British automotive marque Mini has unveiled the Next-Gen Cooper hatchback in its electric guise. The New Mini Cooper EV will be underpinned by a new FWD platform that’s engineered by Spotlight automotive, BMW’s JV with Great Wall Motors. Furthermore, the EV will be manufactured in China instead of the UK.
The Mini Cooper’s petrol versions will continue to be built in the UK. While it will share the design with the new EV, it will sit on a completely different platform.
Next-Gen Mini Cooper: Exterior Design
The upcoming Mini Cooper retains its familiar silhouette but features a number of design changes to differentiate it from the current model. The hatchback has a longer wheelbase, shorter overhangs, a wider track, and larger alloy wheels that provide it with a better and more muscular stance. You will notice that the New Cooper no longer has the clamshell bonnet, black wheel arch cladding, chrome headlight surrounds, and the Union-Jack-themed taillights of the outgoing version. The manufacturer has stated that it envisioned the new Cooper’s design to be a simpler and purer design that brings “the iconic hatchback to its roots”.
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Next-Gen Mini Cooper: Interior Layout and Features
The company is yet to reveal details of the premium hatchback interior. Much like the exterior, the cabin is expected to offer a simpler design that focuses on function over form. The trademark circular central display will incorporate a new infotainment screen while a “funky” digital display will replace the traditional instrument cluster. The hatchback will likely have a clutter-free cabin with controls moved to the infotainment screen. The physical buttons will be retained only for the most important functions.
Next-Gen Mini Cooper: Powertrain Details
While details about the BMW Mini Cooper’s petrol powertrain options are scarce, the latest media reports do reveal the specifications of the EV variant.
In this case, the standard Mini Cooper EV will use a 40 kWh battery pack that will power a single front-axle-mounted electric motor. Peak power output is said to be around 181 bhp which is the same as the current Cooper SE. However, the new battery will have a much better-claimed range of around 384 km compared to the 240 km figure of the outgoing model. The Next-Gen Cooper SE will have a larger 54 kWh battery pack that will offer a range of nearly 500 km.
Next-Gen Mini Cooper: Launch in India
Mini is expected to launch the New Cooper globally by the end of 2023. The premium hatchback is expected to arrive in India by early-2024, a few months after it goes on sale in the international markets.
Read Also: MINI Cooper SE Receives Added Features
