THE original Mini has been given an electric jolt by BMW as a tease for some of its cars for the future.
To be unveiled at the New York International Auto Show the classic Mini Electric combines the historic look of the world's favourite small car with ground-breaking drive technology for tomorrow's urban needs.
It paves the way for the brand's first all-electric vehicle which will be unveiled in 2019 - just in time for the 60th anniversary of the classic Mini.
The fully electric production vehicle is currently in development, based on the MINI three-door hatch, and will be produced at MINI Plant Oxford next year.
In 2008, BMW presented the MINI E - based on the predecessor model of the current MINI and about 600 examples were produced and used in a field trial under everyday conditions.
The MINI E played a central role in paving the way for the development of the BMW i3, which has been on sale since 2013 and has just clocked up 10,000 sales in the UK.
By contrast, the classic Mini Electric presented in New York will remain unique.
It's a late and carefully restored example of the classic Mini Cooper and remains true to form, both in terms of its visual appearance and driving characteristics.
BMW says the instant power of its electric motor provides a new dimension to the go-kart feeling that helped propel the Mini in its original form to worldwide popularity.