The MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 - Agile, Versatile, Electrifying:
Characteristic MINI driving fun is now available in fascinating,
sustainable form. The MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is the first
model of the British premium brand in which a plug-in hybrid drive
provides the option of mobility that is purely electric and
therefore emissions-free, in addition to offering the thrill of
athletic agility and supreme versatility. The job of providing
efficient forward propulsion is shared between a 3-cylinder petrol
engine and a synchronous electric motor. Together they produce a
system output of 165 kW/224 hp. Equally impressive is the average
fuel consumption of 2.1 litres per 100 kilometres and the CO2
emissions figure of 49 grams per kilometre (EU test cycle figures
for plug-in hybrid vehicles). The MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is
thus the perfect vehicle for urban target groups who wish to enjoy
the benefits of purely electric mobility when commuting between home
and work every day, for example, while at the same time benefiting
from unlimited long-distance suitability at the weekend.
The MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 combines the
variable space concept of the new model generation’s largest member
with the sustainability of BMW Group eDrive technology and an
electrified all-wheel drive system. The front wheels are powered by
the combustion engine, the rear wheels by the electric motor. The
MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is able to run on electricity alone
not just in urban traffic but far beyond, too – at a top speed of
125 km/h and with a range of up to 40 kilometres. Drawing on the power
of both drive forms, it offers driving fun away from surfaced roads,
too. “The plug-in hybrid concept perfectly matches the new MINI
Countryman because it offers intelligent all-wheel drive as well as
being able to run on electricity alone both in urban areas and over
longer distances, too. This is unique in the segment,” says Uwe Seitz,
MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 project manager.
The MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4: an overview of the
highlights.
– The brand’s first ever plug-in hybrid
model.
– High-quality BMW Group eDrive components, configured to
suit this specific model, that draw on expertise gained from the
development of BMW iPerformance automobiles.
– 3-cylinder petrol
engine and electric motor combine to produce a total system output of
165 kW/224 hp.
– Fuel consumption in the EU test cycle: 2.1 litres/100 km, CO2
emissions: 49 g/km.
– Electric driving at speeds of up to 125 km/h with a range of
up to 40 kilometres.
– Novel driving experience due to the
electrified all-wheel drive system ALL4.
– Lithium-ion
high-voltage battery can be charged at a wallbox in 2:15 hours.
– Three operating modes available for selection via eDrive
toggle switch.
– Hybrid-specific displays.
MINI is a pioneer in the field of electric mobility.
The BMW Group’s technological expertise and range of
models have given it a leading role in the area of electric mobility.
MINI was an early pioneer here: the MINI E presented in 2008 was the
BMW Group’s first ever purely electrically powered automobile and was
driven by private users in everyday traffic as part of a large-scale
field experiment. More than 600 of this vehicle based on the MINI
Cooper were used for practical testing purposes worldwide. The project
yielded vital insights into the use of electrically powered
automobiles, and these were incorporated in the development of the BMW i3.
MINI TwinPower Turbo and eDrive technology combined.
The plug-in hybrid drive of the MINI Cooper S
E Countryman ALL4 combines the best of two worlds. The familiar space
under the bonnet is occupied by a 3-cylinder petrol engine with MINI
TwinPower Turbo Technology from the latest generation of the BMW Group
engines. From a capacity of 1.5 litres this mobilises a peak output of
100 kW/136 hp. The maximum torque of the engine is 220 Newton metres,
which goes on stream at 1 250 rpm. In the MINI Cooper S
E Countryman ALL4, the combustion engine is combined with a modified
6-speed Steptronic transmission. This transfers its power to the front
wheels based on the characteristic MINI principle.
The second power unit of the MINI S E Countryman ALL4 is an
electric motor that is housed under the luggage compartment floor.
Designed according to the principle of a hybrid synchronous motor, the
electric drive offers an output of 65 kW/88 hp – which is particularly
high considering its size and weight – and generates a maximum torque
of 165 Newton metres that is characteristically available directly
from standing. In addition, it provides constant power delivery even
in high engine speed ranges as well as a very high level of
efficiency. The electric motor directs its power to the rear axle via
a two-stage single-speed transmission.
Lithium-ion battery: compact, powerful and produced using
exclusive expertise.
The lithium-ion battery is
positioned directly in front of the electric motor underneath the rear
seat. It is made up of five modules, each comprising 16 battery cells,
and like the electric motor it is produced at the Dingolfing plant,
the BMW Group’s competence centre for eDrive technology. The
high-voltage battery has a capacity of 7.6 kWh. At a wallbox with a
charging capacity of 3.6 kW it can be fully charged in 2:15 hours.
Charging at a regular household socket takes 3:15 hours.
Intelligent energy management optimises driving fun and
efficiency.
The intelligent energy management system
controlled by the power electronics of the plug-in hybrid system
ensures that the interplay between the combustion engine and the
electric motor is optimised for both driving fun and efficiency in all
situations. Using the power of the electric motor alone, the
MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is able to provide locally
emissions-free driving fun with hallmark brand spirit in many
situations in day-to-day traffic. In the event of more intense
acceleration, the electric motor supports the combustion engine via a
boost function. A total system output of 165 kW/224 hp and a combined
torque of 385 Newton metres are available for athletic sprints. The
MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in
6.9 seconds.
Two power units, four drive wheels.
Only one of
the two power units is used when the car is moving, while the other
one can be additionally enabled at any time to optimise traction, ride
stability and agility. The signal required for this purpose comes from
the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) unit, which permanently analyses
both the situation on the road and the driver’s wishes. “The result is
an intelligent all-wheel drive system that ensures perfect movement in
all weathers and on all road surfaces,” explains Uwe Seitz,
MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 project manager. The precisely
controlled interaction achieved in the powering of the front wheels by
the combustion engine and the rear wheels by the electric motor is the
same as the principle that is applied in the BMW i8, only the other
way around: it is a key factor that contributes to the exceptionally
fascinating character of the plug-in hybrid sports car.
The eDrive toggle switch: purely electric power at the press
of a button.
The driver can also use the eDrive toggle
switch to choose between three operating modes.
AUTO eDRIVE | Purely electric driving up to 80 km/h, the combustion engine is additionally enabled at higher speeds, in particular when accelerating quickly or when the battery charge falls below seven per cent. |
MAX eDRIVE | Purely electric driving up to 125 km/h, the combustion engine is additionally enabled at higher speeds or on kickdown. |
SAVE BATTERY | The car is powered by the combustion engine, the battery charge state is kept above 90 per cent or raised to this level by the starter generator. |
In the standard setting AUTO eDRIVE, the
MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 runs on electrical power only up to a
speed of 80 km/h. At higher speeds and in the case of very intensive
loads, the combustion engine is automatically enabled in addition. In
MAX eDRIVE mode the vehicle is powered by the electric motor alone at
speeds up to 125 km/h. What is more, the SAVE BATTERY mode can be
selected so as to relieve the capacity of the high-voltage battery or
raise its charge state to at least 90 per cent so that sufficient
electrical power remains for locally emissions-free driving later on.
If the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is fitted with a
navigation system and route guidance is activated, the anticipatory
energy management system ensures that appropriate sections of the
route are run on electric power alone. Taking into account the
navigation data, the operating strategy of the hybrid system is geared
towards drawing on the energy capacity of the high-voltage battery to
maximum extent.
Versatile and variable in the interior,
too.
Thanks to the compact structure and arrangement of
the eDrive components, the plug-in hybrid model variant of the new
MINI Countryman has a versatile interior. The high-voltage battery is
housed underneath the slightly raised rear seat, as is the 35-litre
fuel tank. When all seats are in use, the luggage compartment volume
in the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is only slightly less than in
the conventionally powered model variants. The rear backrests offer
the possibility of a
40 : 20 : 40
split; they can also be folded down and varied in their tilt angle.
“The entire hybrid technology is installed in such a way that you
don’t notice it inside the car at all,” says Uwe Seitz,
MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 project manager, “with the exception
of the controls used to activate the various driving modes.”
Hybrid-specific design features and
displays.
Discreet but equally unmistakable indications
of the pioneering character of the car’s drive form are provided by
the model-specific design features on the MINI Cooper S
E Countryman ALL4 exterior. The connection for the charging cable is
under a flap in the area of the left-hand side scuttle. Other features
are the model-specific “e” badge on the side scuttles and also a
yellow “S” in the model inscription on the rear as well as on the
radiator grille and door sill finishers.
The special features of the cockpit include a yellow start/stop
unit at the centre of the toggle switch panel and a performance
display in the instrument cluster on the steering column. The
MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 comes as standard with the Radio MINI
Visual Boost featuring a 6.5-inch colour screen in the central
instrument. In addition to the MINI Country Timer, this also displays
information such as the charge state of the high-voltage battery and
operating mode of the hybrid drive selected by eDrive toggle switch.
In conjunction with the optional Wired package including MINI
navigation system Professional, operation is via an 8.8-inch screen
with a new graphic design and touchscreen function as well as via the
Touch Controller in the centre console.
Fittings: efficiency meets individual style.
The
MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 combines highly efficient driving fun
with the variable space concept and all the other advancements that
characterise the new edition of the all-round model for the premium
compact segment. Its powerfully expressive design and optimised use of
space are just as striking as its increased ride comfort and refined
premium ambience. The MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 comes with the
MINI Driving Modes as standard. Regardless of the operating mode
selected via eDrive toggle switch, the vehicle set-up can be adapted
to a particularly sporty or efficient driving style, according to preference.