It's definitely a case of the old world meets the new in the case of the latest Mini. The company has taken the classic Mini Cooper and fitted it with the technology of the future for the New York auto show, where Audi has also been showing its new RS 5 S
It's a clever idea, a very clever one. Take an iconic car design from the last century, fit it with electric technology and you have a retro representation of a car with real green credentials. By retaining the classic racing red colour of the body, white stripes on the bonnet and the original white painted roof, Mini has managed to make quite a statement out of simply using original design from the Cooper heyday and currently available technology.
The electric Mini Cooper is based on a restored car.
Nevertheless, it is a car that instantly stands out. It's being shown at the New York international auto show this week and has been engineered from a restored Mini Cooper. The electric motor has simply replaced the original engine and Mini says the driving characteristics remain exactly the same. I suspect there will be quite a reaction to the car and that it will lead eventually to some form of regular production.
There is quite a demand for classic-looking cars (retro cars from the 90's are still being exported from Japan for drivers looking for something affordable and original) and this Mini is likely to appeal to those who want a classic and on-trend look with an environmentally-friendly power source.
The new Audi RS 5 Sportback.
Also in New York, Audi has been showing off its new RS 5 Sportback. Now with a longer wheelbase, the new version also has shorter front and rear overhangs, a new sports grille design and a front spoiler. It has a 2.9 twin-turbo engine with a massive torque reserve. There is the now customary high-tech virtual cockpit displaying information on such things as tyre pressure, torque and G-forces.
