MINI’s next-generation small car has been caught out in the open with its new design fully uncovered
- Petrol and fully-electric powertrains
- Three/five-door and convertible bodystyles
- Will be shown this year, with deliveries from 2024
The all-new MINI Cooper hatchback has been all but fully uncovered, with these latest spy pictures showing the car months before its planned debut at the Munich Motor Show in September. Caught completely undisguised during a photoshoot in Los Angeles, it reveals the Fiat 500e rival in its entirety.
The car in these images give us our first look at what the forthcoming petrol and electric city car will look like. Peeling back the camouflage shows the MINI’s revised but recognisable front end and round light clusters, plus the new model’s short front and rear overhangs. The rear represents a stark departure from the current car, however. Here, the rectangular Union Flag tail-lamps have been replaced by triangular light clusters, featuring pixel LEDs not dissimilar to those found on the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
The lack of tailpipes, flush grille and acid-green ‘S’ badges suggest this is the next-generation MINI Cooper Electric, which will later be joined by the petrol-powered three and five-door models. The maker has already confirmed a Convertible will be added to the range a little later down the line.
Set to be renamed MINI Cooper, the Cooper nameplate will become part of the car’s model name, rather than being a trim level in its own right as it is now. The MINI Cooper will make its global debut at the Munich Motor Show in September this year, alongside the next-generation MINI Countryman as the brand launches a model offensive for 2024. The MINI Cooper EV is expected to arrive in April, followed by the 1.5-litre petrol in the summer.
While petrol-powered MINI Coopers will continue to be manufactured in Oxford, UK, the electric version – likely to be badged MINI Cooper E – will be built in China, using a platform designed in collaboration between MINI, BMW and Chinese SUV brand Great Wall. The current MINI Electric offers a range of just 150 miles and we expect the new car to improve on this significantly; with a choice of 40kWh or 54kWh batteries offering a range of around 200-250 miles.
In spite of their name, MINIs have been getting larger and larger over the years; however, this new model is actually set to shrink in size slightly – from around 3,850mm to 3,800mm – but with a longer wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) to maximise passenger space. This means the new car will be a rival to the likes of the new Fiat 500 and upcoming Renault 5, rather than the larger Audi A1 Sportback and Peugeot 208.
While the latest images give us an undisguised look at the new car’s exterior, we’ve yet to get a proper look inside. The dead-on rear shot does give us a glimpse of the very top of the MINI Cooper’s dashboard, however, confirming all cars will feature a larger, circular touchscreen, as previewed in the MINI Aceman concept car. We hope to see more of the new MINI’s cabin closer to the car’s unveil date in September.
MINI Electric prototype review by James Brodie
In early 2022, we travelled to Sweden’s frozen lakes to sample a camouflaged MINI Cooper Electric development mule. It’ll be a little while before we actually drive an production example, but the comparison between the current car and the next-generation prototype is interesting nonetheless.
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The MINI Cooper Electric is set to ride on a bespoke platform, with a longer wheelbase (the distance between front and rear wheels) than the outgoing car. Combined with the shorter overhangs front and rear, it means there should be an improvement in passenger space. This increased room will be enhanced by the inclusion of a totally flat floor inside.
MINI’s engineers have based themselves in the Arctic Circle to ensure the car works well in cold weather, and that crucially it’s as efficient as possible to preserve range. The stability systems can also be fine-tuned on the icy surfaces, and our test car seemed adept at minimising wheelspin. Hot-weather testing and high-speed runs are yet to come, while we’ll be able to get a better grasp on the handling once we get the chance to drive the MINI Electric on a tarmac road.
Our guide, MINI engineer Klaus Bramer, explained that the new MINI Cooper Electric is slightly lighter than the car it’ll replace, and the centre of gravity is lower as well.
”We have a larger wheelbase and wider track to make it more comfortable. With the centre of gravity we can make it more agile than the last one; it feels more playful”.
At the time, Bramer told us: ”We have 18 months to go and right now it is driving pretty good. I’m pretty sure our customers will be happy with it”.
Keyword: New MINI Cooper: retro petrol and electric small car in new pictures