THE rooftop of ATL Autobahn’s Lady Musgrave showroom in St Andrew served as the launching pad of the future of the MINI brand in the Caribbean as the all-electric MINI Cooper SE was unveiled on Friday, May 27.

ATL Autobahn is the arm of the ATL Automotive Group responsible for the BMW and MINI brand of vehicles.

“MINI Jamaica is extremely excited to finally have the MINI Cooper SE. We’ve been dying to unveil this car for a few months now. It’s the future. This is where the car industry is going, so we’re thrilled,” Melissa Bailey, sales manager for MINI of ATL Autobahn, told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.

Not only is the MINI Cooper SE the brand’s first all-electric vehicle, but ATL Autobahn played host to its Caribbean debut with the launch event.

“This is the first time in the Caribbean for the MINI Cooper SE. Trinidad will be next,” said Bailey.

The night of firsts continued as MINI was also the first of the ATL Automotive Group brands to unveil a full electric model.

“It’s a big deal,” Bailey continued.

The MINI Cooper SE is based on the three-door version of the vehicle. There is no internal combustion engine, instead under the bonnet and driving the front wheels is an electric motor that develops 184 horsepower and 199lb/ft of torque, all available from zero rpm. The motor itself is powered by a 32.6kWh T-shaped lithium-ion battery designed to retain the MINI’s weight distribution for handling, despite a necessary 18 millimetres increase in ride height. This arrangement also makes no change in the MINI’s interior and cargo volume. The motor itself is of the synchronous type enabling a high level of power delivery that extends into high engine speed ranges, an exceptionally high level of efficiency and smooth, low-vibration running. The Cooper SE is also equipped with a heat pump to lower power demands from climate control.

Bailey addressed two of the major concerns for those on the edge of making the switch to full electric, charging and range. Explaining that MINI Jamaica already provides the MINI ELECTRIC Wallbox home charging station with all of the battery equipped vehicles, such as the MINI Cooper Countryman Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), to customers and has recommended installation partners.

“We provide home charging stations with all of the battery electric vehicles that we sell to our customers, at no additional cost. We also work with Solar Buzz and Forge Dynamics and Innovations to do the installation of these home chargers so everything is safe and meets our warranty standards. We have charging stations on property, so if customers feel like stopping by they can,” Bailey explained.

She also pointed to the growing network of commercial chargers by Evergo and JPS, both of which have app-based access to their charging stations islandwide. The MINI Cooper SE can accept up to 50kW charging. From the included regular power socket, the MINI will charge to full in around thirteen hours. Using the MINI ELECTRIC Wallbox, it will take two and a half hours to 80 per cent with the remaining 20 per cent adding another hour of charge time. At its maximum of 50kW on a Type 2 fast DC or AC public charging station that 80 per cent can be reached in 35 minutes. The charging port has replaced the fuel intake.

Fully charged, the MINI Cooper SE has a range of up to 270 kilometres. Along with its ability to regenerate energy via kinetic recovery, through braking and coasting, it is the first model to have selectable braking recuperation giving it the option of one-pedal driving.

“You have not given up anything with the Cooper SE. The MINI feel is definitely still there. That thrill you get when driving a MINI is still there with this car. Actually, even better as the torque is phenomenal,” Bailey said.