Car Enthusiast - click here to access the home page


 


David Brown launches electric Mini. Image by David Brown Automotive.

David Brown launches electric Mini
Original-shape Mini gets 110-mile range.
<< earlier article     later article >>

 


News homepage

What's all this about?

It’s an electric Mini. No, not the new one BMW-owned brand has just launched alongside a new Countryman SUV, but an original Mini with electric power. And a few other tricks up its diminutive sleeves.

To be honest, I don’t think I’d trust an electric car made by BMC or British Leyland. Think of the sparks…

Well, that’s OK because this all-electric Mini has been made by David Brown Automotive.

David Brown? The Aston Martin DB guy?

No, not him. Same name, different guy. David Brown Automotive has been, for some time now, resto-modding original Minis, making them perfect — far better than they ever left the factory — with modern performance and interior infotainment systems. Now, instead of a hot A-Series engine up front, David Brown has switched this Mini to battery power.

How much power?

A whopping 97hp, since you ask, thanks to an ultra-compact, energy-dense motor from Zonic. Which doesn’t sound like much, but then you need to remember that this electric Mini eMastered (to give it its proper name) weighs a mere 640kg, which kind of puts the mockers on the idea that electric cars have to be heavy.

Is it quick?

Actually, yes. Certainly by the standards of any original Mini. Thanks to 175Nm of torque, the Mini eMastered will hit 62mph in just 8.5 seconds and has a top speed of 92mph.

Ah, but does it have any range?

Again, yes it does. 110 miles may not be a Tesla-like figure, but the Mini eMastered is extracting that from a mere 18.8kWh battery. There are plug-in hybrids with bigger batteries than that. The battery charges at 6.6kW, but you can top it up from a home charging point in just three hours, so there’s not much point in a fast charger.

What about the rest of the car?

The rest of the Mini eMastered is just like any of David Brown’s Mini Remastered models. Think a Singer Porsche, but smaller and a tenth of the price. The bodyshell is fully restored and rust-proofed, and David Brown gets rid of the unsightly old inside-out body seams. There’s modern electrical components, air conditioning, and infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can choose from a multitude of colours for both the exterior and interior, you get full leather and hand-made switches, and there’s plenty of opportunity to make the entire car bespoke to little old you.

Michelle Gay, Sales & Marketing Director at David Brown Automotive, said: “The launch of the all-electric Mini eMastered reaffirms David Brown Automotive's distinguished position as a driving force of the luxury automotive industry. There is an inherent challenge in electrifying such an iconic model, to retain the high levels of reliability, performance, and quality that our customers expect. Mini eMastered is a shape that captures hearts and minds, and it is the embodiment of our passion, vision, and commitment to sustainable luxury today and into the future.

“With an unwavering dedication to British craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainability, we have earned global recognition for our renowned handcrafted automotive masterpieces and today we are proud to showcase our electric future.”

Ah yes, but how much will it cost?

Yessss… That’s the tricky part. It’s going to be £125,000, and you can reserve your build slot with a £1,000 deposit (refundable). Now, that’s sure not cheap, but again — think of Singer and how much they charge for a Porsche restomod. Surely a Mini is as iconic as a 911?



Neil Briscoe - 20 Sep 2023


David Brown Automotive Mini eVolution. Image by David Brown Automotive.David Brown Automotive Mini eVolution. Image by David Brown Automotive.David Brown Automotive Mini eVolution. Image by David Brown Automotive.David Brown Automotive Mini eVolution. Image by David Brown Automotive.David Brown Automotive Mini eVolution. Image by David Brown Automotive.

David Brown Automotive Mini eVolution. Image by David Brown Automotive.David Brown Automotive Mini eVolution. Image by David Brown Automotive.David Brown Automotive Mini eVolution. Image by David Brown Automotive.    








www.mini.co.uk    - Mini road tests
- Mini news
- Cooper images






Kingsley KSR is new take on old Rangie. Image by Kingsley.
Reimagined classic Rangie: yours for £220k
Kingsley Re-Engineered creates its ultimate classic Range Rover, the KSR.
 
MINI brings back the Convertible. Image by MINI.
MINI revives Convertible for another outing
MINI reveals updated Convertible model - but no electric option for now.
Lotus previews its future with Theory 1. Image by Lotus.
Lotus Theory 1 signposts company's future
Clever blend of digital and analogue tech makes 1,000hp Lotus Theory 1 an exciting proposition.

 
 215 Racing
 9ff
 A. Kahn Design
 Abarth
 Abt
 AC Cars
 AC Schnitzer
 Acura
 Aehra
 AIM
 Alfa Romeo
 Alpina
 Alpine
 Amari
 APS Sportec
 Arash
 Arden
 Ares
 Ariel
 Arrinera
 Artega
 Ascari
 Aston Martin
 Atalanta
 Atomik
 Audi
 Austin
 Auto Union
 Autodelta
 Autofarm
 Autosport
 AVA
 Avatar
 Axon
 Aznom
 BAC
 BAIC
 Bentley
 Bertone
 Bizzarrini
 Bloodhound
 Bluebird
 BMW
 Bosch
 Bowler
 Brabham
 Brabus
 Breckland
 Bridgestone
 Brilliance
 Bristol
 Bugatti
 Buick
 Burton
 BYD
 Cadillac
 Callaway
 Callum
 Caparo
 Capstone
 Carlsson
 Caterham
 CCG
 Chang'an
 Changfeng
 Chevrolet
 Chevron
 Chongfeng
 Chrysler
 Citroen
 Climax
 Connaught
 Cooper Tires
 Corvette
 Cummins
 Cupra
 Dacia
 Daewoo
 Daihatsu
 Daimler
 Dartz
 Datsun
 David Brown
 David Brown Automotive
 DDR
 De Tomaso
 Delta
 Detroit Electric
 Devon
 Dodge
 Donkervoort
 Drayson
 DS
 Eagle
 Eagle E-type
 EDAG
 edo competition
 Eterniti
 Everrati
 Evisol
 Exagon
 FAB Design

 
 Factory Five
 Faralli & Mazzanti
 Fenix
 Fenomenon
 Ferrari
 Fiat
 Fisker
 Ford
 G-Power
 Geely
 Gemballa
 General Motors
 Genesis
 Ginetta
 Giugiaro
 Glickenhaus
 GMC
 Goodwood
 Google
 Gordon Murray
 Gordon Murray Automotive
 Gordon Murray Design
 Gray Design
 Great Wall
 GTA
 GTM
 Gumpert
 Hamann
 Hartge
 HBH
 Heffner Performance
 Hennessey
 HERE
 HiPhi
 Holden
 Honda
 Hulme
 Hummer
 Hyundai
 I.D.E.A
 Icona
 IFR
 Infiniti
 Ionity
 Isis
 JAC
 Jaguar
 Jeep
 Jensen
 Jetstream
 JJAD
 Joss Developments
 Kahn
 Kamala
 Keating
 Kia
 Koenigsegg
 KTM
 Kumho
 Lada
 Lagonda
 Lamborghini
 Lancia
 Land Rover
 Lexus
 Liberty
 Lightning
 Lincoln
 Lister
 Loma Performance
 Lorinser
 Lotus
 LupiniPower
 Luxgen
 Mahindra
 Mansory
 Maserati
 Mastretta
 Maybach
 Mazda
 McLaren
 Mercedes
 Mercedes-AMG
 Mercedes-Benz
 Mercedes-Maybach
 Mercury
 Metrocab
 MG
 Michelin
 MINI
 Mitsubishi
 MMI
 Monte Carlo
 Mopar
 Morgan
 Mosler
 MTM
 Munro
 NAC MG
 Nichols Cars
 Nissan
 NLV

 
 Noble
 Novitec
 Opel
 Overfinch
 Pagani
 Perodua
 Peugeot
 Piaggio
 Pininfarina
 Polestar
 Pontiac
 Porsche
 Praga
 Preview
 Prodrive
 Project Runningblade
 Project Velocity
 Proton
 Protoscar
 Qoros
 Radical
 Range Rover
 Red Bull
 Renault
 Reva
 Rimac
 Rinspeed
 RoadRazer
 Rolls-Royce
 Ronn Motor Company
 Rover
 RUF
 Saab
 SAIC
 Saleen
 Saturn
 Scagliarini
 SCG
 Scion
 SDR Sportscars
 SEAT
 Sin
 Singer
 Skoda
 Smart
 Soleil
 Spada
 speedArt
 Sportec
 Spyker
 SRT
 Ssangyong
 SSC
 Startech
 STaSIS
 Subaru
 Suzuki
 Suzusho
 TAD
 Tamiya
 Tata
 Techart
 Tesla
 The Little Car Company
 THINK
 Thunder Power
 Tojeiro
 Tommy Kaira
 TomTom
 Toray
 Toyota
 Trabant
 TranStar
 Trident
 Tushek
 TVR
 TWR
 UKCOTY
 Vanda Electrics
 Vauxhall
 Velozzi
 Vencer
 Venturi
 Veritas
 Vizualtech
 VL Automotive
 Volkswagen
 Volvo
 VUHL
 WCA
 WCotY
 Webasto
 Westfield
 Wiesmann
 Xenatec
 Yamaha
 Zagato
 Zarooq
 Zeekr
 Zenos
 Zenvo



 
 






External links:   | Irish Car Market News |

Internal links:   | Home | Privacy | Contact us | Archives | Old motor show reports | Follow Car Enthusiast on Twitter | Copyright 1999-2024 ©