BMW unveils new Mini design for electric powered car

Mini's concept for its electric car steers closely to its tried and tested models

The electric car by Mini is set to be assembled in the UK (BMW)

BMW has unveiled the basic design of its new electric Mini to be produced in the UK.

The fully-electric car will be launched at the Frankfurt motor show in September and the carmaker on Wednesday hinted that the new vehicle will retain Mini’s customary design from previous models.

BMW says it will have a “powerful electric motor” as it looks to produce a zero emissions vehicle under the iconic brand.

The new Mini electric car harps back to its 2008 predecessor, the Mini E, with similar headlights and a radiator grille.

The car won’t have an exhaust pipe.

In July, BMW confirmed plans to build an all-electric Mini that will be assembled in Oxfordshire.

The German car manufacturer said it had considered locations in Germany and the Netherlands before settling on the UK.

A spokesperson from BMW said at the time that it hadn’t received any reassurances from the Government over trading arrangements post-Brexit.

Mini makes around 60 per cent of its approximately 360,000 compact cars a year at its Oxford plant, according to Reuters.

The push to produce affordable green energy vehicles has accelerated on the back of calls by both the UK and France to ban new diesel and petrol cars in the near future.

China is also reportedly looking for electric car manufacturers to accelerate production for viable alternatives to petrol and diesel-fuelled cars as it looks to cut its poor air pollution record.