Press Report : MINI Scooter E concepts to debut at Paris Motor Show

Jake Lingeman, Automotive News Europe/AutoWeek, 24th September, 2010

BMW’s MINI brand is bringing its electric-powered Scooter E concept to this year’s Paris Motor Show. It gives MINI a response to the electric-powered scooter concept being shown by the Smart brand of German rival Daimler.

The Mini Scooter E is the company’s first entry in the two-wheel segment. The funky, multi-colored scooters can carry two riders. The electric motor is packaged into the rear wheel. The scooter plugs in to any conventional socket, using an onboard charging cable that stows away when not in use.

The MINI scooter mimics design elements from MINI cars. The round headlights emulate the bug-eyed look of the current MINIs and the hand grips are shaped like the spoiler on the Cooper S. The rearview mirrors are proportioned to the vehicle similar to the MINI range and a band of chrome below the seat recalls the side sills of the cars.

The gauge cluster of the MINI Scooter E centers on the speedometer that features a mobile phone dock. While the Scooter E is in motion, the phone can be used for navigation, music or telephone service. MINI offers a branded helmet with a Bluetooth headset for connectivity.

MINI would not, of course, skimp on the fun stuff. A special app will use Google Maps to locate other MINI Scooter riders in the vicinity. A greeting function has also been developed. When two vehicles meet, an automated full-beam headlight function activates so the two riders can say hello.

The Scooter E is still a concept and MINI has not released any information on charge times, range or pricing but more technical details should emerge in Paris.

[Source: Automotive News Europe/AutoWeek]

Clive Goldthorp

5 Comments

  1. BRILLIANT!

    I didn’t see this coming – how do BMW keep doing it? I’m a former Mod would be interested in buying one. I could have the complete set:

    MINI One – taking the kids to school in the rain
    MINI Clubman – popping out to antique fairs and IKEA
    MINI Countryman – great for everything, but ideal for winter in South Wales
    MINI Scooter – nipping around town and commuting

    I don’t think the P4 could have taken the brand this far.

    Big up to BMW – the saviours of MINI!

  2. @Ianto
    BMW bought MINI – they did not ‘save it.’ It was the most buyable name going and, if they had not bought it or rather kept it, someone else would have done so in a flash.

    I would have to disagree with you on the Countryman being ‘great for everything’ – I would rather suggest it is good for nothing but, since you are in Wales, might you use it for herding the sheep? The point being that it is simply too ugly to be allowed anywhere near a road.

    Will the Scooter E be made in the UK? I can see a whole new era in motoring with strangers knocking on your door at all hours asking to use a 3 pin socket. That’s a good way to meet new people.

  3. Developing a brand into unrelated markets is not new. Think about the Mars choc ice of the 1980s.

  4. “The Mini Scooter E is the company’s first entry in the two-wheel segment.”
    Really, I thought BMW had been making bikes for years.
    I think it’s fair to say that BMW saved Mini. The fact that if they hadn’t anyone could missed the point, they did and what’s more Leyland, Rover or whatever failed despite Mini.

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