MINI has confirmed that in 2024 it will launch the fourth generation of its flagship model, the MINI Hatch, which will be renamed simply as MINI Cooper. Although the thermal versions of the iconic British utility will continue to be made in the UK, the electric ones will be completely different from a technical point of view, so they will be manufactured in China (its Spotlight EV platform has been a joint development between BMW and Great Wall).
“It is the beginning of a new era. MINI’s 100% electric range has to start somewhere; this is a bridge for us to go fully electric”Explain Stefanie Wurstdirector of the brand, in statements to Coach. MINI aims to become a global 100% electric manufacturer by 2030.
The zero-emission MINI Cooper will be released in May of next year, while the combustion engine will wait until July. Our protagonist will have a length close to the current model (it will be around 3.80 meters), but it will be wider, have a shorter front overhang and a longer wheelbase.
The range will initially be structured in two versions: AND (184 hp engine, 40 kWh battery, 386 km autonomy) and HE (218 hp engine, 54 kWh battery). Although Wurst has not confirmed the range of the SE, he has dropped that it will “double” the figures offered by the previous generation (234 km WLTP), so it could be closer to 500 km.
The electric MINI Cooper will be manufactured in China
A high-performance variant will be added in mid-2025 JCW (John Cooper Works) of 250 hp. There will be no all-wheel drive models, and prices are expected to be slightly higher than the currently sold MINI Cooper SE.
Its aesthetic, although continuous, will also evolve. The classic “clamshell” hood used for 20 years will be gone; besides, all chrome on the body will be removed. The main change in the cabin will be the appearance of a huge circular OLED screen – an industry first – for the infotainment system. There will be no box behind the wheel, but there will be a Head-up Display. As it could not be otherwise, numerous exterior and interior customization options will continue to be offered.
While the thermal MINI Cooper will be available with bodies of three and five doors, as well as a convertible, the electric will only be offered with the first optionsince it will be complemented by the crossover Aceman (2025) and the Countryman SUV (2024), with a more familiar character.
Source | Coach
