Munich. The mountain calls – and never more so than
in winter. In fact, there is an entire choir of mountain peaks which
are attractive for winter sports fans particularly in Munich and the
surrounding area. A spontaneous awayday for skiing or sledging is a
very appealing option for residents living in the Bavarian capital.
After all, even from the inner city, the mountains appear to be
enticingly close. Moreover, a day trip to the snow provides the ideal
opportunity to try out new terrain for electromobility beyond the city
traffic and test the qualities of the new MINI Cooper SE (combined
fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined electricity consumption:
16.8 – 14.8 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) in winter times.
There is a big selection of winter sports resorts that are accessible
even after a short road trip, but one thing is clear from the outset.
The all-electric MINI is ambitious. Sölden, Austria, is entered in the
standard navigation system. Thanks to its location at an altitude of
some 1 350 metres and two glaciers within the ski area, this resort at
the heart of the Tyrolean Ötztal valley has the reputation of already
being snow-sure in late autumn. It is a local destination accessible
with zero emissions. The distance between BMW Welt in Munich and the
valley station of the Gaislachkoglbahn cable car in Sölden is exactly
200 kilometres.
The range of the MINI Cooper SE determined in the official test cycle
is between 235 and 270 kilometres – values that can also be achieved
in practice provided that the entire power of the 135 kW/184 hp engine
is not constantly used. The route from the south of Munich to winter
fun initially takes drivers onto motorway 95. Soon the Alpine foothils
start to reach for the skies on the right and left of the road. A
relaxed journey in GREEN mode activates an accelerator response geared
to efficiency and takes the MINI Cooper SE close to the Zugspitze
mountain. From Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the road leads in a
south-easterly direction towards the border between Germany and
Austria at the border town of Mittenwald.
Alternatively, the MINI Driving Modes can also yield the GREEN+
setting where the heating is additionally deactivated to reduce
electricity consumption and extend the range. However, this is not
really necessary. The MINI Electric has been equipped with 2-zone
automatic air-conditioning as standard, the interior heating is
generated by means of a heat pump which extracts heat dissipated from
the motor, drive control and the high-voltage battery, and from
external air, and all these heat sources are combined to produce
comfortable temperatures. The heating is based on particularly high
efficiency and uses up to 75 percent less energy than a conventional
electric heating system to provide excellent climate comfort even when
operating in winter temperatures. There’s therefore absolutely no
reason to already be wearing a ski jacket, hat and gloves during the
actual trip. Especially since the boot offers plenty of space to
accommodate warm sports clothing alongside ski equipment and a
toboggan. Because the model-specific high-voltage battery has been
ingeniously located in the central tunnel and configured in the
subfloor, the storage volume of between 211 and 731 litres in the boot
gives precisely the same space as in conventionally powered versions
of the MINI 3-door.
On Austrian country roads, the MINI Cooper SE is finally beginning to
scent genuine mountain air. An altitude of almost 1 200 metres is
reached in the Tyrolean village of Seefeld. There are ideal conditions
here for cross-country skiing, but the MINI Cooper SE is in its
element on the roads leading up to the pass. Hairpin bends and snow on
the road offer generous scope to test the car’s talent for driving
fun. Its drive stability control with actuator-operated wheel-slip
limiter permit extremely fast and precise responses to changed driving
conditions and enhance the agility so typical of the brand to an even
higher level.
In spite of several enthusiastic sprints, some power-sapping uphill
climbs and freezing weather conditions, there are still adequate
energy reserves as the car reaches the outskirts of Sölden. This is
where the BMW Group’s long track record of experience in the
development and production of high-voltage batteries comes into its
own. The storage capacity of the cells was further increased with the
latest generation of battery technology used in the MINI Cooper SE.
The cycle stability was also additionally optimised and this exerts a
significant impact on the durability of the high-voltage battery. The
warranty, valid for a period of eight years after first registration,
was therefore extended to a distance of 160 000 kilometres or 100 000 miles.
While the occupants are having a good time on the slopes, the
MINI Cooper SE can recharge at a charging point close to the valley
station. Charging capacity of 11 kW, similar to that generated at a
MINI ELECTRIC Wallbox, is sufficient to fully recharge an empty
high-voltage battery with energy in three and a half hours.
Furthermore, the battery and charging unit of the MINI Cooper SE are
also suitable for rapid charging with direct current up to 50 kW. This
allows a complete charge in less than one and a half hours.
Timeout in the snow can be longer if desired. The Gaislachkoglbahn
cable car takes skiers up to 3 040 metres in two stages. The trip up
to the “Ice Q” mountain-top restaurant takes less than a quarter of an
hour where the futuristic glass cube provided a film set for the James
Bond thriller “Spectre”. Sölden offers ski runs totalling 144
kilometres with varying levels of difficulty and three main peaks over
3 000 metres in height. The highest peak is the Schwarze Schneid at
3 340 metres. Skiers are able to ski down from the summit along a
slope 15 kilometres long and experience a difference in altitude of
1 970 metres. And there is a 7.3 kilometre toboggan run from the
middle station of the Gaislachkoglbahn down to the valley.
Shortly before the last downhill run of the day, it’s time to use the
MINI Connected Remote app. The progress of the charging process is not
the only parameter that can be monitored remotely. The independent car
heater in the MINI Cooper SE can also be activated. When the desired
start time is entered on the smartphone, its timer function ensures
that the car’s interior is heated up in good time. Nobody needs to
shiver behind the steering wheel in damp winter clothing. And the ice
scraper is history. The verdict: Perfect for skiing and sledging,
ideal for a return trip.
There’s certainly no shortage of envious glances through icy windows.
In fact, the MINI Cooper SE proves to be a real eyecatcher generally
in the Ötztal valley. People ask about the sales launch – from March
2020 – as frequently as they enquire about acceleration – zero to 60
in 3.9 seconds and the sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds.
It’s certainly no surprise that 100 000 people across the world have
already registered an interest in the all-electric model with MINI.
The first owners of a MINI Cooper SE will already be able to put the
car through its paces as a piste shuttle in the current ski season.
After all, there’s generally sufficient snow for a spontaneous
winter-sports outing in Sölden up until May.
In case of queries, please contact:
Press and PR
Matthias Bode, Press Officer Production Communication
MINI
Phone: +49-89-382-61742
E-Mail: matthias.bode@mini.com
Andreas Lampka, Head of Communication MINI
Phone: +49-
89-382-23662
E-Mail: andreas.lampka@mini.com
The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the
BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles
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