Iceland and its Westfjords are among the many most spectacular landscapes for nature lovers. Yearly, 1000’s of tenting and off-road fans go to the area in specifically outfitted offroad autos and touring camper vans. It’s a loopy thought to make the journey from Munich to the supposed finish of the European world in an electrical MINI Countryman SE.
Prepping the MINI for Iceland’s Untamed Terrain
80 p.c of all roads in Iceland are unpaved, and although the Ring Highway was paved some years in the past, a tour with an everyday automobile is very not beneficial. Whereas most vacationers favor to discover the island on paved roads in white rental automobiles, such because the Dacia Duster 4×4, and true off-road fans journey in Defenders, G-Courses, Patrols, or specifically upgraded expedition autos, the lengthy journey is made in a MINI Countryman SE All4 – electrically powered and barely upgraded.
Since lots of Iceland’s roads will not be solely unpaved, however the mountainous tracks are additionally plagued by mud, rocks, and particles, the wheels had been upgraded. The blue Countryman with the golden roof is fitted with offroad tires, and the roof homes a big off-road rack with house for a spare tire, in addition to sand plates and different instruments, ought to issues get tight in the midst of nowhere in Iceland. An electrical winch can be good; however that’s not straightforward to retrofit onto the aerodynamically styled entrance finish, and because it’s approaching midsummer, the auxiliary headlights on the entrance or roof had been left at dwelling – it most likely received’t get actually darkish at evening.
Munich to Hirtshals: The place Vary Meets Actuality
The journey tour begins moderately unspectacularly in Munich at a sunny 23 levels Celsius. The battery pack is totally charged and the journey continues with a stopover in Hamburg to Hirtshals in Denmark, the place the ferry to Sedisfjödur departs. An electrical automotive with a big roof rack and off-road tires – that prices vary.
The promised 400 kilometers, which the 64 kWh battery pack within the underbody – protected solely by the usual underbody safety towards sharp stones and tough terrain – is meant to allow, seems to be lower than 300 kilometers within the total package deal with the country Grabber AT tires at larger freeway speeds. However the drive to Hamburg is as relaxed as anticipated. The wind noise from the roof rack with spare tire is shortly drowned out by the sound of the great sound system, the coarse tread sample sings lower than feared, and so the younger off-roader chugs north with its 230 kW / 313 hp all-wheel drive with assisted driving program.
The related navigation system calculates charging stops excellently, and the navigation map reveals the place and at what pace recharging is feasible. Sadly, the Countryman SE solely refuels at a most of 130 kilowatts – not a lot for such a long-distance journey, the place the battery shouldn’t be topped as much as 80 p.c by itself. German cities and charging stations fly by, whereas it shortly turns into clear that consumption climbs properly above 140 km/h as a result of automobile’s modifications, reaching spectacular heights above the Icelandic hills.
So, as much as Hamburg, the electrical crossover largely manages 120 to 130 km/h, aside from a quick 180 km/h dash, earlier than issues get robust on the A7 south of Hamburg. With a Countryman SE All4 solidly charged to over 80 p.c, you possibly can journey 240 to 280 kilometers between charging stops on the freeway with out entering into hassle. As the gap will increase, you get used to the numerous features supplied by the big, round display screen within the heart of the dashboard. It’s razor-sharp, however its submenus are complicated. Admittedly, it takes some time to get used to it, and the shortage of devices alone is extra annoying than the adjustment choices of the electrical therapeutic massage seats, which ought to be bigger for a crossover of this dimension.
Ferry to the Arctic: A Sea of Skeptics and Tough Waters
After stops in Hamburg / Germany and Hirtshals / Denmark, the ferry named Norröna departs for Sedisfjödur, with a quick stopover within the Faroe Islands – two lengthy days with some severe waves. Upon boarding, the electrical Countryman is a speaking level primary, and never simply due to its off-road appears to be like. Iceland followers from off-road campers, transformed fireplace vehicles, and hardcore Defenders have an interest within the crossover, whose electrical drive is much more irritating to most than its lack of floor clearance, water tanks, or roof tent. The Countryman has to endure two days within the stomach of the ferry, and it’s significantly extra comfy for it than for a lot of the greater than 1,500 passengers, as the tough climate retains the winds between seven and ten wind speeds – with fixed waves of six to eight meters.
Chilly Welcome: Iceland Greets with Snow, Wind, and Vary Anxiousness
So the MINI isn’t the one one pleased to see the sunshine of the Icelandic world once more in Sedisfjödur – amid gentle snowfall, minus one diploma Celsius, and gloomy clouds. As you head northwest on the empty Highway 1, it shortly turns into obvious that the vary is lowering considerably sooner than earlier than beneath these climate situations. On the more and more empty Ring Highway previous the Rjukanda waterfall and Grimsstadir, there are literally sufficient charging stations, as promised by the onboard electronics and smartphones. However the actuality is totally different, as a result of it stays chilly and a powerful headwind on the plateaus causes the surplus vary of greater than 70 kilometers till the following charging cease to evaporate in minutes, earlier than the hypercharger with its 150 kW is now not accessible in response to the digital remaining vary info.
With the electricals off, psychological crawl mode on, and the automotive rushing at 70, 60, and eventually 50 km/h towards the Dimmuborgir lava discipline and the close by indoor swimming pool, which is meant to supply a quick power increase six kilometers earlier than the deliberate quick charger. Reached with a remaining vary of just below 5 kilometers – you possibly can depend on the MINI’s shows. A fast ten minutes of charging with just below 20 kW after which previous the recent springs, vacationers, and campers to the hypercharger, which powers up the Countryman as desired, whereas wonderful fish and chips present leisure for the occupants.
The all-terrain tires are an ideal characteristic; they not solely show extremely helpful on lengthy journeys, but additionally carry out admirably right here in Iceland on ice, rain, and unpaved roads. The harder chugging in crawl mode is over, and we proceed westward at a brisk gallop because the climate improves. The already spectacular landscapes of lava rock change into increasingly spectacular, the summer time warmth retains coming via in direction of the night, and the one factor that mars the 750 km stage on at the present time are the charging stations.
Lava Roads and Charging Woes
As a result of one or two standardized european charging apps received’t work in Iceland. Ionity, EnBW, or Aral Pulse – native suppliers, and above all On Charging, are in demand right here, as a result of in contrast to the magnificent 300 and 400 kW charging stations in Denmark, not all stations settle for bank cards. It’s not low-cost both – between €0.31 and €0.87 per kilowatt hour are charged to energy up the household MINI. The manageable charging pace of the mileage-hungry automotive isn’t vital, as a result of the charging station usually limits charging energy to 50 kW, and outdoors of Reykjavik, charging energy as much as 150 kW is never out there.
At 12:30 a.m., the more and more soiled Countryman reaches the Flokalundur Resort in vivid sunshine, earlier than setting off on the demanding ultimate leg of Route 622 at 5 a.m. the following morning – one of the vital difficult routes within the Westfjords, with a very spectacular scree passage by the water that may solely be negotiated at low tide. Whereas some journey guides had sneered on the selection of auto and its off-road gear when planning the tour, they had been confirmed unsuitable the following day.
Cliffs, Meadows, and the Surprising Functionality of the MINI
Coming from the north, the blue MINI Countryman SE with the golden roof cap performs significantly better than anybody anticipated. The electrical SUV simply masters inexperienced meadows, murky scree, and slender paths with cliff overhangs and water crossings at a gradual pace. Right here and there, it touches the bottom, scraping towards the grass, whereas the views of the ocean and the steep shoreline change into more and more spectacular.
On the gradual off-road pace, the electrical vary isn’t any downside in any respect, and the restricted floor clearance alone sometimes forces evasive maneuvers. Might the whole Route 622 actually be conquered with the E-Countryman? After nearly two hours of driving from Thingeyri over hill and dale, it’s clear that it received’t make it. The heavy rains of the previous two weeks have induced a landslide, and the already slender and difficult observe is now not satisfactory for any automobile. Even spades, sand boards, and jacks are of no use.
Waffles, Climate, and the Approach Residence
The return journey the identical manner is just barely disenchanted, and the try and get so far as attainable on the R 622 from the south is deserted shortly earlier than probably the most spectacular stretch of seaside. Right here, too, the waves and climate have swept every thing away. Again to the nice, fashionable café Simbahöllin with its scrumptious waffles, earlier than persevering with on to Reykjavik and again once more. However this time – to by ferry.
Stefan Grundhoff; press-inform / Pictures: Bernhard Filser
