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