The pure-electric 2020 Mini Cooper SE is garnering a lot of interest globally, having amassed a total of 90,000 registered prospective customers, up from around 45,000 back in August. Considering that global deliveries for BMW's Mini brand totaled just 346,639 cars through 2019, that's quite a lot of potential buyers, representing more than a quarter of global sales.

Of course, how much of this registered interest can be converted into actual sales remains to be seen, but the cost proposition does look intriguing here in the US, with an MSRP of just $30,750 to start, including destination. Depending on the market, that starting price could drop to a scant $17,900 after state and federal tax credits.

The Mini Cooper SE - known as the Mini Electric in some markets - is the volume production successor to the 2009-'10 Mini E, leased in small numbers within select markets worldwide as part of an electric trial program. As with other EV trial programs, most of the cars were dismantled or crushed after the leases expired.

By comparison, the 2020 Mini Cooper SE is much more of a regular, mainstream product, although at around just 110 miles, it has one of the shortest battery range ratings in the US. A 181-horsepower AC motor powers the front wheels, enabling reasonably brisk acceleration, with 60 mph coming up in just 6.9 seconds. Top speed is rated at 93 mph.

And if the BMW Group's recent successes with plug-in electrified vehicles is anything to go by, the Mini Cooper SE might just be a hit. The company delivered its 500,000th plug-in vehicle last month - a BMW 330e hybrid sedan - while the Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 plug-in hybrid continued its strong showing on the market with 16,932 deliveries last year.

The pure-electric 2020 Mini Cooper SE is expected to join the US Mini lineup this March.