On more than one occasion in the past few years, we have wondered how exactly the Mini brand pays justice to its name anymore. One “Maxi”-size car followed after another, from the Countryman to the Paceman to the current, fourth-generation car (the third under BMW ownership), which now comes with four doors.
Judging from this latest Mini concept vehicle, perhaps someone at the British icon’s headquarters in Bavaria has overzealously taken our criticism to heart. But alas, this seriously miniaturized Mini—called the Citysurfer concept—doesn’t qualify as a car. Instead, it’s a scooter with an ancillary electric motor. The rider needs to initiate motion with his feet; then, a tiny electric motor kicks in and accelerates the little scooter to 15 mph. The range is 10 to 15 miles; beyond that, it can still be used as an operator-propelled scooter, although by the time its lithium-ion battery is dead, the 40-pound scooter would likely give the rider a major workout. The foldable two-wheeler features some nifty ideas, such as regenerative brakes and a smartphone charger/mount on the height-adjustable handlebars.
What, we beg to ask, does it have to do with a Mini automobile? Well, it fits in the trunk of a three-door Mini (which presumably means it’ll also fit into most other cars on the market). Also, there are several Mini design elements—such as the ovoid headlight, the Mini-style wheels, and the ever-present stylized British flag.
- Mini Unveils Electric Scooter Concept for 2010 Paris Auto Show
- Watch a 207-mph, Jet-Powered Bicycle Decimate a Ferrari in a Drag Race
- Four-wheeled Mini vehicle reviews, pricing, photos, and more
Says Mini: “Superb fun on the road combined with minimum space requirements—this has been the principle underlying the success of Mini for 55 years.” We didn’t know the brand would go to such extremes. In fact, we’d be more than happy to settle for a production vehicle that outweighs the Citysurfer by about 2000 pounds and has two extra wheels.
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via Agya
