Mini skipped the car business entirely at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show and rode a new path to miniaturisation with the Citysurfer Concept electric scooter. Conceived as a last-mile solution for urban commuters, the folding two-wheeler enables the motorist to park the car and scoot to the office through dense (bicycle-friendly) city traffic.

The Citysurfer’s electronic bits, including a lithium-ion battery pack, are mounted inside the weather-resistant body work. A rear-wheel hub motor, operated via a thumb throttle, can propel the scooter as far as 15 miles and to a top speed of 15mph. The scooter includes charging cables for a conventional household outlet and a 12-volt automotive socket. When completely discharged, the electric motor simply switches off and disengages, and the journey continues on leg power. via BBC Autos