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Mini has revealed plans for what it describes as ‘the bespoke upcycling of the classic Mini’, replacing the car’s engine with an electric drivetrain.
Called Mini Recharged, the project has been developed by a dedicated division at Mini’s Oxford factory, following a positive response to the one-off classic Mini Electric created in 2018 and displayed at the New York Auto Show.
All changes made are reversible and, once removed, each A-series motor is labelled and stored, so it can be refitted in the future.
Mini argues it’s a natural fit, the original Alec Issigonis design built in response to an oil crisis and with fuel efficiency at its core, making this a 21st-century spin on the original ethos.
The Mini Recharged project installs a 90kW (121bhp) electric motor in the place of the original four-cylinder unit, meaning the cars can do 0-62mph in around 9 secs.
This can be charged at speeds of up to 6.6kW and will give a range in the region of 99 miles.
Inside, small changes to the traditional Mini dashboard have been incorporated sympathetically, using the classic Smiths dials, but adding drive temperature, the selected gear and range.
Owners of any classic Minis can submit their cars for this conversion and on completion of the work, every Mini Recharged car will receive an individual number, but they will not need to be reregistered.
No prices have yet been given, nor a date when the project will commence or how long a conversion will take, but Mini has confirmed the work will take place in the UK.
“What the project team are developing preserves the character of the classic Mini and enables its fans to enjoy all-electric performance. With Mini Recharged, we are connecting the past with the future of the brand,” says Mini boss Bernd Körber.
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