ELECTROGENIC MINI COOPER
Autocar UK|June 22, 2022
TESTED 18.3.22, BICESTER HERITAGE ON SALE NOW | What could be better for modern urban motoring than an electrified classic Mini?
ILLYA VERPRAET
ELECTROGENIC MINI COOPER

The reasoning behind electrified classic cars is that many owners don't actually care all that much for manual gearboxes and temperamental carburettors, and converting them to electric power makes them more usable. Anyway, if there's one thing we can agree on, it's surely that seeing more classic cars out and about is a good thing.

It would be a shame to rip out a naturally aspirated V12 and turn it into a coffee table, but the BMC A-series engine in the original Mini? That was always just a tool for a job.

If any EV-converted classic is going to work, it might well be this Mini Cooper from Electrogenic. All of the Oxfordshire firm's work is bespoke, but this is about as off-the-shelf as it gets. In fact, the car I'm driving here belongs to a company called Smallcarbigcity, which runs tours of London in classic Minis and plans to convert its entire fleet to electric.

Conversions start at £32,000 plus a donor car- and that's assuming it needs no other suspension or body work. It's a good thing that Minis aren't known for rusting, then...

For that money, you get 21kWh of Tesla Model S battery cells taking the place of the engine and fuel tank and enabling a range of 80-100 miles.

Esta historia es de la edición June 22, 2022 de Autocar UK.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición June 22, 2022 de Autocar UK.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE AUTOCAR UKVer todo
THE DRAMATIC ITALIAN THAT MARKED THE END OF AN ERA
Autocar UK

THE DRAMATIC ITALIAN THAT MARKED THE END OF AN ERA

When the Huracán bowed out, the curtain fell forever on Lambo's V10

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 27, 2024
HOW EV MAKERS CAN WIN THE RACE TO 5.0MPKWH
Autocar UK

HOW EV MAKERS CAN WIN THE RACE TO 5.0MPKWH

Manufacturers are honing every detail to close in on big efficiency goal

time-read
1 min  |
November 27, 2024
MASERATI MC20
Autocar UK

MASERATI MC20

We bid a sad farewell to a handsome supercar that was easy to live with

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 27, 2024
The quickening
Autocar UK

The quickening

Instant acceleration is part of the appeal of an EV, but is it all getting a bit much for unwary and inexperienced drivers? JOHN EVANS investigates

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 27, 2024
Inside track
Autocar UK

Inside track

Watching an F1 race with live access to engineers and telemetry is the stuff of dreams for racing fans. ALEX WOLSTENHOLME makes a day of it

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 27, 2024
WHOLE IN ONE
Autocar UK

WHOLE IN ONE

The Volkswagen Golf has been all things to all motorists for half a century. At the wheel of a classic Mk1, VICKY PARROTT charts the eight-generation history of one of the world's most successful cars

time-read
7 minutos  |
November 27, 2024
DACIA DUSTER
Autocar UK

DACIA DUSTER

Mk3 model gains digital tech, ADAS, slicker looks... Is this mission creep?

time-read
10 minutos  |
November 27, 2024
MAZDA CX-80 PHEV
Autocar UK

MAZDA CX-80 PHEV

Another look at Mazda's hefty SUV, this time in plug-in hybrid form

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 27, 2024
VAUXHALL GRANDLAND ELECTRIC
Autocar UK

VAUXHALL GRANDLAND ELECTRIC

Newcomer looks to ease the average family SUV driver into EV motoring

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 27, 2024
BMW X3 20 XDRIVE
Autocar UK

BMW X3 20 XDRIVE

Fourth generation of brand's best-seller arrives with base petrol engine

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 27, 2024