The battery capacity is rated at 32.6 kWh which offers a range (under the WLTP protocol) of between 124-144 miles. The charging plug replaces the petrol filler above the right-hand rear wheel. The Mini Electric comes with both home and public charging cables and the company says a 50kW DC fast-charging station can give an 80 per cent charge in 35 minutes.
Inside there’s a digital dashboard with a 5.5-inch colour screen showing speed and range information, as well as a new navigation system with real time traffic info. Outside there are LED lights, blanked-off grille and embossed Mini Electric logos.
The entry car, which starts at £24,400 and comes with all the essentials, is part of a three-tier range that shows how hard Mini is trying to impress in the value for money stakes.
A mid-range model (cloth/leather-look upholstery, park distance control, rear camera, seat heating, driver assistance pack) costs £2,000 more. Add a further £4k and you get a Mini Electric with the works: leather, park assist, Harmon Kardon sound system, head-up display, panoramic sun roof, matrix LED lights, larger infotainment touch screen, wireless phone charging and a choice of five alloy wheels and six exterior body colours.
Before its unveiling, 15,000 people had expressed an interest in the car, says the company. The Mini Electric will run down the same Mini line at the Oxford plant as the rest of the range, with total production of 1,000 cars a day.