The classic Mini looks set to be revived with an electric powertrain – however, it may be a sub-legitimate rendition.
The humble Mini is the latest automotive icon to fall foul of China’s booming imitation industry.
New patents filed by Beijing Estech Technology Co. reveal plans for an electric hatchback suspiciously similar to the British classic.
A slightly-tapered nose, curved front windscreen, and underfloor battery pack are added to the original silhouette.
Specification details are thin on the ground for now, however a single electric motor will likely drive the front wheels.
It’s unclear which manufacturer will build the vehicle, where it will be sold, or how much it will cost.
The original Mini was built in England by BMC, British Leyland, and then the Rover Group between 1959 and 2000.
Widely considered one of the most influential products of the 20th century, the Mini popularised front-wheel drive small car layouts.
Following the original model’s demise, German brand BMW bought the design and branding for a range of modern recreations in 2001.
The new sketches follow multiple recent Chinese rip-offs of classic foreign cars.
In April last year GWM sub-brand Ora pulled the covers off its Punk Cat model, looking near-identical to the Volkswagen Beetle (above).
In October 2020 Chinese manufacturer Songsan Motors launched a Corvette-inspired PHEV sports car dubbed the SS Dolphin (below).
In 2016 Zotye released a the SR8 Porsche Macan-clone, and the following year Jiangling Motors was sued for the Evoke-inspired X7.
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