Electric MINI spotted in Munich, expected at 2008 LA Auto Show

Check it, Cooper fans -- that electric MINI we've been sporadically hearing about is for real, and we've seen the spy shots that prove it. Car has hosted up a slew of non-blurry (gasp!) snaps of the eco-friendly whip cruising around Munich, and just in case the complete absence of an exhaust pipe wasn't evidence enough, maybe the "Hybrid Test Vehicle" decals will make you a believer. Also of note, we're now hearing that the car is on track for a 2008 Los Angeles motor show appearance, which jibes quite well with the purported summer 2009 US launch.

[Via RegHardware]

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:47AM]

and how is this a spyshot... just go into any dealership of a normal mini, and hey presto, an electric.

[From My Cube @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:00AM]

very true...I hope that BMW can make this economical. If they could make this in the 20-30k range it will kill the prius and possibly to volt if it has the range...If they can make this car go 150+ miles on a charge...Im sold

[tom @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:05AM]

for your information, this is a REAL spyshot

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Search-Results/Spyshots/Mini-goes-electric-Spy-photos-of-battery-powered-Mini/

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:22AM]

tom,

I was referring to the use of the term 'spyshot'. the term for me is applicable when describing a car that has been photographed in a relatively covert situation, either on an obscure test track, or with the vehicle actually having some semblance of 'disguise'; so that the new shape/design of the vehicle is preserve from prying eyes.

the vehicle itself in this shot look identical to any other mini. the fact that it has the words 'hybrid' written on it, kinda makes my point, don't you think ?

perhaps the term 'photograph' might be more appropriate in this case.

[Ogo @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:37AM]

At least the foreign companies figured out the hybrid concept.

Our American companies insist on hybrid pick-ups and SUVs.... uhh... for all those environmentally conscience Escalade drivers that want 13mpg instead of 12mpg.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:53AM]

The GM hybrid Tahoe gets 20mpg, not 13. I believe the Escalade gets 19.

GM has plenty of other hybrids that aren't SUVs. They just aren't two-mode.

[lance @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:49AM]

me wants one! i love them things. I could park it in the back of my pickup.

[Joe Pollicino @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:52AM]

I actually have a mini, and I gotta say my favorite part is how that little engine ROARS. If they add engine sounds I am a taker!

[moomoomoo @ Sep 22nd 2008 10:56AM]

The minis used for the underground scene in the italian job were electric so I don't get what the fuss is about

[EricR @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:04AM]

Would you care to share your sources??

[Tonicboy @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:12AM]

Those weren't production cars, they were custom jobs. These are real cars that people can buy.

[Zach @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:34AM]

GREAT movie. It's what made me fell in love with the Mini. Never drove one, but they seem like a fun car to drive. Only thing is down in south FL I see a ton of women and old people driving them. Now I wouldn't get a convertible one or one that's a light color, but the people I see driving them makes me a tad self conscious if I were to drive one.

[fanman @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:03PM]

1) mooomnoomomonnonomon is entirely correct. Kudos for the trivia.

2) The first italian job is infinatly better in every respect than the new one.

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:04AM]

I just hope the price is right :)

[USA @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:07AM]

Bloody Germans. Long live Bushoil !

[webon @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:06PM]

I live far, far and away from the US of As so long live Chavezoil?

[Barry Allen @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:08AM]

Fun fact: Three MINI's were modified with electric engines for the shooting of "The Italian Job" for the subway scene, because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

[happy_penguin @ Sep 22nd 2008 7:26PM]

Electric MOTOR. An engine can sometimes be called a motor but an electric motor is never called an engine.

[iEye @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:09AM]

I guess the market for the Cherolet Volt just got reduced to people with big butts... This Mini is sexy, just like the people who drive them... he he he...

But alas, I do not drive a mini... but I like where this is going.. small electric cars as opposed to where GM will probably end up... selling SUV sized electric cars that will never see a construction site... only mini malls....

[David @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:29AM]

"But alas, I do not drive a mini... but I like where this is going.. small electric cars as opposed to where GM will probably end up... selling SUV sized electric cars that will never see a construction site... only mini malls...."

Maybe, but premature criticism at this point. GM has recently brought the Solstice/Sky and the Astra, both small vehicles, and the new Volt is really on a 4-door sedan. I see them trending down, using hybrid technology for larger vehicles as a stopgap in order to keep those sales from diving from mileage concerns while they reconfigure their product line. GM is also the company that developed the "skateboard" chassis concept, shrinking all the drivetrain, suspension and steering components into a drive-by-wire, slablike platform onto which many types of bodies can be bolted. Although originally developed for fuel-cell vehicles, it's suitable for battery-powered electrics vehicles as well.

Note that the gas-fueled Mini isn't particularly fuel efficient for its size and that we have no idea how efficient the electric version will be.

[Platinum_Skeet @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:24AM]

Honestly with about 2 or 3 grand and some time on your hands you can make any car electrical...

[Paul @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:26AM]

If it is an electric vehicle (with no exhaust) then how is it a hybrid as well? Hybrid's require 2 power sources...

[simon @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:03PM]

This could be an electric-fuel-cell hybrid?

[phanbouy @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:35PM]

fuel cell still = electricity which =/= drivetrain type

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Sep 22nd 2008 9:56PM]

These electric Mini's were test driven over a year ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd_L7aEotGM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Sy7XnJBPE

[TareX @ Sep 22nd 2008 11:35AM]

Loving it...

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:04PM]

I don't think you're allowed to take a spy shot with anything better than a cameraphone with a 1mp sensor and broken lens..

[Cybergypsy @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:12PM]

I love my new mini and will get this if it hits the states :)

[atbnet @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:36PM]

They are bringing 500 summer 2009, but only to California if I remember correctly. I would love to be able to get one when I graduate.

[Luisen @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:34PM]

This is the article with the highest amount of low ranked comments I've ever seen

[phanbouy @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:35PM]

highest lowest rank

[Shinigami @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:58PM]

Why Mini? Why not Mitsubishi Lancer?
Imagine: affordable plug-in hybrid...

[Andrew @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:31PM]

Wow, what's with the flood of negative ratings today? Monday syndrome?

[phanbouy @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:12PM]

love the irony

[SteveJ @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:37PM]

I wanted my next car to be an EV, so this is fantastic news. Well, if it really is an EV. If it's a hybrid, well, then there is the $30k Tesla in 2011. However, the linked article says it's an EV, so I'm going to presume, and hope, that that's what it is. Really I'd rather give my money to upstart Tesla, which has to be credited with pushing EVs forward, and pushing Mini into making this car, but 2011 is a lot further off then 2009 and I don't know how long my old Escort will last. One way or the other, my next car is going to be an EV.

[CraigJ @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:06PM]

Well, maybe you have issues, but my choice of car has nothing to do with my junk or where I like to put it.

[CraigJ @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:17PM]

This comment makes no since because the original was deleted...

[cleo @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:16AM]

electric car will only be good when they hook up a charging system that keeps the battery charged like a gas car

[genePoolPolice @ Oct 8th 2008 4:53PM]

You! Out of the Gene Pool!

[BRtist @ Oct 20th 2008 3:20PM]

By "charging system" I beleive you mean alternator. And, as it turns out, converting electrical energy to mechanical energy and then back to electrical via alternator is actually a lossy system...hmm who woulda thunk

[seagull @ Oct 12th 2008 11:38PM]

Folks wake up! The fully functional 100% electric car was available in Caifornia over 12 years ago. GM had the EV-1 and Toyota had the RAV-4. Both got close to 125 miles to a charge. Then GM decided, despite massive protest, to take all the EV-1's from their lessees and crush them in a junk yard. Then they sold the rights to the battery to Exxon. Now is it starting to make sense? Hybrids are a joke. Think about it. There was a 125 miles to a charge battery over 12 years ago. So why do hybrids get only 30-40 miles to a charge? Backwards technology? Nope, simply the auto manufacturers, despite facing extinction, continue to cling to the internal combustion engine because of the money made from it. And don't think the oil companies don't have a say in the matter too. If you wanna great education, see the movie "Who Killed The Electric Car".