The Classic Mini with electric power and an eye-watering price tag: David Brown Automotive's Mini eMastered is not cheap

Classic Minis have been changing hands at auction for big prices as of late, but a 'new' vintage Mini with electric power will be significantly more expensive than pristine original examples. UK company David Brown Automotive has announced the availability of the Mini eMastered - a version of the iconic British car with a battery under the bonnet instead of a petrol engine. The A-Series engine up front has been replaced by a 18.8kW battery that provides an official range of just 110 miles - likely less than 100 miles in winter with the heating on The EV is capable of 6.6kW AC charging via the charging port housed in the same location as the original fuel filler cap The compact battery is married to a 72kW electric motor and single speed transmission that can propel the expensive electric classic from 0 to 62mph in 8.5 seconds and to an electronically-limited 92mph when the driver has selected 'Sport Mode' Incredibly, despite the addition of a battery and electric drivetrain, the eMastered is said to weigh barely any more than the 1959 original Mini - tipping the scale at a feather-light 640kg Like all other models created by David Brown Automotive, the Mini eMastered can be tailored to its owner’s tastes with a swathe of luxury trappings inside the compact cabin. The interior has been brought up to date with modernised retro styling, including a rivetted wood steering wheel and chunky metal switchgear The Mini eMastered has a high-definition central infotainment screen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto The vintage Mini speed has been modernised with a small digital readout, meaning it retains the original looks but with a 21st Century twist The seats, door inserts and dash now feature high-grade materials, with the David Brown Automotive logo embossed into the chairs The leather seats in tbe back are also impressively finished - and come with seatbelts, which isn't a must on all classic Minis On the outside, the legendary Mini silhouette is retained, though with flared wheelarches shadowing classic Minilite-style alloy wheels. The front headlamps and rear light cluster is now LED, meaning better visibility at night On the outside, the legendary silhouette is retained, though with flared wheelarches shadowing classic Minilite-style alloy wheels The company says the Mini eMastered 'raises the bar for owners seeking a modern classic that offers a clean, quiet, and convenient driving experience' Michelle Gay, sales and marketing director at David Brown Automotive, adds: 'There is an inherent challenge in electrifying such an iconic model, to retain the high levels of reliability, performance, and quality that our customers expect.