Iceland and its Westfjords are among the many most spectacular landscapes for nature lovers. Yearly, hundreds of tenting and off-road fans go to the area in specifically outfitted offroad automobiles 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 % of all roads in Iceland are unpaved, and regardless that the Ring Highway was paved some years in the past, a tour with a daily automobile is very not really helpful. Whereas most vacationers want 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 automobiles, the lengthy journey is made in a MINI Countryman SE All4 – electrically powered and barely upgraded.
Since lots of Iceland’s roads aren’t solely unpaved, however the mountainous tracks are additionally plagued by mud, rocks, and particles, the wheels have 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 could 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 have been left at house – it in all probability gained’t get actually darkish at night time.
Munich to Hirtshals: The place Vary Meets Actuality
The journey tour begins fairly 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 greater freeway speeds. However the drive to Hamburg is as relaxed as anticipated. The wind noise from the roof rack with spare tire is rapidly 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 linked navigation system calculates charging stops excellently, and the navigation map reveals the place and at what velocity 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 % by itself. German cities and charging stations fly by, whereas it rapidly turns into clear that consumption climbs nicely 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 principally manages 120 to 130 km/h, other than a short 180 km/h dash, earlier than issues get powerful on the A7 south of Hamburg. With a Countryman SE All4 solidly charged to over 80 %, you possibly can journey 240 to 280 kilometers between charging stops on the freeway with out stepping into hassle. As the space will increase, you get used to the numerous capabilities supplied by the big, round display 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 dearth 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 measurement.
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 short 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. Iceland followers from off-road campers, transformed hearth vans, 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 snug 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 comfortable to see the sunshine of the Icelandic world once more in Sedisfjödur – amid mild snowfall, minus one diploma Celsius, and gloomy clouds. As you head northwest on the empty Highway 1, it rapidly turns into obvious that the vary is lowering considerably quicker than earlier than beneath these climate circumstances. 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 line with 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 offer a short vitality enhance six kilometers earlier than the deliberate quick charger. Reached with a remaining vary of slightly below 5 kilometers – you possibly can depend on the MINI’s shows. A fast ten minutes of charging with slightly below 20 kW after which previous the new 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 awesome function; they not solely show extremely helpful on lengthy journeys, but in addition carry out admirably right here in Iceland on ice, rain, and unpaved roads. The more durable 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 an increasing number of spectacular, the summer season 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 gained’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 velocity of the mileage-hungry automotive isn’t vital, as a result of the charging station typically limits charging energy to 50 kW, and out of doors of Reykjavik, charging energy as much as 150 kW is never obtainable.
At 12:30 a.m., the more and more soiled Countryman reaches the Flokalundur Resort in vibrant sunshine, earlier than setting off on the demanding closing leg of Route 622 at 5 a.m. the following morning – one of the 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 alternative of auto and its off-road tools when planning the tour, they have been confirmed fallacious the following day.
Cliffs, Meadows, and the Sudden Functionality of the MINI
Coming from the north, the blue MINI Countryman SE with the golden roof cap performs a lot better than anybody anticipated. The electrical SUV simply masters inexperienced meadows, murky scree, and slender paths with cliff overhangs and water crossings at a sluggish velocity. 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 sluggish off-road velocity, the electrical vary isn’t any drawback 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 virtually two hours of driving from Thingeyri over hill and dale, it’s clear that it gained’t make it. The heavy rains of the previous two weeks have brought about 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 Means House
The return journey the identical manner is barely barely disillusioned, and the try and get so far as doable 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 all the things 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 / Photographs: Bernhard Filser
