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This is the new Mini E, a pure-electric version of the company’s popular hatchback.
Sadly it’s not a full production car just yet. The Mini E is a project designed to investigate how viable an all-electric Mini would be.
Between 500 and 1000 examples will be made and leased out to selected customer in New York, LA, New Jersey and possibly London, cities where the necessary recharging infrastructure is ...Read the full article

 You can sign up to be one of about 500 test drivers here:

http://www.minispace.com/en_en/projects/electric-mini-e/

 

Why would you power the front wheels via a gearbox mounted in the rear of the car? Shurely shome mishtake? Is it the battery pack that replaces the rear seats?

Also, quoting energy consumption in miles/kWh is unusual. As a 'figure of merit' for EVs, this is usually expressed in Wh/km (still non-SI, should be kJ/km). For what it's worth, 4.4 miles/kWh is approximately 140 Wh/km which is pretty good.

"Kinetic energy created under braking is also stored in the Mini E’s batteries."

That will be kinetic energy recovered under braking. Any talk of 'creating' energy is very silly, unless BMW have found a way around the first law of thermodynamics.

'This drives the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox that is mounted where a standard Mini’s rear passenger seats are usually found. Kinetic energy created under braking is also stored in the Mini E’s batteries.' Sometimes it's better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak (or put finger to keyboard) and confirm it. This surpasses even Autocar's slippery grasp of the fundamentals of engineering. Please forgive my comments if they seem a little harsh, but I always feel that reading an article should extend my knowledge of a subject. I suggest you stop the medication right now.