MINI has unveiled the interior of the new Cooper Electric with an advanced infotainment system and personalisation features
- Petrol and fully-electric powertrains
- Three/five-door and convertible bodystyles
- Debut at September’s Munich Motor Show; first deliveries from 2024
MINI has been teasing the full reveal of the new MINI Cooper for quite some time now, and the brand has now revealed the Cooper Electric’s new interior. The all-new fifth-generation MINI Cooper isn’t due to hit showrooms until 2024, but we’ve already tested a promising electric Cooper SE prototype; read on below for our first impressions.
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. Its global debut in Munich will be alongside the next-generation MINI Countryman, as the brand launches a new model offensive for 2024. The MINI Cooper EV is expected to arrive in April, followed by the 1.5-litre petrol in the summer.
MINI Cooper interior details
In pictures revealed to us by the manufacturer, the interior appears much more hi-tech than any MINI interior that’s come before. It sports a large circular central touch infotainment screen in an homage to the classic MINI’s central speedometer. The OLED screen is 9.4 inches in diameter and displays everything from the speed, to navigation information and EV data.
The car runs the latest MINI Interaction Unit operating system with drivers able to choose from different themes to change the display and interior lighting – the ‘MINI Experience Modes’ are ‘Core’, ‘Balance’ and ‘Timeless’. If you prefer your MINI to have a more traditional feel, the latter setting transforms the screen into one that mimics a classic MINI’s central speedo. A ‘Personal’ mode even allows you to upload a photo on which the system bases the display’s background. Some physical controls remain below the central screen, including a button which toggles between these ‘Experiences’, forward and reverse gears, and what appears to be a volume dial.
The system will be Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, but while the former extends its graphics across the entire circular screen, Android Auto will – for the foreseeable future – display in a rectangular box.
The interior also sees LED lighting embedded under the fabric dashboard, transforming the feel of the car depending on the driving mode, with ‘Go Kart’ mode getting a sportier feel. Elsewhere the interior is fairly minimalist, but many functions are built into the multi-function steering wheel, including a MINI voice control system which can adjust many of the car’s features.
MINI Cooper design
Despite the prototype’s disguise, we already know how it will look after spy pictures emerged well ahead of its Munich Motor Show debut in September. Caught completely undisguised during a photoshoot in Los Angeles, it reveals a thorough but evolutionary styling shift.
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.
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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.
In spite of its name, the MINI has 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 petrol-powered MINI Coopers will continue to be manufactured in Oxford, UK, the electric version – expected to be badged MINI Cooper E and MINI Cooper SE – 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 41kWh or 54kWh batteries expected to offer a range of around 180 miles and 250 miles respectively.
MINI Cooper powertrains
While 1.5-litre petrol-powered MINI Coopers will continue to be manufactured in Oxford, UK, the electric version – expected to be badged MINI Cooper E and MINI Cooper SE – 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 41kWh or 54kWh batteries expected to offer a range of around 180 miles and 250 miles respectively.
MINI Electric prototype review by Steve Fowler
As the new electric version of the MINI Cooper edges ever closer to production, we recently travelled to Austria to test drive the latest prototype of the MINI Cooper SE still in camouflaged form.
Even with its disguise, the latest MINI’s more aerodynamic design is evident, with a wider stance and narrower glasshouse. The MINI has never been very spacious inside, and while this is still the case, the new car has a little more legroom and headroom in the back. The boot looks about the same size.
The interior is a lot more minimalist than in previous models, with most controls accessible via a large circular screen on the centre of the dash – this was hidden for our drive, though, with MINI keen to keep certain details under wraps.
We were pleased to see that the car still makes use of some traditional, physical switchgear to do things like turn the car on and off, switch between drive and reverse, adjust power modes, choose from a variety of ‘experiences’ and adjust the volume.
We got to drive the more powerful SE electric model, which uses a 54.2kWh battery with 215bhp. An additional electric Cooper E model will be available with a 40.7kWh battery and 181bhp. Our car felt very punchy, and ‘Go-Kart’ mode amped up the fun, with the car emitting a fake engine growl to add to the thrill when you put your foot down – it’s one of the more convincing and fun synthetic engine notes we’ve tested.
With one-pedal driving, you can come to a complete stop by lifting off the accelerator, or you can select low, medium and adaptive regenerative braking settings. Although many EVs fail to give a satisfying feel to the brakes, those of the MINI Cooper SE prototype felt natural and linear and inspired confidence as you dove into corners. We did find it felt slightly odd lifting off the throttle with regenerative braking turned completely off – the car just seems to keep on going, rather than naturally slowing down like with a traditional combustion engine.
The ride was well-balanced, too – it’s firm enough to give more of a feeling of connection with the road, but smooths out the worst of the bumps. Visibility is not a strong point – the windscreen sits some way forward from you with a steep rake to it (in keeping with the classic MINI aesthetic) and the low header rail and thick A-pillars make it feel like you’re peering through a letterbox.
The steering feel is not quite there yet, though MINI says this is an area still under development. We think it needs to be a little sharper with quicker reactions to truly deliver on that ‘go-kart’ feel.
When we took the MINI Cooper SE out on track away from public roads we found it was even more fun – it was grippy even in the wet, and we even managed to get it to drift a little – keeping the car skidding in a controlled manner. On the straights the SE felt like it had more and more power to offer, climbing hills confidently and feeling rather like a hot-hatch in spirit. That’s despite the fact that an even hotter JCW model is expected to join the lineup in the future.
Although it needs a little work, like a much-needed tweak to the steering already in the works, the upcoming MINI Cooper is shaping up to be a keen driver’s car with performance that would impress hot-hatch aficionados.
The little we’ve seen of the covered-up interior appears to be high quality, so there looks to be little threat of MINI losing its premium image, either. We look forward to testing the car again once it’s fully revealed in 2024.
Keyword: New MINI Cooper: specs, interior and prototype review