Although there are still a few months to go before its official presentation, the new MINI Cooper electric has been caught completely devoid of camouflage during a filming session in Los Angeles. Given that the British brand confirmed its technical specifications just a few weeks ago, we can say that we have little to learn about the new model.
As can be seen in the spy photos, the MINI Cooper will lose some of the aesthetic elements that have characterized the MINI Hatch for twenty years (a trade name that will be discarded after three generations), which will give it a more modern and differentiated image. without renouncing its aesthetic kinship with the classic 1959 MINI.
For a start, the classic “clamshell” bonnet will disappear; In addition, all the chrome will be removed, including the surround of the headlights. The large grille will be blinded and painted in the same color as the rest of the bodywork except in its upper and lower sections. Another notable change will be the loss of the black plastic wheel arches.
Although the light clusters will remain round, the pilots will abandon their rectangular shapes to adopt a much more aggressive triangular format. The lighting firm will continue to pay homage to the Union Jack, the national flag of the United Kingdom. The length of the car will be close to that of the current model (about 3.80 meters long), but it will have a shorter front overhang, a wider wheelbase and a greater width.
The electric MINI Cooper will be manufactured in China
The new electric MINI Cooper will be made exclusively in China. your platform Spotlight EV, which will also be used in the upcoming MINI Aceman, has been a joint development between BMW and Great Wall. It will only be available with three doors, as the electric MINI Convertible will continue to be based on the current generation.
Initially, the range will be structured in two versions: AND (184 hp engine, 40 kWh battery, 386 km autonomy) and HE (218 hp engine, 54 kWh battery). According to what was announced by BMW, the most capable variant should double the autonomy offered by the previous generation (234 km WLTP), so it could approach 500 km.
A high-performance model will be added in mid-2025 JCW (John Cooper Works) of about 250 hp. Unlike the MINI Countryman, it will not be available with all-wheel drive. Its rates are expected to be slightly higher than the currently sold MINI Cooper SE.
Source | worldscoop
