WHAT do Harry Kane and the new Mini have in common?
Answer: They’re going down better than a tray of beers and schnitzel in Munich.
England’s little striker made its long-awaited debut at Germany’s International Motor Show this week.
The smaller, smoother, smarter Mini Cooper petrol will be built in Oxford from next summer. But not the battery-powered version. That’ll be produced in China for now.
Both versions look identical inside and out, minus the poo chute of course. But the three-door petrol will be around £5k cheaper at £25k. And a lot more convenient. The EV is £30k.
Right, allow me to show you around the new minimalist Mini.
No chrome. No plastic wheel arches. No side scuttles or indicators on the front wings. Just pebble-smooth surfaces, flush door handles and hi-tech matrix lights with an updated Union Flag design at the rear. Winning.
The interior is class. There’s no other word for it.
Simple dash and controls, like the original 1959 Mini, but also hi-tech, high-quality and vegan.
Knitted recycled textiles cover the dash. At night, a projector behind the round OLED instrument cluster gives the place a cocktail-bar vibe. Where you’re the DJ.
You start the car by turning an actual key. We like that. You sit nice and low. We really like that. 3D satnav is standard. You can upload your own photos on the Home screen.
We’re less fussed about the in-car gaming and video streaming.
There’s more fun to be had behind the wheel.
The Mini Cooper petrol will use the same 1.5-litre and 2-litre engines as today’s cars. Which is fine. They’re nippy and do good numbers.
The Mini Cooper Electric will have two fresh battery choices — 38kWh with a 190-mile range for £30k. That’s simply called E.
Or 51kWh with a 250-mile range for £34,500. That’s the SE.
You’d be lucky to get 100 miles from today’s £32,550 Mini Electric.
Which means the new E goes further for less money. You didn’t expect that.
Or you can go double the distance for £2k more with the SE. Winning.
There’ll be a hot John Cooper Works further down the line.
Now we must talk about Oxford. And what happens when Mini goes all-electric from 2030.
Oxford will make the three-door Mini Cooper petrol, the yet-to-be-seen convertible and five-door petrol from 2024 until then. But after that?
The plant is having a £500million upgrade to make electric cars — and will eventually adopt Mini Cooper Electric and the Aceman crossover from China. That will be confirmed any day now.
Mini boss Stefanie Wurst — whose dad used to work for BMW at Oxford — said: “Oxford is the heart and soul of the Mini brand.
“We will always make sure that Oxford has a sufficient amount of Minis to produce.
“It’s not an economic answer but it is the right emotional answer. It is your baby and we respect that.”
Back of the net.
