I always find it funny that nobody really notices the Mini E. Not even the people that I expect to take note. I'm talking about all the thousands of people in Santa Monica driving their Prius sedans around, looking all smug like they're saving the world all by themselves. Fine, no problem, that's their decision.
But you would think they would be so in tune to new technologies that they would show some enthusiasm for a vehicle that is another gigantic step closer to their dream of a combustion free world. Nope, most don't even notice the little plug stickers on our Mini at all.
Strangely, other people do. After parking in this beachside lot to take a picture of yesterday's sunset, a guy putting on his wetsuit on the tailgate of his Suburban asked me about the Mini. Said he really like the way it looked.
Then to my surprise he said, "Is that one of those electric ones?" I told him that is was and he asked a few questions about its range and it how it drove. "Pretty neat little package," he concluded before heading off for a late surf session. Guess you really never know who's paying attention and who isn't, but at least some people know about the Mini E.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line @ 5,136 miles
slickersdrip says:
11:02 PM, 03/18/10
Definitely love people who know what's happening with obscure cars. Talked to a girl on the bus and mentioned I had an SRT-4. She knew exactly what it was down to its horsepower and its generally @$$hole drivers. Had a lot of respect for her.
I might have asked for a spin in the MINI, though, as I figure most buyers got one as a personal statement and would want to prove its virtues to all comers.
clarkma5 says:
11:13 PM, 03/18/10
I have no idea why everyone makes a big deal about hybrids looking like hybrids, EVs looking like EVs, etc. (diesels looking like diesels? Haven't heard that one before but someone's gotta be thinking it...) It's a car, regardless of its propulsion, so it should look like a car. Whether that means it looks boring or cool or beefy or svelte is up to the designer, but why does its exterior need to telegraph its engine?
And when it comes to not noticing the plug stickers...honestly, the average driver probably can't tell the difference between a Mini Cooper and a Hyundai Accent. I'm constantly surprised by how blind non-car people are to differences between vehicles.
zcalvert says:
06:38 AM, 03/19/10
Have you seen the South Park about smug people in San Francisco? Sort of applies to this issue...
redwoodaggie says:
06:52 AM, 03/19/10
Much like why the Prius outsells all the other hybrids, it needs to LOOK different. People that want to do good things for the earth want everybody to KNOW how good they are. A badge won't do that. It needs something different - special paint job, wheels, aero, SOMETHING.
jacarig says:
08:13 AM, 03/19/10
I don't buy the notion that the Prius sells because it LOOKS different. If that was the case why doesn't the Insight (1st and 2nd gen) not sell as well? I think it has more to do with the package of the Prius and its good fuel economy, plus it is well known. Like Clarkma5 stated, a car should look like a car. Period. And not all Prius drivers care about "the environment" or "saving trees" or what have you, a lot of them just want a practical 5-door that goes from point A to point B in comfort while achieving good fuel economy. I can respect that.
tmanz says:
12:35 PM, 03/19/10
"It's a car, regardless of its propulsion, so it should look like a car."
But the reason many buy the unique hybrids is because they want everyone to know they have one. They aren't car people like the guy in the Suburban they are all about image.
The first generation Insight didn't sell better because it was so small and a bit too unique. The second generation one doesn't sell as well because by now Prius is to Hybrid what Xerox was to photo copying, or kleenex is to tissue.
I'm sure a fair number of prius drivers just like the car for what it is but many want to make a statement.
tomm250 says:
01:53 PM, 03/19/10
Before I got the vanity license plates hardly anyone knew it was electric. Even with the plug decals. MINI Coopers come in so many wild color options that nobody really noticed. It amazes me how much attention the license plates attract . Every day I see someone taking a picture of them. I originally got them for laughs. It worked, they make people smile every day.
I don't think electric cars need to look different that ICE cars. However, they do need to be as aerodynamically efficient as possible to squeeze every mile out of the pack. Look at the Nissan Leaf. I think the design has more to do with lowering the drag coefficient than having a distinctive look.
The Chevy Volt looks very little like the original prototype that most people loved. In fact, when they revised it because of the aerodynamics, many people wrote that they now wouldn't buy one.
jacarig says:
05:45 PM, 03/19/10
How do we know that many just want to make a statement? That could be said for ANY car purchase. BMW buyers, EVO buyers, Miata buyers, Vette buyers, and the list goes on. Honestly I feel like that whole shouting to the world "i drive a hybrid" is just a story we've all made up on enthusiast sites. Then again I could be wrong. Just my 0.02.
keijidosha says:
07:41 PM, 03/19/10
I kind’a like the low profile “brown bag” anonymity of the MINI E. Nobody notices it till it blast’s off from a light like some theme park ride. I love the “what was that?” look shrinking in the rear view mirror.
e34bmwlover says:
10:58 AM, 03/21/10
Nice job with parking