Is an EV MINI really a MINI?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aquavir
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Aquavir

Aquavir

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Sorry for the clickbait thread title but I want some opinions on this. This will be my first MINI and although I don’t have all the time in the world to commit to hobbies, I’ve been thinking that it might be fun to join a local club and partake in some of this vibrant MINI culture. But I have a question, mostly for the non-virgin MINI owners out there: Is the SE accepted as part of the motoring heritage of this iconic brand, or a bit of a black sheep?
 
There's been a recent resurgence in Mini enthusiasts in my area, and I'm the only one with an electric Mini. Everyone else is eager to take a look at this strange silent thing, but few have expressed interest in acquiring one. I've even heard a few "too bad for you" comments when I ask how long the next twisty drive will be. But the interesting thing is that every time we gather, there's an abundance of Mini's, all different in one way or another, no two alike.

And, then, there's always the argument that the Countryman is "not really a Mini".
 
By eliminating the fake hood scoop on my MINI SE, some purists might say I demoted it into a MINI E. Don't fret about the opinions of other MINI owners--I daresay all of them would have a ball driving your SE.
 
As humans we haven’t evolved past trying to subdivide ourselves into tribes etc.
For me, the BMW era Mini lost if what made the Mini, well, mini. The creative packaging that allowed the car to have so much space inside for its size was gone. Even though the car had to grow due to crash test requirements, it did so while losing practicality while being physically the same size as other more practical cars.

That said, in a sea of characterless small cars it stands out and is its own thing.
At least the 2 door hard top tries to be fun. The clubman and countryman may he more practical for family use and are certainly the bigger sellers, but they seem to be a Mini in name and front fascia only. If people want to be judgmental they should be more welcoming if an electric 2 door hard top than those models imho.
Plus the Mini was about bringing affordable motoring to the masses. At least until recently the same could be said for the SE.
Your only issue for club events is going to be that of range. I can’t imagine many clubs will bother to accommodate your needs as you are very much in the minority.
 
I think the MINI SE is really a MINI. Arguments abound, pertaining to every generation. As discussed above, the BMW MINIs are dismissed by some as a perversion of the original. I thought for awhile that after the 1st gen BMW MINI, the rest were not true MINIs.. mainly because of how the "rawness" was refined out and how they grew. An electric MINI is certainly a new "shock" to the brand, even if it is a simple power plant swap for now.

I totally understand the various opinions that people have about models that negate things they love about theirs.

But what i'm starting to believe now is that "MINI" is as much about US as about the car. Some of us are outliers, if not downright odd, about what we like. We are all certainly unique and in the minority. Hopefully MINI never ends up being just about profitability. Yes, the brand can't lose money for the parent, or it will have to go away. But as long as that doesn't happen, i hope pride and tradition mean enough to keep MINI going - with serious support from BMW.

I don't have mine yet, but i know i never felt quite the same about all the cars i've ever owned, as i have about our R53. And my short test drive in the SE just made me feel at home.
 
In the North American world of SUVs and (some) huge sedans, the MINI Hardtop is a rare offering. The SE is every bit a MINI Hardtop, being more of a MINI than just about any other MINI model. And the new one is supposed to be smaller, but we’ll see. The new one is already being treated as an “other” vehicle because it’s not from Oxford.
 
insightman said:
The 2024 MINI Cooper SE definitely won't be a MINI Cooper SE.
Click to expand...

I don't know, don't you think if it has a devoted group of owners, that would make it a MINI? One other common trait of the brand is a vehement argument by owners that OTHER MINIs are absolutely not true MINIs. I could be wrong, but I don't see that to the same degree with other brands.
 
Hatch said:
I don't know, don't you think if it has a devoted group of owners, that would make it a MINI? One other common trait of the brand is a vehement argument by owners that OTHER MINIs are absolutely not true MINIs. I could be wrong, but I don't see that to the same degree with other brands.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I left out the /s (for sarcasm) at the end of my post, but I just fixed it.
 
My first vehicle with a MINI badge is also an SE. After seeing the leaks and the Aceman it may be my last - and that's fine. Just because I don't like it doesn't mean its not a MINI. As the consumer you can just buy an old one, or get something else entirely. We'll be here over here enjoying our SEs until then.
 
Aston Martin and Ferrari are releasing their first all-electric models in 2025. Aston says 50% of their models will be pure EV by 2030; Ferarri 40%. Mercedes is supposed to be going all-electric by 2030 ("where markets allow", they say). And Lotus just released what they say is their last gas-powered car, the Emira (have you seen the Evija EV? *drool*).

So, I have some bad news for folks who get snobbish about EV models not being connected to a brand's motoring heritage.
 
carrrl said:
My first vehicle with a MINI badge is also an SE. After seeing the leaks and the Aceman it may be my last - and that's fine. Just because I don't like it doesn't mean its not a MINI. As the consumer you can just buy an old one, or get something else entirely. We'll be here over here enjoying our SEs until then.
Click to expand...

See, now i LOVE the Aceman. And not just because it has the MINI logo. It's quirky, minimalist, and totally unique. I'm ok with the lights too.. they are in the Countryman tradition (which i never was a fan of, mainly because the AWD had to be an automatic). Too bad we'll never see it in the US.

MINI owners are really possessive and passionate about "their" model and generation. Anything that dilutes what makes MINI special to them, is objectionable. I applaud that passion. It's what fuels the tradition and maintains the excitement!

mini-vector-logo-25.webp
 
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