Mini’s first hybrid will take the mullet approach: combustion-engine business up front, electric party in the back
Due in about three years, the next-generation Mini Cooper will offer a four-wheel-drive version. There’s a catch, though: The rear wheels will have no connection to the engine. The car will be a hybrid, and the rear wheels will exclusively be turned by an electric motor.
As BMW switches the next-generation 1-series to front-wheel drive, and expands the Mini portfolio with several new models, the Bavarians are looking at options for hybridizing its upcoming front-wheel drivers. To expedite the process, BMW recently announced a partnership with PSA Peugeot Citroën to
develop hybrid tech for front-drive applications. Although BMW presently offers hybrid versions of its X6 and 7-series, each uses a rear-wheel-drive-oriented system co-developed with other companies—and neither is especially frugal. PSA, on the other hand, is launching the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid 4 this year, a compact MPV on a front-wheel-drive platform with a rear-mounted electric motor powering the rear wheels. BMW seems to see its smaller cars heading in this direction.
In this test mule, we can see that the electric motor is connected to the rear axle. The extra power and enhanced launchability should give it a decisive advantage over front-drive Minis, and while the motor and battery pack will add unwelcome weight, at least they’ll be mounted low in the chassis. That said, the production cars won’t be quite as low to the ground as the mule seen here. The hybrid module will likely be offered in a number of Mini derivatives; from the “regular” Mini Cooper up to the Countryman.
It’s not yet clear what kind of combustion engine Mini will pair with the electric drive system, although both diesel and gasoline mills would be compatible. The hybrid won’t share much technology with the Mini E, and we are optimistic that—unlike in that fully electric Mini—rear seating will be part of the package.
Like the original Mini, today’s Cooper is most at home in cities, and it’s in the slow, stop-and-go traffic that hybrid systems best deliver their benefits. The Mini remains hot for fashionable urban drivers, and it’s possible that a hybrid version will up the chic factor for these shoppers—even if it is very late to the eco-party.
How will the hybrid versions be positioned in the Mini lineup? Peugeot priced the 3008 hybrid at the very top of the car’s price ladder. With more power and all-wheel drive, the hybrid Minis are likely to be the most expensive in their ranges, too. It also remains to be seen how much the extra weight and complexity will diminish the Mini models’ playful character.
Vehicle Details
$20100 Cooper Hardtop 2dr Cpe
2-Door Front Wheel Drive Car, 121 bhp, 114 lb-ft, 6-sp Manual, 29/37 mpg
4 passengers, 2525 lb, 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine, 21.0 lb/bhp
SPECIFICATIONS
Brakes
Brake Type Pwr
Brake ABS System 4-Wheel
Brake ABS System (Second Line) N/A
Disc - Front (Yes or ) Yes
Disc - Rear (Yes or ) Yes
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness 11.0 x -TBD- in
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness 10.2 x -TBD- in
Cargo Area Dimensions
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up 5.7 ft³
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down 24.0 ft³
Trunk Volume N/A ft³
Cooling System
Total Cooling System Capacity 5.5 qts
Electrical
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary) N/A
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps) 150
Engine
Engine Order Code N16
Engine Type Gas 4-Cyl
Displacement 1.6L/98
Fuel System EFI
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM 121 @ 6000
SAE Net Torque @ RPM 114 @ 4250
Exterior Dimensions
Wheelbase 97.1 in
Length, Overall 146.6 in
Width, Max w/o mirrors 66.3 in
Height, Overall 55.4 in
Track Width, Front 57.4 in
Track Width, Rear 57.8 in
Min Ground Clearance N/A in
Liftover Height N/A in
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx 13.2 gal
Aux Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx N/A gal
Interior Dimensions
Passenger Capacity 4
Passenger Volume N/A ft³
Front Head Room 38.8 in
Front Leg Room 41.7 in
Front Shoulder Room 50.3 in
Front Hip Room N/A in
Second Head Room 37.6 in
Second Leg Room 27.9 in
Second Shoulder Room 44.7 in
Second Hip Room N/A in
Mileage
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy 37 MPG
Cruising Range - City 382.80 mi
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City 29 MPG
Fuel Economy Est-Combined 32 MPG
Cruising Range - Hwy 488.40 mi
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