New Mini EV for NZ

The first ever electric-drive Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 model range will arrive in New Zealand in 2017.

Mini spokesman Paul Sherley says the company is aiming to release the car here mid-year.

It was unveiled officially for the first time in Europe at the weekend.

The first Mini plug-in hybrid model features a three-cylinder engine up front. This powers the front wheels, while the electric motor drives the rear wheels.

The hybrid system of the hybrid model is made up of a three-cylinder petrol engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology and a synchronous electric motor.

Together they generate a system output of 165 kW/224 hp, enabling the car to sprint from standing to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds.

The power of the combustion engine is transmitted to the front wheels by means of a six-speed Steptronic transmission.

The electric motor powers the rear wheels via a two-stage single-speed transmission.

In everyday traffic the model, when setting off, only works with the electric motor, meaning a virtually noiseless start.

Once a driving speed of 80 km/h is reached, the combustion engine is activated. The eDRIVE toggle switch enables the driver to continue to drive with the pure electric engine beyond this point if preferred.

In Max eDRIVE mode, the car runs at up to 125 km/h free of local emissions.

The electrical range of the first Mini plug-in hybrid model is 40 kilometres.