Any outlook for large batteries (more range) for future Mini's?

Texas22Step said:
What about the MINI SE fake hood scoop?
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Of course, one way to add lightness is to remove the ornamental hood scoop (meaning I probably have the lightest SE on the forum). However, if jettisoning the hood scoop wasn't part of their next-gen weight-saving scheme, I'd gladly pay again to buy the lighter base MINI Cooper hood to save even more weight. Sadly, I believe we're driving the lightest MINI Cooper EV the company will ever make.
 
Sort of related to this thread, I got some pictures of the inside of the battery from a MINI mechanic on Reddit. There's a lot less actual battery inside the T than I expected. There only appears to be cells (blue rectangles) in the large part under the rear seat and at the very tip (slightly larger bit closest to the front of the car). The center of the T just looks to be electronics.

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I believe (based on other photos I've seen), the long part of the "T" has a row of single batteries, which looks like 3 or 4 (one may be obscured) from that photo. And then the large part of the "T" is a double stack of batteries.

I think it's pretty cool how it's all a single assembly held in place by 12 bolts (if memory serves), so it can easily be dropped for maintenance. Or, some day, replacement with higher-capacity...

Also notice in the second photo the orange HV connectors in the middle, that must be where the motor plugs in. And on the left underside of the car are the infamous zip-tied orange cables. But since the battery assembly is dropped what do they go to?
 
Puppethead said:
I believe (based on other photos I've seen), the long part of the "T" has a row of single batteries, which looks like 3 or 4 (one may be obscured) from that photo. And then the large part of the "T" is a double stack of batteries.

I think it's pretty cool how it's all a single assembly held in place by 12 bolts (if memory serves), so it can easily be dropped for maintenance. Or, some day, replacement with higher-capacity...

Also notice in the second photo the orange HV connectors in the middle, that must be where the motor plugs in. And on the left underside of the car are the infamous zip-tied orange cables. But since the battery assembly is dropped what do they go to?
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I guess looking closer, those rectangular connectors (that are all unplugged) seem to be the battery module connections and there are three near the center (one of which may be for the double stack)

I'm thinking the zip tied HV cables are for the DC fast charging? I don't know what else would be in that corner that requires that thick orange cabling.
 
Carsten Haase said:
I'm thinking the zip tied HV cables are for the DC fast charging? I don't know what else would be in that corner that requires that thick orange cabling.
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Of course! It's so obvious those are going to the charge port. I can't believe that never occurred to me. So they are indeed high-voltage, but only when plugged into an EVSE.
 
I'm always amazed at how much plumbing there is under the hood. I assume the battery's plumbing is connected from the front of the pack to the two hoses on the left in this photo, but I didn't see the cooling-system connectors in the battery photos @Carsten Haase shared above.

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The Dark Side said:
Any idea when the current Mini will be upgraded/redesigned to have a larger capacity battery? Anyone know when this current platform is scheduled to be changed? Or will it be around for several more model years?

Cheers,
TDS
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https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/mini-plots-radical-new-look-line-familiar-hatch

Not sure how reliable this info is but at least some of it is from Oliver Heilmer (Mini designer). There's more interesting bits in the article but I pulled out a few:

The new Mini hatchback range will be split into two distinct models: a petrol variant built in Oxford and based on a heavily updated version of the existing car’s architecture; and a new electric version that will be slightly shorter and built in China only on a dedicated EV platform as part of a joint venture with Great Wall Motors. Both are due in 2023.

The next hatchback, and the EV with an EV architecture, does offer chances in terms of improving proportions and trying to make it shorter than the current generation while having more interior space. Which sounds like a contradiction!

Also some bad news for the US, hopefully we still get the 3 door:
he can never see a Mini close to five metres in length but size is relative between markets: “It’s a European phenomenon, being small. When you go to the US, they ask: why have we built the Countryman that small? You can resolve this looking at what models are in what markets.”
 
Carsten Haase said:
a new electric version that will be slightly shorter and built in China only on a dedicated EV platform
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This sounds like MINI's planning to shrink Great Wall Motors' 13.9-foot, 143-hp, 3,323-lb Ora "Good Cat" while somehow making it more powerful without sacrificing its 249-mile range (with the smaller of 2 available batteries--I assume this is a WLTP rating). Will those changes make the Chinese MINI EV lighter than my SE?

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The Good Cat GT (same 143-hp, but with fake air scoops, fancier wheels, red mirrors, and a stripe)
 
The MINI SE prototype first spotted in Sweden and later in China* sported a Haval (Great Wall brand) "Big Dog" steering wheel. The latter is an ICE SUV a bit over 15 feet long, so it seems unlikely that the future SE will use that platform. Still, this suggests that it might still be a bit of a "parts bin" vehicle (or it could just have that way for the prototype).

Wheelbase on the Good Cat is 104.3", whereas that of the current SE is 117.9"...I don't think that the prototype appears that much shorter?

https://insideevs.com/news/495260/fourth-generation-mini-cooper-electric-spy-photos/

*Given the lack of lower body side cladding in both photos, such that the frame rails/battery pack was exposed, it seems that it might be the exact same vehicle.

ETA: A bit more info on the Ora Cat 02 (with differing/updated specs) can be found here:

https://insideevs.com/news/534078/ora-cat-iaa-debut-europe/

ETA2: Check out the driver's screen, and compare it to the MINI prototype's interior (barely) visible in the spy pics in the first story above.

ETA3: To me, the Ora Cat 2 looks like a MINI and a Fiat 500 got together and had a baby. :)
 
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Carsten Haase said:
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/mini-plots-radical-new-look-line-familiar-hatch

Not sure how reliable this info is but at least some of it is from Oliver Heilmer (Mini designer).
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Here's an interesting part of Mr. Heilmer's commentary in that AutoCar article:
More fabrics of different textures and knits are set to be used instead of leather, which will be phased out, along with chrome, as Mini seeks to include only trim that is functional rather than purely for decoration.

Oliver, my close personal friend, read the letters I sent him about the fake hood scoop!
 
What, no chrome? I can't imagine that, as someone who doesn't like the blackout look. But if they did various colors maybe that would be interesting.
 
CuriousGeorge said:
Wheelbase on the Good Cat is 104.3", whereas that of the current SE is 117.9".
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No idea where I came up with the latter figure! C&D lists the wheelbase of the current SE as 98.2".

Note to self: when at your computer, estimate the wheelbase of the prototype using this photo:

https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/G4eeb/s1/2023-mini-cooper-electric.jpg

and knowing that those are 17" diameter wheels.

ETA: I come up with ~91"...so seemingly a different platform than the Ora Cat, but consistent with the "smaller on the outside, bigger on the inside" comments from BMW.
 
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CuriousGeorge said:
I come up with ~91"...so seemingly a different platform than the Ora Cat, but consistent with the "smaller on the outside, bigger on the inside" comments from BMW.
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The image of the prototype isn't from the same horizontal angle as the SE image upon which I superimposed it, so the height comparison is not accurate. I matched the size and position of the rear tires to hopefully provide a visual length and wheelbase comparison. I doubt this prototype is larger inside. The windshield angle--is it too "modern" for a MINI Cooper?

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Nice! I was questioning my calculations a bit (I got ~92" on a 2nd try), but I think that your overlay clearly shows that the prototype is indeed shorter (including a bit less front overhang?).

Pooling all the evidence together, it seems to me that if this prototype isn't the final-final version, it must be awfully close.
 
GvilleGuy said:
Interesting stuff. I would not want my Mini to be any smaller.
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On the inside, or on the outside?

FWIW, current Mini 3 doors are ~6" longer than the original, but with only a ~1" longer wheelbase. Most of the growth, then, has been forward of the windshield, and in particular forward of the front wheels, presumably to meet increasing safety standards. In this regard, the prototype is a reversion to original Mini-ness, i.e., a very short hood w/ minimal front (and rear) overhangs. If they can do that while maintaining the space available for the driver (and occasional passenger), I'm all in.
 
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