MINI is upgrading the electric Countryman E with a bigger battery, giving it significantly more range than it was originally launched with.
How much more?
When it first launched, the Countryman E had a one-charge range of 462km, but MINI has now improved on that, stretching it to 501km - which just about justifies the 'more than 500km' line.
Is this a bigger battery?
No, but the useable capacity of the battery has expanded, and now stands at 65.2kWh. That's not a huge amount extra compared to what the Countryman E had before, but there have been other energy-saving improvements.
Chief amongst those is a silicon-carbide inverter as part of the electric powertrain, which MINI says is much more efficient and helps to reduce energy losses between the battery and the wheels.
What else is saving energy?
MINI has also added friction-reducing bearings on the front axle of the Countryman E, which again help to boost the car's overall efficiency.
Incidentally, the 501km range is for the front-wheel-drive version, while the range for the ALL4 four-wheel-drive model has climbed from 433km to 467km.
Any other changes?
Nope - the Countryman E retains its massively roomy and stylish cabin, with its dinner-plate-shaped-and-sized circular infotainment screen, and the same massive boot that extends from 460 litres to 1,470 litres with the back seats down.
The newly upgraded battery can still be charged from 10-80 per cent in less than 30 minutes, and you can still have personalisation options such as silver mirror caps and, 'Blazing Blue' paintwork and 20-inch alloy wheels.
When can I have one?
Later this year. MINI is announcing the updated Countryman E now, and it should be on sale in Ireland by the summer at the latest. It's not yet known if there will be an increase from the current entry-level Irish price of €39,249.