David Brown Automotive reveals electrified classic Mini that’ll cost over £150k

An automotive company has plucked an obscure and relatively unknown British car from the archives and treated it to a thoroughly modern makeover. This is what they used to call a ‘Mini’.

David Brown Automotive, a Silverstone-based restomodder, has form in resurrecting this hitherto unfamiliar small car. Its previous work saw it treat the so-called ‘Mini’ to a petrol makeover, and in a bid to “set new standards for zero-emissions” has given the rare car many electrons.

But not too many. DBA has fitted an 18.8kWh battery – the same size as the battery in a hybrid Volvo XC60 or XC90 – to deliver 95bhp and 129lb ft of torque. There have been more powerful sneezes, though that power only has to motivate 640kg of ‘Mini’ (the same as the clearly entirely forgettable original).

As such, 0-62mph stands at 8.5s which – in a small car with the footprint of a sports shoe – should at least feel sprightly. Stick it in ‘sport’, and it’ll go 92mph flat out where possible. And where possible, it’ll charge when the battery’s flat out, taking just three hours using a plug and a 6.6kW AC charger.

DBA has offered more concessions to 2023’s motoring landscape with the inclusion of a thoroughly modern infotainment setup featuring CarPlay and Android Auto, for example. Though the instrumentation is pleasingly analogue.

As are the looks. Clearly this shape never really took off in its previous life on British roads because we’ve never heard of it, but in 2023 appears like a balm against a sea of five-tonne crossovers. Everything looks immaculately upholstered, painted and finished.

As it should do, considering each car will start from... £150,000, which feels like a considerable outlay even before you remember that nobody has ever heard of this car nor modified it before. Naturally each owner will provide the donor car, and then be able to make it entirely bespoke across its materials and colours.

“There is an inherent challenge in electrifying such an iconic model,” explains Michelle Gay, DBA’s sales and marketing director, “to retain the high levels of reliability, performance and quality that our customers expect.

“Mini eMastered is a shape that captures hearts and minds, and it is the embodiment of our passion, vision and commitment to sustainable luxury today and into the future.”