See how Mini is giving new life to its iconic coupe with a new EV conversion initiative that replaces the car's engine with a battery

Bernhard Filser/BMW Group

• The Mini plant in Oxford has a new process for electrifying the classic compact coupe.
• Mini owners in the UK can have their internal combustion engines swapped for a 90-kilowatt motor.

Back in 2018, a one-off electric prototype of a classic Mini coupe was unveiled at the New York Auto Show.

Bernhard Filser/BMW Group

After the positive reception in New York, a team at Mini's plant in Oxford, England got to work on a process to offer the conversion to classic Mini owners.

Bernhard Filser/BMW Group

The team starts by carefully pulling out the internal combustion system from the chassis...

Bernhard Filser/BMW Group

... and carefully marks each piece to put into storage.

Bernhard Filser/BMW Group

Next, the vehicle is fitted with a custom electric system, including a 90-kilowatt motor and high-voltage battery.

Bernhard Filser/BMW Group

"What the project team are developing preserves the character of the classic Mini and enables its fans to enjoy all-electric performance," BMW's head of the Mini brand Bernd Körber said in a statement.

Bernhard Filser/BMW Group

The electric motor accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in approximately nine seconds, and the battery has a predicted range of around 160 kilometers.

Bernhard Filser/BMW Group

The process is also fully reversible, so the original engines can be returned from storage to restore each Mini to its original specs.

Bernhard Filser/BMW Group

As an electric vehicle, the design elements mirror the original aesthetic, while providing newly relevant information about charge and range.

Bernhard Filser/BMW Group

Parent firm BMW also says that the electrified Minis can drive in places like Oxford Street or Piccadilly Circus in London without the driver having to pay the environmental tax charged on combustion engine vehicles.

Bernhard Filser/BMW Group

"With Mini Recharged, we are connecting the past with the future of the brand," Körber said.

Bernhard Filser/BMW Group