When Alec Issigonis conceived the original Mini in the 1950s, he envisioned a car that was cheap, simple and compact in the extreme. The Mini remained so for the best part of four decades, but there was a marked change in the brand’s positioning after BMW took control in the 1990s.
The Bavarian-inspired Mini was dimensionally huge compared to its ancestor, and it was a chic offering with a premium price tag. The recipe has worked well for the reimagined Mini brand and its BMW masters – more than 295,000 global sales last year are testament to that.
Mini is now embracing the next phase of its evolution as it plans to electrify its entire model line-up by 2030, and the first rungs are already in place. The National travelled to Sitges – nestled along the Mediterranean coastline in Spain – to test drive the all-new Mini Cooper SE, due on sale in the UAE in September.
The “E” in the newcomer’s suffix stands for Electric, as its propulsion is provided by a 49kWh battery pack and single electric motor that spins the front wheels. It might miss out on the raspy, popping soundtrack of the petrol-powered Cooper S, but the SE is adequately zippy. Outputs of 218hp and 330Nm add up to a 0-100kph split of 6.7 seconds, even though the car weighs a lardy 1.6 tonnes.
Mini quotes a touring range of 402km on a full charge, but it’s more realistic to expect a range of 280km-300km in the real world. In other words, just enough for a day trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and back.
The Cooper SE’s range constraints mean it will be a practical choice only for those who dwell in a villa and have their own recharging wall box. However, the existing combustion-powered Cooper S will continue to sell alongside it to cater for the car’s traditional audience.
The battery-charged Mini is built in China as it’s the fruit of an EV partnership between BMW and Great Wall Motor, yet it retains the familiar Mini design cues. Large round eyes adorn the face, while the grille is covered by a shiny black plastic panel as the electric motor doesn’t have the same cooling requirements as a combustion engine.
The most marked changes are at the rear, as triangular taillights sit at each flank, and they’re connected by a horizontal black bar stretching across the tailgate. The Cooper SE still has cutesy visuals, but there’s a greater musculature to its broadened stance, especially when viewed from behind.
Once on the go, there’s the familiar Mini perception of compact dimensions, even though the car pulls away from standstill in almost total silence.
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You can fill in the aural void by selecting one of the synthesised soundtracks on offer – these mimic either the sound of a spaceship or jet plane. They’re an interesting novelty, but can get wearisome after a while.
The beauty of an electric motor is that there’s an ocean of torque an ankle twitch away, which means the Cooper SE feels decidedly sprightly. That said, there’s a slight disconnect between car and driver. The steering, although weighty and accurate, feels remote, while the throttle and brake pedal also have a slight numbness about them.
Even so, the Cooper SE scoots across the winding mountain roads we traverse with virtually the same pace and surefootedness as its petrol counterpart – despite weighing more than 300kg more. Ride quality gets choppy over less than perfectly surfaced tarmac, but that’s partly down to the car’s short wheelbase.
The cabin is a masterclass in interior design and the centrepiece of the cockpit is the beautifully executed OLED circular centre screen that substitutes for a traditional instrument cluster – it displays the speedo readout, battery charge level, gear indicator and remaining range, as well as housing the usual infotainment functions.
Mini’s designers have made artful use of recycled textiles to trim the dashboard and door panels, so the car has some valid sustainability credentials.
Mini has got plenty right with the Cooper SE. It’s funky to look at and sit inside, and it’s a zippy and agile driver’s car. It might lack the fizzing fun factor of the petrol-powered Cooper S, but the good news is that the latter will continue to sell alongside it.
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
if you go
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
UFC%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi
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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Aahid Al Khalediah II, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Whistle, Harry Bentley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup - Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alsaied, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mumayaza, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
8pm: President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Medahim, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode
Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
more from Janine di Giovanni
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
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