yours truly,
Captain Electro
