Mini eMastered – David Brown

Hold onto your carburettors, it’s another electric classic car! But cool your jets, because this one is really rather special. Plus, it’s a Mini, and it’s not exactly like the good people at David Brown have gutted a 250 California is it? Minis are common, even today, so this eMastered version should cause no offence. If it does, have a word with yourself. These EV classics are not a flash in the pan fad, they’re here to stay. We just wish everyone committed to the same attention to detail and passion as is evident here. Let’s take a look…

Sometimes we’ll see a press release and just use some of their words, but we won’t here because whoever wrote the one for this car has clearly been recently gifted a book of positive synonyms. It’s all very gushing, which is a shame, as this Mini eMastered doesn’t need some word icing to be gratuitously poured over it with reckless abandon. It speaks for itself. David Brown has made a name for itself and this Mini shows why. It’s not just an old Mini with a 9v battery shoved up it. It’s a work of art. Lets start with the interior…

How glorious is that? The fit and finish is enough to rival any premium car-maker. Perfectly trimmed, modern technology, flawless attention to detail. There is no other Mini like this. It’s more akin to a baby Bentley than a car that was once scribbled out on a bit of paper by a very talented British-Greek fella. He’d be proud of this evolution of his design, though. He would also more than likely not scoff at the electric powertrain. He knew innovation when he saw it. He would also be stunned by the aforementioned cabin. Sculpted interior panels, an Ikea-baffling understanding of how to utilise space. And air-conditioning.

What about the power though? What’s on offer there? More than an old 850cc A Series could dream of, that’s for sure. The feather-light 640kg Mini eMastered – the same weight as an original ICE car – harnesses the latest in electric technology, delivering sprightly acceleration thanks to a compact, power dense Zonic 70 motor emitting 72kW (97hp) and 175Nm of instantly accessible torque. Mini eMastered dispatches the 0-62mph dash in just 8.5 seconds and runs on to an (electronically limited) top speed of 92mph when in sports mode. That… that’s a lot for a car that weighs so little. So make no mistake, the driver-facing charms of the original Mini have not been lost, they have been emphasised. Imagine throwing this little rascal about.

Michelle Gay, Sales & Marketing Director at David Brown Automotive, said: “The launch of the all-electric Mini eMastered reaffirms David Brown Automotive’s distinguished position as a driving force of the luxury automotive industry.

“There is an inherent challenge in electrifying such an iconic model, to retain the high levels of reliability, performance, and quality that our customers expect. Mini eMastered is a shape that captures hearts and minds, and it is the embodiment of our passion, vision, and commitment to sustainable luxury today and into the future.

“With an unwavering dedication to British craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainability, we have earned global recognition for our renowned handcrafted automotive masterpieces and today we are proud to showcase our electric future.”

Will the Mini eMastered be cheap? No, of course not, that would be silly. But will it be worth it? We think so. The car pictured here is the company’s own promotional model, but customers will have all manner of personalisation options open to them. Starting with a fully hand crafted and effectively brand new donor body, owners will be able to be as wild or as subtle as they like. We’re sure no Mini eMastered will be like the others. It’s a glorious thing, done so very well. And if other companies in this space take note, the electric future might not be so bad.