I wonder what it feels like to drive a 2020 Mini SE?
…
Before bringing the Mini SE to the masses, the automaker distributed the Mini-E to test drivers around the world. It was a test fleet to determine just want Mini owners wanted (and didn’t want) from a small EV. One of the biggest lessons learned was that filling the cargo space with a battery instead of actual space is not a good idea. So the company went back to the drawing board and shoved the pack underneath the car.
But while the undercarriage has been modified for the new battery in the EV Mini, the motor is borrowed from another small vehicle in the BMW lineup. But like the pack, it works.
As much as I could test the acceleration, the SE had the expected punch of torque from the electric motor. Said powerplant is pulled straight from the BMW i3. You know, the little concept bubble car. In my two laps around the track, I didn’t really get a chance to put the motor’s 181 horsepower and 199 pounds of torque to the test. It did feel zippy up to 45 miles per hour, which is what you expect from a Mini as you cruise around town. The company says it has a zero-to-62 time of 7.3 seconds. So you’re not going to be drag-racing Model 3s.
Source: Engadget
