He is a multi-talented man who is active as the drummer for the band Cody Lee, which was formed in 2018, and also works as a barista, designing for the apparel brand, weekend buzz club.
Instagram: @taiki_h__ , @codylee_official
Whenever I went to an amusement park, I would always ride go-karts. I was just pretending to be an adult. I'm sure I was a little proud of myself for doing it, but I remember being fascinated by the feeling of being able to move a machine that was much bigger than my body just by using the steering wheel and pedals.
The car that brought back those nostalgic feelings was the MINI. Its driving is often described as having a "go-kart feeling," with extremely fast response times for the steering wheel, accelerator, and brakes. It also has a low center of gravity. Contrary to its cute appearance, it has a surprisingly stoic side to its driving. The MINI's roots lie in racing. At the time, the car was sweeping victories in many races ahead of other large-displacement cars, and the MINI is so closely related to racing that the car was named after the engineer who played a key role in the MINI, John Cooper.
The person we invited to sit in the passenger seat that day was Hara Taiki, drummer for the band Cody Lee, which is popular for its catchy melodies and fashionable visuals. As rumored to be a fashion lover, he appeared dashingly dressed in fashion that showed he was well versed in the latest trends. In addition to fashion, Taiki is also interested in cars, so we decided to start by asking him about his car preferences.
"I've always admired vintage cars, but actually, my feelings have changed recently. Vintage cars = blocky and rugged, right? This is purely my personal opinion, but I think that kind of car suits a mature guy with a bushy beard. On the other hand, I'm sleek and small, so I don't think it suits me that much (laughs)."
Of course, that's not the case, and it seems like any car would suit Taku, but just like with fashion, the fact that he considers compatibility when choosing a car is one of Taku's interesting points of view.
The first thing that stands out about the Mini Cooper is its cute, round appearance. Its current appearance is the result of the pursuit of the bare minimum by eliminating all unnecessary elements in order to embody the "Less is More" design approach.
The same can be said for the interior of the car. Of particular note is the circular display that stands out in the center of the dashboard. Not only is it minimalist in design, but it also has the appeal of being able to easily perform various operations by touching and swiping, just like using a smartphone or tablet. Most of the functions, such as navigation, climate control, road information, driving mode selection, and meters, are concentrated here.
"This might be a cliché comment, but it's really quiet. The interior is stylish, the seats are spacious, and it's so quiet, it's perfect for a date. I love the noisy and inconvenient feel of old cars, but when I experience these new cars, I think this one is better."
Although it varies slightly depending on road conditions and driving style, the MINI COOPER SE can travel up to 446km on a single charge. In addition, the car is designed to maximize its range, with a Green Mode function that reduces power consumption and guides you to the optimal route to a charging station. The body and wheels are also designed to control aerodynamic characteristics as efficiently as possible, and the question of "how far can it travel?" is pursued from various angles.
Electric vehicles also have less air resistance, which means a quieter and more comfortable interior.
Even though it was May, it was a summer day with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. We stopped at an ice cream shop to escape the scorching sun, and while cooling down our hot bodies, we reflected on the roughly three-hour drive.
"I take back what I said about wanting to drive a chunky old car (laughs). I think this is the type of car I want to drive. The size is perfect. The interior is spacious considering its appearance, and there is so much legroom. The speakers also have really good performance! I often play playlists that I make myself when I go for drives, so I want to be particular about things like that. I think it's a very smart car, where all the built-in functions of the car support me without me having to worry about anything extra. Ah, I want to have my own car soon...!"
Main specifications
・THE NEW ALL-ELECTRIC MINI COOPER SE
・3,860mm×1,755mm×1,460mm
Wheelbase: 2,525mm
Vehicle weight: 1,640kg
Capacity: 4 people
Minimum turning radius (tires): 5.1m
Control device: Front ventilated disc / Rear disc
performance
・AC electricity consumption rate (wh/km):
WLTC mode: 128
City mode: 118
Suburban mode: 123
Highway mode: 137
Electric motor
・Model: HC0001N0
・Type: AC synchronous motor
- Rated output: 65.0kW
Maximum output: 160kW / 218PS /
7,000rpm
Maximum torque: 330Nm /
1,000-4,500rpm
Drive battery
- Type: Lithium-ion battery
Quantity: 1
Voltage: 3.52V
・Capacity: 136Ah
Total voltage: 398.2V
Total power consumption: 54.2 kWh
・Charging time:
Normal charging (11kw AC charging 0%~100%) / 5 hours 15 minutes
Fast charging (maximum 95kw DC charging 10%~80%) / 30 minutes
* Charging time may vary depending on the charger and battery condition.
Toll free number: 0120-3298-14
Reception hours: Weekdays 9:00-19:00, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 9:00-18:00
MINI website: http://www.mini.jp
