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What is it? A two-seat Mini Cooper with no engine, but the whole back seat filled up with a giant battery pack. The lithium-ion battery pack stores 35 kilowatt-hours of juice, good for a claimed range of 150 miles, says Mini. A full charge takes 2.5 hours on a special charger that has to be installed in a garage. The front-wheel-drive Mini E has a 204-hp electric motor, with 162 ft.-lbs. of torque, which the company says produces a 0-60 mph time of less than 8.5 seconds. Top speed will be electronically limited to 95 mph.
CR's take: Just like the original two-seat Honda Insight, as a short-range commuter, the Mini E could make sense for some buyersthey certainly won't miss the miniscule back seat. The battery pack adds 700 pounds to the weight of the standard Mini, yet acceleration claims are said to be quicker than the base model Range claims are also suspicious, as these things are almost always inflated, and one of the company's own photos shows a maximum estimated range on the car's trip computer of only 83 miles. Longevity of the expensive battery pack is another concern.
When will it be available? Only 500 will be made, and they will be available in California, New York, and New Jersey in early 2009 via a one-year lease.
Consumer Reports New cars: A to Z
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