The Queen’s favourite cocktail features a classy liqueur that few people have lying around at home – Dubonnet Rouge – and sales of this French aperitif jumped 465% at some stores after her passing.

The Queen is dead. Many people are mourning. As part of that, some Australians are honouring her passing by re-creating her favourite cocktail: a drink comprising two parts Dubonnet, one part gin, ice and lemon. This has led to numerous Dan Murphy’s and BWS’s selling out of Dubonnet Rouge – a key ingredient of the drink and something most Aussies aren’t likely to have in their liquor cabinets.

Endeavour Group director of buying and merchandise Tim Carroll told the Sydney Morning Herald that Endeavour Group, which owns Dan Murphys and BWS, is stocking up on Dubonnet Rouge after several stores sold out over the weekend.

“In less than half [a week] we sold almost double that of Christmas, clearly showing a significant uplift from what we normally sell, and that was people clearly googling and recognising what is the Queen’s favourite drink and making it themselves,” Carroll told the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports: “the aperitif is back in stock at most stores, but Endeavour expects demand for Dubonnet to remain higher than usual in the lead-up to the national day of mourning next week to honour the Queen, who died on September 8.”

The popularity of Dubonnet Rouge has reportedly surged lately, gaining favour with consumers who are enjoying a lower alcohol drink (it’s 14% as opposed to gin, which is more like 40%). It has also become a trendy option for young people to chuck in a Negroni.

Dubonnet Rouge was created in the 1840s to make quinine more bearable for French Foreign Legion Troops, according to Drink of the Week. According to ABC, the Queen’s recipe is as follows: two parts Dubonnet Rouge and one part Gordon’s gin. You then stir it and strain it into a glass. To finish it off, you throw in a slice of lemon and exactly two cubes of ice.

This recipe was one of her mother’s favourites, The Daily Mail reports, but it’s not the only drink the Queen was known to enjoy. She also reportedly sometimes indulged in wine with lunch, and didn’t mind a martini or champagne in the evening.

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Qantas today launched a new route from Sydney to Bengaluru. This is the first direct connection between Australia and Southern India by any airline.

Qantas flight QF67 will shave nearly three hours off the current fastest travel time between Sydney and Bengaluru, greatly increasing the ease of travel between India and New South Wales.

The route, which launched today, but which was announced earlier in 2022, has seen strong demand, Qantas says, with first flight there (and the one back) sold out in all cabins.

Bengaluru is known as India’s Silicon Valley. Many big finance and tech outfits have established major operations there.

Besides making business travellers’ lives easier, the new route will also provide new tourism opportunities for Sydney and New South Wales, with a direct gateway for India based visitors (the same goes for leisure travellers from Australia looking to visit India).

Qantas Domestic and International CEO Andrew David said the flights will boost tourism and economic relations between Australia and India.

“The addition of Bengaluru to our route map deepens our ties with India and follows the launch of direct services from Australia to Delhi last year which have also proven popular. Qantas is now the only airline offering direct flights between Australia’s two largest cities and the north and south of India.”

Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said the new route solidifies Sydney’s standing as a global city.

“This partnership between Qantas and the NSW Government, through the Aviation Attraction Fund, opens up a new direct route between India and NSW, as well as fantastic opportunities for the NSW visitor economy.”

“Our airports are the gateway to our state, so supporting the return of airlines to them through the Aviation Attraction Fund is key to achieving our goal of making NSW the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.”

Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said the flights would boost Sydney Airport’s connectivity.

“It’s terrific that the important and growing relationship between Australia and India is being reflected in greater aviation connectivity, and we’re delighted to soon welcome passengers on the only direct route between Australia and Southern India.”

Speaking of connections, Qantas has recently launched the first phase of its codeshare partnership with IndiGo, India’s largest domestic carrier.

According to Qantas, there are currently 11 destinations available for connection on IndiGo from Bengaluru, including Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata and Chennai. Qantas also says the codeshare will continue to roll out over coming months, giving Qantas customer more and more options for travelling around India.

Qantas has added Indian inspired menu items to its inflight menu on the new Bengaluru services, such as lamb chettinad in Business and paneer makhani, cumin seed pilaf, green peas and beans masala in Economy. Tickets between Sydney and Bengaluru start from $1,320 return.

In terms of frequency, Qantas will fly an A330 aircraft from Sydney to Bengaluru four times a week on a Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Qantas flies Melbourne to Delhi on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

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Top Gun: Maverick was hugely successful because it was nostalgic and paid tribute to the original while also feeling fresh and new. If Indiana Jones 5 does the same, it’ll likely be majorly successful too…

When Top Gun: Maverick flew into cinemas earlier this year, no one – not even Tom Cruise himself, I’d wager – knew just how successful it would be. The film broke multiple box office records and was universally praised for its story, acting and airforce stunts.

Even iconic filmmaker Quentin Tarantino “f*cking” loved Top Gun: Maverick. But in a time where everyone is sick of the non-stop remakes and reboots Hollywood is churning out, why was the sequel to a film that came out thirty-six years ago so beloved?

Personally, I believe Top Gun: Maverick was so successful because it perfectly balanced nostalgia with new. Seeing a few familiar faces (like Cruise and Val Kilmer) playing the same characters from the original Top Gun and seeing the occasional nod to the first film here and there was extremely welcoming and comfortably nice.

But because there was an array of new characters introduced, a fresh plotline and a modern setting also featured in Top Gun: Maverick, the film didn’t feel like a cheap cash grab that was playing it safe. Ultimately, the film felt remarkably fresh but familiar all at the same time… Which is no easy feat.

Therefore, it’ll be interesting to see if the upcoming Indiana Jones film – the fifth in the franchise, which like Top Gun began in the 80s – will achieve similar results to Top Gun: Maverick. At the moment, I think it just might. Harrison Ford is returning as the titular character once again, keeping things nostalgic.

Plus, according to TMZ, during the D23 Expo that took place last weekend, Ford said this new Indiana Jones film will both ‘pack a lot of punch and have a lot of heart; just like the original films did’. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean Indiana Jones 5 will just be a rehash of the previous films.

For instance, Steven Spielberg – who directed the first four Indiana Jones films – is not returning to direct. No disrespect to Spielberg (obviously, he’s one of the greatest filmmakers of all time) but James Mangold – who’s directing Indiana Jones 5 – may breathe new life into the franchise just like director Joseph Kosinski did with Top Gun: Maverick (Top Gun was directed by Tony Scott).

Additionally, this is the first Indiana Jones film to have its story written by someone other than George Lucas and multiple new characters will be introduced in the fifth Indiana Jones (played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen and Antonio Banderas), both of which could – and hopefully will – make Indiana Jones 5 feel new and original.

Of course, we still have a bit of waiting to do before we find out whether the fifth Indiana Jones film experiences a similar success to that of Top Gun: Maverick; the film’s still untilted and won’t be released until the 29th of June next year…

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The post Top Gun: Maverick Success Suggests Upcoming Indiana Jones Film Will Be A Hit appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Sliding doors are increasingly becoming ‘industry standard’ in business class, particularly for long haul flights. But not everyone sees them as progress. Some people believe they are an unwieldy solution to a greater problem.

Sliding doors in business class used to be all ‘wow.’ Now they are just part of the furniture. Literally. Qatar Airways already has them (see: The QSuite), Delta has them (see: the Delta One Suites) and British Airways and Etihad are rolling it out. Air France unveiled a new business class with sliding doors earlier this year. JetBlue Mint started the trend 10 years ago. All Nippon and China Eastern also have sliding doors in business class. Cathay Pacific were reportedly thinking about implementing them in 2020. The only airlines you might expect to have sliding doors in business class but which don’t (yet) are Emirates and Qantas.

The main benefits of sliding doors is pretty obvious: privacy. As Traveller’s Michael Gebicki once put it: “If you’re hammering away on a laptop, the closed door means fewer distractions. If a neighbour wants to rock along with Machine Gun Kelly, make mirthful snorting noises while watching The Hangover or go gamer on their screen like a caffeinated woodpecker, a door is a good thing.”

#AirFrance reveals all-new fully flat Business Class seats with sliding doors. https://t.co/iQodXEGXZq pic.twitter.com/YEm1zSwvjL

— PAXnews (@PAX_news) May 16, 2022

One Mile At A Time’s Ben Schlappig put it another way: “Privacy doesn’t mean that you can’t have anyone see you because you’re trying to join the mile high club or because you’re a drug runner. Rather to me, privacy means the ability to minimize the extent to which you’re disturbed by others.”

Executive Traveller wrote in 2020 that the sliding door mania had gone so far as to mean: “‘Will it have a door?’ has become perhaps the number one question asked of all airlines contemplating their own next-generation business class – including the forthcoming Boeing 777-9 products of Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines.”

Not everyone agrees that sliding doors in business class are necessarily an improvement, however. Chris Brady, an industry veteran and founder of start-up seat maker Unum told CNN Travel that it’s a complex issue.

“All recognize that doors are heavy and complex… with lots of hidden complexity due to the certification requirements,” Brady told CNN Travel. “I think it’s fair to say that doors can enhance the passenger experience, but for outboard-facing herringbone at 40-ish degrees plus, where you face away from the aisle, the contribution is marginal.”

“In my personal view [doors] should be avoided on the basis that perfection is achieved not when there’s nothing left to add, but when there’s nothing left to take away… a brave airline can and should delete them.”

Chris Brady

“I’m a bit conflicted,” Brady added. “As a passenger I like a door. I find flying a wonderfully insular experience and revel in being alone, and a door helps. As a citizen I know they’re heavy,” (a feature which, CNN Travel points out “also means more carbon emissions”).

• Opinion: All Business Class Seats Should Have Sliding Doors
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The post Latest ‘Must-Have’ Business Class Feature Divides Passengers appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Brian Cox, who stars as Logan Roy in the critically acclaimed drama Succession, has revealed that he thinks the television series Billions should’ve ended long ago…

Succession is currently one of the most popular shows in the world. Not to mention it’s also successful – just hours ago the show won a Primetime Emmy for Best Drama Series.

And while it’s been confirmed that the fourth season of Succession is coming – it’s currently filming and will hopefully be released before the end of this year – there’s been no word on whether or not there will be a fifth season… Until now.

Brian Cox, who stars as Logan Roy – the powerful patriarch who must eventually pass on the controlling power of his company to one of his children – was asked by The Times whether there would be a fifth season of Succession, to which he replied:

“I don’t know. No one’s had their contracts renewed.”

Brian Cox

Yes, a slightly disappointing answer for die-hard fans. But then Cox seemed to throw shade at the television series Billions; a drama series that many think is similar to Succession (including us).

“Who knows how long it will go on? We don’t want it to overstay its welcome, like Billions; that’s past its sell-by date. That will not happen with our show.”

Brian Cox

Billions currently has six seasons under its belt but has been renewed for a seventh season. Cox is presumably referencing the fact that one of Billions’ two lead characters left the show at the end of Season 5, and yet the show carried on.

As fans of both series, we’re not sure we entirely agree with Cox’s belief that Billions should’ve ended by now. Although, we do enjoy the irony that there’s a little real-life ~drama~ between two of the most popular drama series on television today…

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The post Succession Star Says Billions Has ‘Overstayed Its Welcome’ appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

It’s the car Ferrari promised to never build, but here it finally is: after what feels like an eon, Ferrari’s first SUV, the Purosangue, has finally been revealed. We take a look at why this is such big news.

For a long time, Ferrari resisted calls to make an SUV, despite the fact that other performance and luxury marques – like Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Porsche – had all done down the SUV route (which has proven to be a highly profitable exercise for each of those brands, by the way).

Maybe the famous Italian marque felt the winds of change (or smelt the scent of money) but in 2017, then-CEO Sergio Marchionne greenlit the development of a Ferrari SUV under the codename F175, with Ferrari officially confirming their SUV project in 2018.

In late 2021, we got the best look at what the Purosangue might look like in the flesh when spy shots captured a camouflaged ‘test mule’ whipping around Maranello. Then, earlier this year in May, current Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna teased more details about the upcoming SUV, including Ferrari’s plans to launch it with a naturally-aspirated V12 engine.

Now Ferrari has given us a look at what the Purosangue’s actually going to look like, as well as given us some concrete performance figures. First impressions? There’s a lot to be excited about…

WATCH Ferrari’s launch trailer for the Purosangue SUV below.

Why ‘Purosangue’?

Purosangue is Italian for ‘pure-blooded’ or ‘thoroughbred’, and is named after a noble Italian horse breed – all very appropriate for a brand that’s often called ‘the Prancing Horse’.

It also reflects Ferrari’s intention to frame the Purosangue as a pure-blooded, proper Ferrari. Ferrari fans have been famously sceptical about the prospect of a Ferrari SUV, and for good reason: for a company that’s always been about racing first, an SUV seems to be the antithesis of everything Ferrari’s about.

Let’s ignore the fact that Lotus – a similarly racing-focused marque whose founder Colin Chapman’s motto was “simplify, then add lightness” is also planning an SUV, a fully-electric one at that… Clearly Ferrari’s just got its finger on the pulse.

What makes the Ferrari Purosangue so special?

As previously mentioned, the Purosangue is Ferrari’s first-ever SUV – although Ferrari themselves aren’t using the term ‘SUV’; instead, they’re styling the Purosangue as their first-ever ‘four-door four-seater’. But don’t be fooled, the Purosangue is not a sedan.

It’s not a small car by any means but it has rather graceful proportions. The rear suicide doors definitely help its sleek look, as well as do much to differentiate the Purosangue from other high-end SUVs (the only other comparable vehicle with suicide doors is the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, which is not a bad company to be in).

Ferrari has also placed a very explicit focus on comfort with the Purosangue, which is in of itself rather unique. It’s the first Ferrari to have four separate and independently adjustable seats (Ferrari has made four-seater ‘2+2’ cars before, but most Ferrari rear seats are rather hypothetical in nature). Note that it only has four seats, not five.

The cockpit-style interior design language Ferrari debuted with the Ferrari Roma back in 2020 has been carried over to the Purosangue, with all four passengers getting their own little cockpits. It’s a very cool design but also one that’s no doubt highly comfortable, too.

They’ve also been quick to point out that it is the only car with its proportions to sport a mid-front-mounted, naturally-aspirated V12. Yessir, the Purosangue will be plenty fast: 533kW/716Nm from a 6.5L V12 with a top speed of 210km/h and 0-100 in 3.3 seconds.

2023 Ferrari Purosangue specifications

POWERTRAIN

• Mid-front-mounted, naturally-aspirated 6.5L V12
• All-wheel-drive
• Max power output = 533kW @ 7750 rpm
• Max torque = 716Nm @ 6250 rpm
• Max revs = 8250 rpm
• 8-speed F1 DCT
• SSC 8.0: 4RM-S evo, Ferrari active suspension technology, F1-Trac, ABS ‘EVO’ with Grip Estimation 2.0, ECS

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT

• Length = 4973mm
• Width = 2028mm
• Height = 1589mm
• Dry weight = 2033kg
• Weight distribution = 49% front / 51% rear

PERFORMANCE

• Max speed = >310 km/h
• 0-100 km/h in 3.3s
• 0-200 km/h in 10.6s
• Reaches 100-0 km/h in 32.8m and 200-0 km/h in 129m

PRICE

• Prices start at €399,000 (~$AU591,000) in Italy, Australian prices TBC
• It will be Ferrari’s second-most expensive production car behind the SF90 Stradale, which starts at €440,000 ($AU653,000)
• The 812 Superfast, which has the same V12 engine, starts at AU$613,888 locally
• Production to be capped at 20% of annual production (=3,000 cars)
• Orders are officially open now but there’s already been strong demand for the Purosangue since May
• Australian deliveries to begin before the end of 2023

Find out more about the Ferrari Purosangue at Ferrari’s online showroom here.

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The post Ferrari Purosangue Has Finally Been Revealed – Just Don’t Call It An SUV appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Nick Kyrgios has messaged Carlos Alcaraz in the wake of the Spaniard’s US Open victory, reminding him that he had him pegged as the US Open winner, back when the draw was still stacked.

Nick Kyrgios put in arguably his finest performance to date at the US Open this year. Despite not making it to the final, as he did at Wimbledon, his performance against Medvedev had commentator Todd Woodbridge saying: “I’m rating that as the best match I’ve seen Nick Kyrgios at a grand slam tournament.”

It wasn’t just on the court Kyrgios was making statements. In the wake of Carlos Alcaraz’s victory against Casper Ruud on Monday, the 19-year-old Spaniard, who just became the youngest ever tennis player in history to win a Grand Slam, told the media scrum that Kyrgios had slid into his DM’s to say “I told you so.”

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This appears to be in reference to a prediction Kyrgios made before the tournament came to a close. The prediction was that Alcaraz would be The US Open Champion, inspired by an online Eurosport poll. Despite there being many more experienced (and higher ranked) players than Alcaraz before the start of the tournament, Kyrgios chose Alcaraz, which explains his Instagram message.

RELATED: Nick Kyrgios Invites Novak Djokovic To Go Clubbing After Wimbledon Win

Kyrgios posted a screenshot of Carlos’ quote on his Instagram Story some 15 hours ago (from the time of writing), appearing to confirm the speculation. Who knows: next thing he might be inviting him clubbing…

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The post Nick Kyrgios Predicted Carlos Alcaraz Would Win The US Open appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

I tried eFoiling, the hobby the world’s richest rigs can’t seem to get enough of. But is it just an attempt to humanise themselves, or is it really that fun? I went on a mission to find out.

If Zuckerberg can do it, I can do it, right? As I lay in the water, semi-stunned, for the umpteenth time, that thought rang in my head. But no: despite the fact some keyboard overlord and a bunch of famous Formula One drivers (mostly known for sitting on their arses at break neck speeds, and training said bulging appendages) are able to eFoil with aplomb, I, a surfer was failing miserably. How could this be?

Well, as my instructor Jamie told me, eFoiling is a great leveller (“we’ve had all sorts get up on these”). That’s not just a testament to Fliteschool Manly’s teaching, but also a part of the attraction for both surfers and civilians alike: it’s a challenge, but deeply satisfying when you get the hang of it.

Before we dive straight into the water at a speed that makes it feel like concrete, what is an electric foil? An electic foil is technically classed as a Jet Ski (despite producing less noise, emissions and wake), however, it is actually more like a surfboard on top of a spoke, attatched to a metal (or carbon fibre, or whatever fancy material your eFoil brand of choice has chosen to use) wing.

Just above the wing of the hydrofoil is an electric propeller, which powers the board to move through the water. When you reach sufficient speed the surfboard lifts itself out of the water, and the only thing left beneath the surface is the foil and propeller.

eFoils are powered by a nearly silent electric motor and have rechargeable batteries. They are controlled by a handheld wireless remote that syncs to the eFoil via Bluetooth. The one I used had a “dead man’s switch,” so when I fell off (and stopped squeezing the trigger) the propeller stopped automatically.

After seeing the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, Kai Lenny, Laird Hamilton, Lewis Hamilton and Romain Grosjean frolicking around places like Europe and Hawaii on eFoils, I figured I ought to give it a try. Thanks to Fliteschool Manly, I got my chance on the beautiful waters of Bobbin Head, North Turramurra. Here’s how it went, and everything I learnt along the way.

WATCH: My First Time Trying An eFoil

Foiling Is Not As Easy As It Looks

Foiling (especially eFoiling, where you don’t have to pump with your legs) may look effortless, but it’s very tiring when you’re learning how to distribute your weight, and I found it much harder to learn than I expected. Rather than whizzing around the lake at break neck speed, I proceeded to fall on my face at little more than ego-break speed for the first half an hour or so. I also shot myself a little in the foot on the boat ride to the lesson area, talking up my surfing and anticipating I would probably “pick it up quickly.”

Foiling Is An Art

Despite the visual resemblance, foiling is nothing like surfing, wakeboarding or snowboarding. It’s its own thing. To begin with, you have to learn to ride it on your knees. Then, once you are comfortable riding it at a low speed (without the foil popping out of the water), you begin to experiment with leaning back, once the speed setting (there are 20 levels) hits 4. Leaning back causes the board to lift out of the water, and you get to experience the true sensation of foiling. At this point you must lean back until the board gets properly out of the water, but lean forward before you get too high, otherwise you will come too far out of the water, and the foil will buck, throwing you off. Once you figure this out on your knees, you then give it a shot on your feet.

Foiling Makes You Feel Like You’ve Just Done A Hard Day’s Snowboarding

When I finished for the afternoon, I got that sense of tightness, tenseness and rattled-ness that I’ve only ever had before from snowboarding – except in both legs. It really is a great leg workout.

Though It’s Easy To Mock, It’s Incredibly Fun

Some surfers might mock anything that’s not a 5’11” shortboard (from SUPS to mid lengths to goat boats, nothing escapes the piss taking), but I found eFoiling very fun, and it was satisfying to find a new challenge to have a crack at. I might not be ready to charge over to Shark Island and catch two waves in a set on one just yet (as one madman did on a DIY Jet Board in April) but I definitely see how people get into it.

Foiling Is Growing

Whether you love it or hate it, foiling seems to be here to stay (it might even become the new trendy alternative to jet-skis in places like Monaco and St Tropez in the years to come, and we can definitely picture it starting to pop up more in superyacht inventories).  As Founder, CEO and Product Architect of Fliteboard David Trewern told DMARGE: “we have taught thousands of people to Fliteboard across the world, with offices in 3 countries, nearly 100 full time staff, 300 commercial partners and numerous international awards.”

David also told us that, though the biggest market is men aged around 45-65 years old, the 18-24 age bracket has increased in the last 12 months alongside an increase from female customers purchasing, so the Fliteboarding audience is not just growing but “diversifying into other age demographics and genders.” During my lesson I was also told that it is becoming a popular option for corporate team building days.

When Starting Out Foiling, Getting A Lesson Will Save You Time

David’s top tips for beginner foilers are “Watch our how to Fliteboard video on YouTube, and get a lesson if you can.” He also says: “Don’t forget the PFD and helmet.” Beyond that, he recommends you choose conditions carefully for your first session (“Smooth water makes learning significantly easier”), take your time and keep things smooth (“Imagine the foil is an airplane under the water. It wants to fly straight, it wants to be horizontal and have smooth power. The goal is smooth water flow over the wings for easy flying”) and start with touch and goes and short stints foiling above the water for only a few seconds at a time (“This allows your brain to work out this new balance skill step by step with minimal crashes and maximum safety”).

eFoils Are Quite Expensive, So Lessons Are An Attractive Way To Start Off

Pricing starts at $17,995 for a Fliteboard Complete package. Lessons, on the other hand, start at a couple hundred bucks.

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The post I Tried The Rich Person Hobby The World’s Billionaires Can’t Get Enough Of appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

To some motorists, electric cars are the vehicular equivalent of porridge: good for you, but not that interesting. The same goes for city cars. Thankfully, the new MINI Electric Hatch dispels both of those notions. Book a test drive today.

The MINI brand has always been about maximum fun on minimum fuel – indeed, the original Mini was designed by Sir Alec Issigonis in 1957 as a response to the British fuel crisis of the 1950s. Yet Issigonis was also careful to make it practical and pleasant to drive as well.

That’s why it’s remembered so fondly and was so unbelievably successful: it wasn’t just a rational purchase, it was a genuinely fun car. It drove like a go-kart while sipping fuel and was capable of carrying around a whole family (if not in comfort then in style at least). It’s why it became a British pop culture icon while other, more austere city cars, faded into obscurity.

The MINI Electric Hatch continues that grand tradition of fun yet eco-friendly motoring – but it’s far from the utilitarian box on wheels the classic Mini was.

WATCH our video review of the 2022 MINI Electric Hatch below.

The MINI Electric Hatch is exactly what it says on the tin: it’s an all-electric version of the third-generation three-door MINI Hatch. While it’s made at MINI’s Plant Oxford in the UK, much of the tech that underpins the car was first debuted in the BMW i3 (although that’s by no means a bad thing).

That means that anyone who’s familiar with the standard internal combustion engine (ICE) version of the car will find the MINI Electric quite familiar… But its drivetrain inarguably makes it the pick of the litter as far as the MINI Hatch is concerned.

RELATED: The Best Electric Cars In Australia In 2022

Instead of a petrol engine, a single electric motor drives the front wheels and makes a not-insubstantial 135kW/270Nm, drawing from a 32.6kWh battery, of which 28.9kWh is usable. That’s a fair amount of killer wasps for a car that’s almost a metre shorter and 50% more powerful than a Toyota Corolla Hybrid, by way of comparison. Ride and handling are also typically MINI: responsive, snappy and punt-able.

The MINI Electric’s drivetrain and battery cleverly fill the voids left by the absence of an internal combustion engine and fuel tank as well as the transmission tunnel. It’s a neat solution, but it’s a compromise because the car is built as an ICE first.

This also affects its performance credentials, chiefly its range. A smaller battery means it only has a 233km max range, and it also only has a top speed of 150km/h. 0-100km/h is also a 7.3-second endeavour. The rear seats are also slightly raised to accommodate the battery.

Yet being fully electric isn’t a total compromise. Its T-shaped battery gives it a lower centre of gravity compared to its ICE siblings, meaning it actually has slightly better handling characteristics. 0-100 might not be amazing but from 0-50, it’s properly nippy – that quick-off-the-line nature that electric cars have never gets old…

Yes, 233km of range isn’t amazing. But it kind of doesn’t matter. The MINI Electric isn’t some highway-munching grand tourer; it’s a stylish little city car.

In fact, that’s the biggest selling point of the MINI Electric Hatch: it’s currently the smallest electric vehicle on sale in Australia. Of course a small EV isn’t going to have the same range as a bigger EV like a Polestar or Tesla!

RELATED: Paul Smith’s ‘Designer MINI’ Reveals The Future Of Eco-Friendly Cars

What’s arguably more important than range is how quickly it charges. It’s capable of charging to 80% in just 36min if using DC fast charging, or 2.5hr on standard AC home charging – which is really rather good.

The other thing that’s rather good is how it looks. Let’s be honest, one of the main reasons you’d want a MINI is because of the way it looks, and the MINI Electric doesn’t disappoint in that department. The front grille (or rather, the lack of front grille) complements the MINI Hatch’s iconic ‘Cool Britannia’ design language, and features like the EV-exclusive ‘power spoke’ wheels and green highlights really make it stand out from the crowd.

Personalisation is also a big focus with the MINI Electric, which boasts 6 wheel options, 7 main colour options, 3 interior choices as well as a funky multitone roof option that deletes the dual sunroof and, thanks to the way it’s produced, means no two multitone roofs are exactly the same. Mad.

MINIs used to be considered just fashion items rather than serious or practical cars. While there’s no doubt that aesthetics will always be one of the main reasons someone chooses a MINI, the MINI Electric Hatch has plenty of substance to match its style.

In short? We reckon it’s the perfect city car. Its small size, great handling, quirky design and lack of tailpipe emissions make it perfectly suited to be an urban warrior. In this environment, range figures or out-and-out performance are almost irrelevant.

It’s also the perfect one-car response to people who say both city cars and EVs are boring. If you’re going to save the planet (as well as your hip pocket), you may as well have fun doing it, right?

Find out more about the MINI Electric Hatch at MINI’s online showroom and book a test drive here.

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