Electric MINI Cooper coming to the U.S.

If you're looking for a fun drive, it's hard not to recommend the MINI Cooper. They're stylish, handle great, and as a bonus, get impressive fuel economy.

The standard Cooper, when equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, is rated by the EPA at 28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway.

If that's too small for you, you can step up to the lengthened Clubman model, which boasts identical numbers. I drove the latter earlier this year and averaged 31 miles per gallon over a week of mixed driving. Even the sportier, turbocharged "S" models have 34 mpg highway ratings. If the size works for you, the MINI offers a great mix of dynamics and efficiency.

Thirty-seven miles per gallon's nothing compared to the next trick MINI has up ts sleeve, though. Starting next year, the automaker will offer all-electric Coopers in the United States. Green Fuels Forecast reports that MINI's U.S. VP, Jim McDowell, was taken by surprise when parent company BMW made the announcement, but he went on to confirm that the cars will indeed arrive sometime next summer. Since BMW plans to use lithium ion batteries in its upcoming hybrids, it's probable that they'll also supply the juice for the factory MINI EV. Published reports put the number of cars planned at 500, with California naturally receiving the lion's share, but apparently that could change. McDowell also told Green Fuels Forecast that the electric MINI could wind up being rolled out nationwide.

Whether the cars will be sold or leased hasn't yet been decided, but either way, the MINI EV should make a huge splash when it lands in the marketplace. We're looking forward to hearing additional details as they become confirmed, but mostly, we just want to try the thing out when it arrives. Until the EV arrives, MINI's hands will remain full -- in the U.S. they're selling every car they get, and they're trying to get an increased allotment to keep up with growing demand.

Alex Nunez's blog posts are provided by LifeWire, a part of The New York Times Company.