Spike is Mini’s new digital ‘personal assistant’ canine

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Mini is just going to the dogs. Well, dog, to be more accurate. Specifically a dog named Spike, an English Bulldog character that will live in the infotainment systems of the new generation of Mini vehicles as a sort of personal assistant companion.

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Starting with the Mini Concept Aceman (the automaker’s first full-electric vehicle) slated to debut in mid-April at the Auto Shanghai international trade fair, this delightful digital doggo will be able to offer various forms of support, says Mini. Aside from the fact Spike will bounce around the Aceman’s circular OLED infotainment screen and dashboard, Mini hasn’t shared many other details yet about Spike’s capabilities.

Why has Mini paired its brand with a bulldog since its modern relaunch in 2001? The brand says the pooch has a “compact and powerful stature, British heritage, and likeable nature,” and was thus “considered the perfect animal equivalent of the Mini.”

“Mini will always be synonymous with emotions and remarkable experiences,” chimes in Oliver Heilmer, Head of Mini Design. “That’s why we are now taking Spike into the future as a digital character. And he is not just a design experiment — he is becoming a characterful companion for the user experience.”

Right. Well, as long as the in-car canine can accomplish simple tasks, that’ll be good enough for me. My life doesn’t need the “exciting encounters” Mini promises follow Spike around. I’d just be happy with a working public EV charging station instead.