- By fitting an electric powertrain into an original Mini, David Brown Automotive’s Mini eMastered takes a 1960s classic into the future
- Power comes from an 18.8-kWh battery pack with a 97-hp electric motor. Most importantly, this Mini restomod remains a featherweight
- The cost is considerable, but a host of customization options make this little car special.
Situated just a scone’s throw from the Silverstone racing curcuit, Northampton-based David Brown Automotive (DBA) is a specialist at coaxing out the best of 1960s Britain. Previous creations include the thoroughly modernized yet coachbuilt Aston Martin DB5–inspired Speedback GT and a variety of restomodded original Minis. The latest new model is called the Mini eMastered, and it brings the classic pint-sized urban terrier into the battery-electric era.
The eMastered is fitted with an 18.8 kWh battery which is paired with an electric motor producing 97 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque. The torque’s a hefty dollop of grunt for a car this small, but the power rating isn’t far off what a decent tuner can get out of the 1275 cc combustion engine you got in later Cooper models. The real headline here is the 1410-pound curb weight, which is basically identical to the original.
Keeping the battery pack small does limit the range to a still useful 110 miles, but what a cracking little London runabout this thing would be. It’d slip through the city’s Ultra Low Emssions Zone (ULEZ), scampering around corners and fitting into narrow parking bays. DBA claims a 60 mph time of under 8.5 seconds, but with that electric torque, this Mini could really scorch around the financial district on a Sunday morning. Then, pop down to your local pub while the eMastered recharges, which takes about three hours on a 6.6kW AC charger.
With endless options for customization to create a truly bespoke EV restomod Mini experience, the eMastered really does seem like a Cockney-accented delight. There is, however, the matter of the the cash required to buy it. The eMastered is sized like Piglet but priced like a Heffalump. At $155,000, converted from U.K. currency, you might need to pull your own gold bullion heist before ordering one.
Still, as a thoroughly future-proofed and impeccably built version of one of the most charismatic cars ever made, the eMastered is charming. Sure, you could spend the same amount and get some 4000-pound EV crossover with more power, range, and performance. But with a proper Mini, less is more.
Contributing Editor
Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels.