DESIGN IDEAS
❱❱ Plug-in electric classic mini takes the iconic 1950s design into the next generation of drive train design
BACK TO THE FUTURE
UK powertrain company offers the ultimate in retro-motoring combining classic design with a fully electric powertrain
When Sir Alec Issigonis designed the iconic Mini 60 years ago, one of the foremost aspects of its design was the power train. The great industrial designer turned the UK automotive industry on its head and his power train would set the trend for the next half century. Now, a classic Mini has been stripped out
and re-fitted with a powertrain befitting the 21st century, thanks to Swindon Powertrain, a move that coincides with the next era of drivetrain design. Indistinguishable on the outside from the
car that made the 1960s swing, the “Swind E Classic Mini” takes the iconic original and gives it a state-of-the-art electric motor and battery, delivering eco-conscious performance and a return to enjoyable city driving. According to the Swindon company, the
Swind E Classic Mini is an ideal city car, providing stylish packaging for fashion conscious owners with good performance and handling, while having the ecological standing to be able to avoid London congestion and ULEZ charges.
With compact dimensions, good all-round
visibility and responsive handling, the Mini always made sense as a city car. Now it is cleaner too; the Swind E Classic Mini uses the latest lithium-ion batteries to deliver a zero emissions top speed of 80mph and a range of 125 miles. Acceleration is brisk with 0-60mph in 9.2 seconds and regenerative braking ensures the car can hold its own in city traffic. A full charge takes just four hours whilst a fast charge is also possible using the widely available female Type-2 connector. The Swind E Classic Mini is available in
both left and right-hand-drive, with six primary body colours with contrasting roofs available to choose from. The interior gets a makeover with modern features including USB charging ports, heated leather seats and heated windscreen, as well as underfloor heating. Custom-build options include infotainment and sat-nav systems, power steering, a full-length sliding fabric roof, air-conditioning and bespoke colours and wheels. This highly-advanced Swind E Classic Mini
is the brainchild of Swindon Powertrain’s managing director, Raphael Caillé, who saw an opportunity to produce an electric car with a soul that people from all walks of life would instantly fall in love with. “This is the first time an electrified Mini
has entered production,” confirms Caillé. “There have been one-offs and prototypes before, but Swind is the first company to launch such a car to the public. “The classic Mini has such a special place
in people’s hearts, not only in the UK but around the world. The packaging of Sir Alec Issigonis’s 1959 design was truly ground- breaking and now we are making it relevant again. “Its compact size and good visibility
together with contemporary performance and handling, makes it a car you’ll want to drive in the city and puts a smile on your face.” Developed and built in Great Britain using
fully restored and original Minis, each taking six months to create, up to 100 will be produced by Swindon Powertrain and price tickets will begin at just under £80,000.
March 2019 /// Testing & Test Houses /// 7
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