Alongside the new CE 04 electric motorcycle, BMW Malaysia also took the opportunity to announce several new options for the MINI Electric earlier this week. Also known as the Mini Cooper SE, it can now be obtained in a new colour.
Specifically, customers now have the choice to get their hands on the MINI Electric in Nanuq White alongside the previously available White Silver and Midnight Black. Other than that, they can also opt for a panoramic sunroof instead of a black roof for the three-door electric hatch.
The MINI Electric also now comes with heated front seats too although we are not sure if this is something that many of us could appreciate given our tropical weather. Aside from these changes, the EV is still generally the same MINI Electric that has been on sale in Malaysia since June 2021.
Featuring a front-mounted 135kW 270Nm electric motor, the Cooper SE has a top speed of 150km/h and can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds. Powered by a 28.9kWh lithium-ion battery, it has a maximum range of 232km.
As for charging time, it takes the EV around 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach 80% of battery charge through its onboard AC charger which supports up to 11kW of power. When charged using a 50kW DC fast charger, the charging time can be significantly reduced to 36 minutes.
While the Cooper SE looked exactly like its petrol counterpart, the electric variant has a number of physical cues that set it apart. That includes the yellow-coloured side mirror caps and S logo as well as the Mini E logo on its back and charging port flap.
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The 17-inch wheels on the Mini Electric also feature a design that is specific to the model that is called the Electric Power Spoke. If you looked closely, you would notice that it looked like the three-pronged power socket.
Inside, the EV is equipped with a 5-inch digital instrument cluster alongside an 8.8-inch touchscreen for its MINI Connected infotainment system that also supports Apple CarPlay. The system is further supported by a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, MINI Navigation System, and a head-up display.
There is also a built-in Qi wireless charger while the seats are draped in Carbon Black leatherette together with an Anthracite headliner. The Cooper SE also features plenty of safety features such as six airbags, adaptive LED headlights, ABS, Lane Departure Warning, Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Traction Control, and Parking Assist.
The price for the MINI Electric in Nanuq White remains the same, starting at RM193,834 and inclusive of a two-year standard warranty. Once you consider the extended warranty package that adds two more years into the warranty period together with a 4-year service package, the price then starts at RM199,876.
That being said, customers also have the option to obtain the MINI Electric without a head-up display which costs slightly less at RM191,546. With the extended warranty and service packages that we mentioned before, then the starting price tag would be RM196,876.
Even though some may not be fond of its sub-250km range, the MINI Electric actually command a somewhat respectable sales number for MINI Malaysia last year. According to the Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia, Hans de Visser during the unveiling event earlier this week, 25% of the 1,233 MINI vehicles that BMW Malaysia sold in 2022 were MINI Electric.
That generally means out of four MINI vehicles that Malaysians consumers from the German marque last year, one of them is this particular all-electric model. Aside from the MINI Electric and the newly announced BMW CE 04 electric motorcycle, BMW Malaysia’s electric ambition is also being represented by the iX, iX3, and i4 while the flagship full-size i7 is expected to be rolled out into our market later this year too.
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