They say fashion always comes around again, well this is true in the Automotive world too. Swind have launched an electric Mini and brought the iconic car right into the 21st Century.

A bit about Swind first before I tell you about their exciting project of the electric Mini. Swind is the product brand of parent company Swindon Powertrain. Established in 1971 as a high-performance engine specialist, its original focus was maintaining Formula 1 engines in the 70s and early 80s. This expanded in other branches of motorsport including rallying and touring cars. Today, the firm supplies engines to the majority of the British Touring Car grid. Since 2010, the firm has diversified into supporting new road car powertrain development including alternative powertrains and electrification. In 2018 it created the Swind division to develop consumer products, launching its hyper electric bicycle the Swind EB-01. For more information visit www.swind.life.

Back to the new Mini. Sixty years after the iconic Mini first hit the streets, a British technology company has unveiled the first production electric classic Mini at the London Classic Car Show. The Swind E Classic Mini combines a fully-restored body and bespoke powertrain developed in-house by industry leaders Swindon Powertrain, specialists that have been providing engineering expertise to automotive and motorsports industries for over 40 years.

Produced in Wiltshire at the firm’s recently-upgraded facility, the Swind E Classic Mini instils all the affection of the original with state-of-the-art EV technology to create an individual, nippy, zero-emissions city car with character. While retaining the same look, proportions and spirit of the original Mini, the bespoke 80kw motor and single transmission ensures responsive and smooth power that can be used without incurring congestion charge fees. Available to order immediately in either left- or right-hand-drive, the limited production run of 100 cars starts at £79,000 and comes with an unlimited mileage one-year warranty and MOT.

Standard features

• Lithium Ion battery containing 24kWh of energy and electric motor producing 80kw of power (the equivalent of 110bhp)

• Fully charged in four hours via a female Type 2 connector (Fast charging option available)

• Range of 125 miles (200km) with regenerative braking system

• Top speed is 80mph (130km/h)

• 0 to 60mph (0-100km/h) in 9.2 seconds

• 30-50mph (50- 80 km/h) acceleration time of 4.3 seconds helps the Mini offer punchy overtaking

• GVW of 720kg (increase of 80kg from starter car)

• Improved weight distribution (57 per cent/43 per cent compared to 68 per cent/32 per cent of the original car)

• With the petrol tank no longer required, boot space is increased to 200 litres

• Standard features include USB charging ports, underfloor heating, heated leather seats and front and rear windscreen

• Options include infotainment and sat-nav system, power steering, a full-length sliding fabric roof, air conditioning, performance tuning packs and bespoke paint colours

• Choice of six standard colours with a contrasting roof

  
  

To ensure the E Classic Mini can stand up to the rigours of today’s driving, the prototype has completed over 10,000 real world miles alongside thousands of hours of virtual simulations of the bespoke powertrain. Contemporary corrosion protection together with completely new brake and suspension parts ensure Swind’s E Classic Mini is substantially easier to live with than other classics.

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 classic 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’ 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 put a smile on your face.”

Write here…

The company are not making Minis or selling them. They are adapting classic Minis at the request of owners if they should choose to want to change to electrification.

For more information visit www.swind.life

Images supplied by Swind.