They See Me Rollin', They Hatin'... Electric Mini Goes Mad Max
Image Credit: Delta4x4.
What we have here is a Mini. Yes, Mini. Not really the one your aunt Mildred puttered around in, probably with a ceramic dog nodding furiously on the dashboard. This one isn't your nan's shopping trolley. This one's been on a serious protein shake and a rather alarming off-road adventure.
The clever peeps at Delta4x4 and the lunatic fringe over at X-Raid – you know, the ones who win the Dakar Rally for a bit of fun – have decided that the perfectly sensible, tarmac-hugging Mini Countryman could do with a bit of beefing up. And when I say beefing up, I mean they've strapped on more plastic than a Tupperware convention and lifted it so high it could probably clear a badger in a top hat.
Image Credit: Delta4x4.
Fair enough, this is currently only a digital rendering, a figment of some engineer's overactive imagination after one too many espressos. But the tantalizing whisper is that if enough of us petrolheads – or volt-heads in this case – bang on their virtual doors, they might just build a few. A limited series, they're hinting. Which, in the real world, probably means they'll make about three, and two of them will end up in some sheikh's air-conditioned garage next to a gold-plated camel.
The boffins behind this wild contraption haven't explicitly said which poor, unsuspecting Countryman they've subjected to this medieval torture, but the smart money is on the electric version, the Countryman SE All4. This little plugger usually boasts a not-too-shabby 308 horsepower courtesy of its dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup. It also lugs around a 66.5 kWh battery, which in theory, should get you about 212 miles before you're frantically searching for a charging point that probably doesn't exist in the wilderness this thing is supposedly designed for.
Image Credit: Delta4x4.
But there's one slightly bonkers bit… They've slapped on front and rear fender extensions that make the poor Mini a full 7.9 inches wider. That's nearly the length of a decent-sized baguette! Why? Well, presumably to house the gargantuan 18-inch Delta4x4 Hanma alloy wheels wrapped in tires that look like they've been nicked off a monster truck. And to make sure you don't scratch that fancy new paint job – a fetching matte gray with the obligatory go-faster orange stripes – they've bolted on a bull bar. Urban parking is just too tame. Right?
And what about weekend expeditions? I'm not entirely sure where you'd take this thing, but the creators have thoughtfully added a roof rack. Perfect for strapping on your snow tracks, a full-size spare wheel, and an extra camping stove plus emergency supplies of Earl Grey tea. One can never be too prepared.
Delta4x4, clearly not content with just making it wider and taller, has also nicked an idea from the Land Rover Defender and added storage compartments in the rear side windows. Who doesn't need extra cubby holes when they're pretending to be on the Paris-Dakar? And as a final flourish, they've added decorative belts to the hood and tailgate. Decorative! Like a tiny off-road fashion statement.
Underneath all this ruggedized frippery, Delta 4x4 fiddled with the suspension, giving it an extra 2 inches of ground clearance. That means it can now probably straddle a particularly grumpy speed bump without scraping its delicate undercarriage. They're calling it a "rally-tuned" suspension, which conjures up images of it bouncing enthusiastically over dunes, although I suspect it'll be more at home mounting the curb outside Walmart.
Image Credit: Delta4x4.
X-Raid, which was partial to this creation, hasn't breathed a word about any actual performance upgrades. Which is a bit of a shame. You'd think if you're going to all this trouble to make it look like it could conquer the Gobi Desert, you might want to give it a bit more oomph. Still, 308 horsepower isn't exactly a slouch, even if it is hauling around a few extra tons of off-road paraphernalia. And that instant electric torque will certainly help you get out of a muddy puddle… or a particularly aggressive flower bed.
The crucial bit, the part that might actually make this whole enterprise slightly less bonkers, is that they're saying it's "street-legal." This Frankensteinian Mini, this automotive oddity, could theoretically be pootling down your high street, causing bewildered onlookers to choke on their lattes. Imagine the school run in this beast. You'd certainly win the "most intimidating soccer mom" award.
Image Credit: Delta4x4.
Of course, the big question is price. They haven't mentioned a figure, but let's be realistic. This isn't going to be cheap. You're talking about a highly specialized conversion by a couple of companies who know a thing or two about making things go very fast (and very sideways) in very inhospitable places. So, expect a price tag that could probably buy you a perfectly nice, normal Mini Countryman…
Still, you've got to admire this idea. Taking something as inherently Mini and turning it into a wannabe desert racer is either genius or utter madness. Or perhaps a delightful blend of both. And the fact that it started as an April Fool's joke? That just makes the whole thing even more wonderfully absurd. I sincerely hope they build it. The world could always use a bit more automotive lunacy.
