The SEAT group has been around since the 1950s and holds a strong connection with Volkswagen when it comes to their current-day product portfolio. The Minimo was announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in 2019 and graced the public with its unique presence at the Geneva International Motor show in March of the same year. The car is an all-electric machine and startles the onlooker with its compact and stylish design.
The sale of the production version of the Minimo is on the horizon, and it looks to sway the competition with its unorthodox take on a four-wheeler. Its compact dimensions and electric power-train make the maneuverability of this car hassle-free. In addition, its zero-emission performance only adds to the positive reinforcement aimed towards the environment. The Minimo is a machine that shall cater to the everyday practicality aspect hugely. Its smaller size shall make inner-city commuting easier, and its zero-emission performance will only benefit the environment's health.
The awareness towards electric vehicles is at an all-time high, and the addition of the Minimo only enhances the excitement factor with what it brings to the table. Its unique quadricycle design is practical yet extremely attractive, and it looks to offer up some serious competition for its rivals.
A Minimalistic Yet Swanky Design
The first impression of this machine is like no other in the competition. The Minimo is compact, but the design elements surrounding the compact proportions work flawlessly. The length of this machine stands at 2.5m, while the width stands at 1.24m. The 3.1 square meters of space on this machine is smaller when compared to a conventional car, yet it still manages to impress with its overall spaciousness.
In its entirety, this swanky-looking electric vehicle leaves a smaller ecological footprint in the city and makes maneuverability one of its strongest points. The single headlight design of the Minimo is inspired by the world of motorcycles, while the rear-light housing can trace its design cues from aeronautics.
The doors on this machine are asymmetrical and are designed to open even in the tightest of spaces. The left door of the Minimo is comparatively smaller, which translates to an increase in the glasshouse area surrounding the car. This factor, in turn, improves the overall visibility of its occupants. The smart 17-inch wheels on the Minimo give the driver an SUV-like seating position, with impressive space and practicality.
A Tech Laden And Hyperconnected Interior
The interior of this machine is well laid out and houses a ton of user-friendly features. A central display housed behind the steering wheel shows vital information from the user’s smartphone, and it also displays the safe driving requirements. The overall environment within the cabin promotes a seamless digital experience while offering ease of connectivity for its occupants.
The space factor within the interior of the Minimo is impressive, with ample space for luggage and its occupants, sporting a 1+1 seating configuration. The interior is aesthetically pleasing, and the build quality doesn't disappoint either. The materials used in the interior of the Minimo are soft to the touch, and the sensual shut lines throughout the cabin only accentuate the overall comfort when seated inside.
The Minimo claims to be a hyperconnected car housing built-in 5G technology. With features like wireless android auto also on board, the digital experience on this machine is further enhanced. This feature allows users to access various connectivity-related features on the car without connecting to a smartphone. The car also sports a feature that can recognize the age group of the driver as 16 or 18 years and adjust speeds to either 25 mph or 50 mph.
The advanced technology doesn't stop there. The Spanish automaker has also claimed that the Minimo will be ready for level-four autonomous technology on its arrival and shall be clever enough to pick up the user when requested. The future of automobiles is bright, as this nature of claimed technology shall take the car-sharing mobility solution to a whole new level.
An Impressive Performer
The Minimo sports an aluminum tubular chassis, with its bodywork consisting of several layered plastic panels. The panels on this machine are painted and dyed, and the combination of the chassis configuration and plastic body panels helps in the overall reduction of weight. The frame adds to the space factor, with a compartment specially dedicated to housing the battery pack of the Minimo.
The electric motor of the Minimo gets its oomph from a 15kwh battery pack placed under the floor of the vehicle. The performance isn't mind-boggling and is somewhat understated, with a claimed range of 62 miles on a single charge. However, the positioning of the battery pack is impressive, and it can be swapped out for a fresh pack in a matter of seconds. With a traditional plug-in model also in consideration, the process of giving life to batteries on the Minimo is relatively hassle-free.
The SEAT Minimo sports a minimalistic design language and a rather simple overall construction. With all these factors considered, the Minimo shall sport a price tag of $9,300. The Renault Twizy is also in the picture as a direct competitor to the Minimo. Still, the compact design, hassle-free maneuverability, and overall appeal of the Minimo can benefit the Spanish automaker.
The latest offering from SEAT looks to create a buzz in the electric vehicle segment like no other. Its design is unorthodox that in turn makes it appealing, and its compact dimensions look to make the busy inner-city commutes a thing to look forward to for the masses. Although small in size, the Minimo looks to make a significant impact in the world of electromobility. With its expected competitive pricing, it would not be surprising to see this compact electric machine dominate the roads worldwide.