Mini Plug-In Hybrid will be based on the Countryman; existing 1.5-litre gasoline engine will be coupled with electric motors for increased range
We have been posting several stories about automakers working seriously on plug-in hybrid models in recent months and here is another one as Mini joins the bandwagon. The British brand’s first-ever plug-in hybrid has been previewed and it is going to be based on the popular Countryman. The production version is more likely to grace the show floor at the forthcoming 2016 Los Angeles Motor Show next month.
You do not have wait until November to know more though as the technical specification of the plug-in hybrid has been revealed already. Understandably, Mini, owned by BMW, will be trying to exploit the findings from the i sub-brand specialised in hybrid models. It will be utilizing the same 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine derived from the i8 sportscar.
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The nomenclature of the eco-friendly vehicle has not been divulged yet but technically the powertrain is going to have two drive modes. One is Auto eDrive mode which can accelerate to speeds of up to 80 kmph and the other Max eDrive enables a speed f up to 125 kmph. By default, the system starts in electric mode and the power display on the steering column will display the state of charge.
The working ideology here is simple as the petrol engine will be delivering powering to the front wheels while the electric motors send drive to the rear axle. However, when the need arises to drive afar and increase driving rage, the petrol engine will charge up the battery pack via a generator under Save Battery mode. Mini claims the petrol engine takes over when the vehicle is detected to lose traction via AWD system.
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The existing chassis will be used with required modifications to facilitate the hybrid drive. Compared to the regular Countryman, the plug-in hybrid variant previewed had changes like the charging port integrated on the left hand side and start/stop button glowing in yellow as opposed to red lighting while other interior features remained the same.